Phase Change Panels for Building Envelope Energy Efficiency

A prefabricated building supplier working on modular housing and light partition systems wanted to reduce the peak cooling demand of lightweight units, which warm quickly under direct sun because they carry little thermal mass. The project integrated sealed phase change panels behind the interior finish of wall and ceiling panels, keeping the melting range inside the comfort band so the material absorbs heat as rooms warm and releases it when they cool.

Because the panels are sealed and thin, they fit into standard stud and panel depths without changing the structural layout of the modular system. The installation sequence was adjusted at the factory so the panels are placed before the interior board is closed, which keeps site labor unchanged and preserves the modular assembly method.

The result at the demonstration units is a slower temperature rise through the afternoon and a lower cooling load at the start of the next working day. The design notes also cover condensation control and pressure relief detailing, so the phase change assembly can be specified alongside the existing insulation and vapour layer.

The customer now specifies the panel thickness and phase change temperature per climate zone, using the same modular wall cassette across projects instead of a separate custom build for each site.