NOTICE-EUB

The EU-funded NOTICE-EUB project (NOvel TImber Composites for Energy and Seismic Upgrading of Buildings) provides a sustainable solution for reducing seismic risks and improving energy efficiency in European buildings.

Hosted by the JRC Ispra, the project introduces an innovative timber-based retrofit system designed to enhance seismic resilience and energy efficiency with minimal environmental impact.

NOTICE-EUB is funded through Horizon 2020 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions.

Advantages

Use of cross-laminated timber (CLT) and dry steel fasteners, initially designed for reinforced concrete buildings - the most common type in Europe's residential stock.
Reversibility, low invasiveness and lightweight nature of the method allow it to be adapted for other, more sensitive structural systems, such as unreinforced masonry buildings.
Speed and ease of assembly, minimising downtime and labour costs
Innovative approach which prioritises damage control, localising repairs to low-cost and easily replaceable metallic connectors, preventing dangerous collapse mechanisms often associated with traditional brick-masonry infill walls
Significant improvements in structural safety against earthquakes, meeting modern performance-based seismic design standards

Supporting EU policy

By integrating sustainable insulation materials into the design, the proposed retrofit system not only strengthens buildings but also delivers significant energy savings, aligning with the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), which emphasises energy-efficient renovations alongside structural improvements. This dual-purpose approach supports the goals of the European Green Deal, the Renovation Wave and New European Bauhaus initiatives, promoting safer and more sustainable building stocks across the EU.

Experimental testing

Full-scale testing has been carried at the JRC European Laboratory for Structural Assessment (ELSA) and the University of Trento, demonstrating promising seismic and thermal performance. Advanced hybrid earthquake tests have been coupled with blower door tests, assessing how the CLT-based retrofit system moderates air infiltration, ensuring the functionality and effectiveness of the integrated thermal insulation system across a sequence of simulated seismic events.

Detailed retrofit design guidelines, derived from experimental and numerical research, will soon be available, offering valuable insights for engineers, policymakers and stakeholders. This transformative project is poised to influence the future of building retrofits across Europe.