An interactive map to identify and assess the vulnerability of Barcelona’s housing to extreme heat
October 14, 2025
SATE-VEG: A system for energy renovation of buildings that helps reduce the urban heat island effect
October 27, 202522/10/2025
A research team from the Interdisciplinary Group on Building Science and Technology (GICITED) at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya – BarcelonaTech (UPC) is leading the BioSAFE project, which aims to develop sustainable building envelopes —mainly façades— designed according to sustainability, comfort and safety criteria, with particular attention to their acoustic behaviour and fire performance.
The BioSAFE project focuses on the use of renewable-based materials —such as timber, bamboo and agricultural by-products— to design façades and other construction elements that reduce the environmental impact of the building sector. BioSAFE builds on the advances achieved in the SBES - Sustainable solutions for building envelopes project (BIA2017-88401-R), extending its scope towards improving safety and comfort in buildings through natural and innovative solutions.
The project is structured around three main research lines. Firstly, the acoustic properties of different plant-based biomaterials are analysed, with the aim of optimising their formulation and manufacturing processes, both for low-density sound-absorbing materials and lightweight medium-density composites.
Secondly, the project tackles the improvement of fire behaviour in lignocellulosic materials by developing natural flame retardants as an alternative to potentially toxic synthetic compounds.
Finally, the third line combines both acoustic and fire-resistance aspects in the design of multifunctional façade elements capable of limiting fire spread while improving sound absorption and reducing urban reverberation.
The modification of natural raw materials to obtain the desired flame retardants will be carried out at laboratory scale. These retardants will subsequently be incorporated into bamboo and timber samples through an autoclave process combining vacuum and pressure cycles to ensure optimal impregnation of the material.
Regarding acoustic characterisation, this will include both laboratory testing and in situ measurements. Laboratory tests will focus on the analysis of low- and medium-density bio-based materials, in order to assess their acoustic behaviour and optimise their formulation.
Impact
The results of the BioSAFE project will contribute to the development of new construction solutions that combine safety, comfort and sustainability, supporting the sector’s transition towards low-carbon building. Furthermore, the research advances in natural flame retardants and plant-based materials will provide knowledge applicable both to the construction materials industry and to sustainable refurbishment projects. In the medium term, these innovations may lead to safer and more environmentally friendly products entering the market, improving the acoustic quality and fire safety of buildings while fostering more comfortable and sustainable urban environments.
Budget and Funding
The BioSAFE project (PID2020-117530RB-I00) is funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation under the State Plan for Scientific, Technical and Innovation Research, with a total budget of €175,087. The project duration is four and a half years (September 2021 – February 2026).
Related Projects
- The La Volta project foresees the construction of a large Catalan vault pergola within the Llars Mundet campus, in the Montbau neighbourhood (Horta-Guinardó district). This structure will become a new architectural landmark for Barcelona, combining traditional construction techniques with contemporary innovation. The project involves the Rehabilitation and Architectural Restoration Research Group (REARQ), at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC), and is led by the Architects’ Association of Catalonia (COAC) and the Barcelona Provincial Council.
SATE-VEG: A system for energy renovation of buildings that helps reduce the urban heat island effect
Researchers from the Architecture, Energy and Environment (AiEM) group at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC) have developed SATE-VEG, an external thermal insulation system with a vegetal coating that offers seasonally adaptive thermal behaviour, enhances urban biodiversity and promotes positive health effects. The system is made from organic materials, requires low maintenance and consumes minimal water.- A research team from the Interdisciplinary Group on Building Science and Technology (GICITED) at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya – BarcelonaTech (UPC) is leading the BioSAFE project, which aims to develop sustainable building envelopes —mainly façades— designed according to sustainability, comfort and safety criteria, with particular attention to their acoustic behaviour and fire performance.
- The Architecture, Energy and Environment (AiEM) research group at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC) has characterised Barcelona’s residential buildings according to their capacity to adapt to climate change. This study is part of the project ‘VeUvE: Urban havens for vulnerable zones’. The work highlights the climate inequality conditions present across different areas of the city and will help to better define the priorities and energy renovation strategies for its districts.
