Spectral test method for light transmittance of transparent building components using different artificial radiation sources.

The current development of modern building envelope systems predestines the relevance of the application of specific test methods for it to adequately characterize thermo-optical properties of novel transparent building components and systems. Therefore, the intention of this study concerns the investigation of the spectral test method for its potential implementation in analyzing thermo-optical changes in a phase change material based on building components. As solar simulators are considered to be the key methodologies for conducting solar-based research under a well-controlled environment, this study presents a simple design of a low and high flux solar simulator to provide optical testing of specific glass components. The optical system was designed as a lamp of one unit and a parabolic reflector used to irradiate test samples implemented in a squared box with an optical detector. Second, the experimental setup was equipped with a spectrophotometer, and the validity of transmittance data obtained with a reference building's transparent systems, like a simple glass pane and Plexiglas, was tested by measurements comparison with results obtained using a UV/VIS/NIR spectrophotometer in the light transmittance spectra. The results of the experiment revealed light transmittance data obtained from spectrophotometers and compared with reference simple glass systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]