Abstract

In response to the increasing noise between floors in residential buildings, design strategies have shifted toward thicker modified floor structures incorporating corrugated resilient layers and mortar. After the experimental validation of the EnergyPlus model, we conducted simulations in two contrasting climates (mild Seoul and cold Chuncheon) at both high and low supply water temperatures. Overall, the enhanced structures maintained indoor temperature stability and total energy use comparable to those of the conventional floor despite the increased thermal mass. When the supply water was maintained at a higher temperature, the modified floors tended to shorten the heating operation and reduce energy consumption; conversely, at lower temperatures, their slower thermal response produced modest increases in both metrics. Greater thermal inertia also led to extended periods of temperature overshoot, highlighting the need for refined control measures, such as adjusted deadbands and gradual supply temperature ramping, to prevent overheating. These results demonstrate that floor upgrades aimed at acoustic mitigation can be implemented without sacrificing heating efficiency provided that optimized operating procedures are in place. Future studies will examine the long-term thermal behavior under occupancy, develop data-driven control algorithms to adapt to varying conditions, and integrate simultaneous assessments of occupant comfort and noise reduction to fully optimize performance.