Phase change in buildings
Phase change (or phase transition) is the transition of a system from one state of matter to another by heat transfer. For example, from a solid to a liquid or from a liquid to a gas.
Phase changes can be a mechanisms for heat transfer in buildings.
When systems change phase, they absorb or release significant amounts of heat energy (latent heat, expressed in J/kg). The systems themselves do not change temperature as the energy is consumed or generated by the physical process of changing the state of the system. For example, when water evaporates, it absorbs heat, producing a cooling effect. So when water evaporates from the surface of a building, or when sweat evaporates from the skin, this has a cooling effect. Conversely, when water condenses it releases heat.
This mechanism has been used to cool buildings in hot climates by spraying water over the building fabric, however phase change is often overlooked in heat transfer and energy use calculations.
Phase change is also important in refrigeration, where refrigerant gases absorb heat from the cooling medium (typically water) as they evaporate, and release heat when they condense, which is rejected to the outside (or recovered). The exact opposite of this process is used to generate heat in heat pumps.
See refrigerants and heat pumps for more information.
A newly-emerging application of phase change in buildings is the use of phase change materials (PCM). These are generally materials with a large specific latent heat capacity. They can be used in construction to reduce internal temperature changes by storing latent heat in the solid-liquid or liquid-gas phase change of a material. Heat is absorbed and released almost isothermally and is used to reduce the energy consumed by conventional heating and cooling systems by reducing peak loads.
Phase change materials used in buildings will typically melt and solidify within a range of 18-30ºC. They are able to store up to 14 times more thermal energy per unit volume than conventional thermal storage materials.
See phase change materials for more information.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Advanced phase change materials.
- Advanced phase change materials industry.
- Heat transfer.
- Thermal comfort.
- Thermal mass.
- Building services.
- Conduction.
- Convection.
- Gross calorific value.
- Insulation.
- Latent heat.
- Mass transfer.
- Phase change materials.
- Refrigerants.
- Solar gain.
- Thermal optical properties.
- Thermal mass.
Featured articles and news
We're expanding our collaborative mission by launching DB Intelligence, an exclusive market research advisory panel. Built environment professionals can now get paid to share their expertise on industry trends, products and services.
Panel members receive direct financial incentives for participating in research projects like short surveys, 1-2-1 interviews and focus groups. Register today to shape the future of the construction sector.
Planning condition discharge in England and Wales
A brief exoplanation from a building compliance expert, with further links.
Overheating guidance and tools for building designers
Guidance for dealing with element of building fabric control that have increasing importance.
Shading for housing, a design guide
From the Good Homes Alliance and British Blind and Shutter Association.
UK Standard Skills Classification (SSC)
A shared framework for describing skills needs.
Social media ban consultation comes to close
CIOB urges UK Government to consider social media’s role in careers guidance in ban debate.
The latest of eight Skills England apprenticeship units
The addition of battery manufacturing welcomed by ECA with a warning about the risks of fast-tracked apprenticeship units.
Building Control Independent Panel final report
A precis of a key report led by Dame Hackitt with full recommendations and link to the government response.
Building Safety recap April, 2026
A short and longer run-through of the month, with links to further information and sources.
CIAT May 2026 briefing.
From medieval scribes to modern word art.
ECA welcomes crackdown on late payment and push for clean energy, whilst CIOB seek fixed cladding removal timeframes.
Cyber Security in the Built Environment
Protecting projects, data, and digital assets: A CIOB Academy TIS.
Managing competence in the built environment
ITFG publishes new industry guide on how to meet the ICC principles.
The UK's campaign to reduce noise pollution: Mythbusting, articles and topic guides.