The Sereine test: Advances towards short and reproducible measurements of a whole building heat transfer coefficient

In a global effort to reduce carbon emissions from the building sector, reliable on-site thermal intrinsic performance measurements could positively contribute to reducing the performance gap in newly constructed or retrofitted buildings. A measurement is considered reliable when it is both accurate and precise, meaning it is, on average, on target with a finite, ideally low level of uncertainty. This paper aims to assess the reliability of a Heat Transfer Coefficient measurement using the Sereine method. The paper conducts an extensive uncertainty analysis, defining a new expanded coverage interval and thereby introduces an innovative approach to addressing uncertainties related to weather and building type. This approach relies on an extensive set of numerical experiments to quantify the measurement uncertainty under diverse measurement conditions. An experimental campaign in an externally insulated house demonstrates good agreement among all Sereine tests. It reveals that the expected performance consistently falls within the final widened coverage interval, which suggests reproducibility of the measurement. Given its thorough and transparent uncertainty quantification, the Sereine method could be a cornerstone for reliable performance measurement and, consequently, a valuable tool for future performance contracting protocols or building certification. •Thorough uncertainty analysis and quantification necessary for HTC measurement.•Outdoor temperature and building type influential on HTC measurement precision.•The Sereine method develops first ever systemic uncertainty estimation.•Reproducibility of the Sereine HTC measurement achieved in an experimental campaign.