Journal of Indoor Environmental Quality

Thermal Comfort, Design Tools and Techniques (PLEA Note 3), 2nd Edition

Excerpt: “This is the third booklet in our PLEA Notes series. Each of these Notes is intended to deal with one particular and narrow aspect of design, of a technical /scientific nature. These Notes serve a dual purpose: to be a learning tool, introducing the subject and discussing it in mainly qualitative terms, but also to be a design tool, to provide quantitative data and methods for the consideration of the particular subject matter in design. An implicit aim is also to create an authoritative reference work, which would provide a concise but comprehensive summary of the state of the art of the subject.

In this Note 3 the undergraduate student will find part 1, then sections 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3 of part 2 as well as part 3 of particular interest. The practising designer (using the above sections as introduction) will - we hope - find part 4 most useful. The research student, or anyone interested in the whys and wherefores will find part 2 as a unique reference source.

References for the comfort index data sheets are given in footnote form, similarly in places where they refer to that page only. General references are listed in alphabetical order on pages 62 – 63.

We hope that this Note will contribute in some small way to the creation of better buildings, healthier indoor environments and energy conservation, thus serve the broad aims of PLEA and a sustainable future.”

Citation: Auliciems, A., Szokolay, S.V. (2007) Thermal Comfort, Design Tools and Techniques. PLEA Note 3(2^nd Ed.), Passive and Low Energy Architecture International. < http://plea-arch.org/?page_id=125> accessed April 30^th, 2013

Additional reading:

1. Thermal Comfort: A Condition of Mind
2. Do I need an engineer? A Guide to HVAC/Indoor Climate Design Service Providers
3. Where will your indoor climate system score?
4. How to "ball park" your budget for indoor climate control.
5. Indoor environments: Self assessment
6. Built to code: What does it mean for consumer thermal comfort?
7. The Total Comfort System - The "Un-minimum" System
8. Thermal Comfort: A 40 grit perspective for consumers
9. The Cost of HVAC Systems - Are You Paying Too Much for Downgrades?
10. Thermal Comfort Surveys - Post Occupancy, Part I
11. Thermal Comfort Surveys - Post Occupancy, Part II
12. HVAC does not equal IEQ: Mislabelling, misleading and misunderstanding

 

 

Related articles

Indoor Air Quality and its Effects on Health: a Presentation of the Guidelines for Health-Based Ventilation in Europe

How Indoor Environment Affects Performance (ASHRAE March 2013)

Housing improvements for health and associated socio-economic outcomes

Book review - High Performance Enclosures: A Design Guide for Institutional, Commercial and Industrial Buildings in Cold Climates by Prof. J Straube, Ph.D., P.Eng.

So what do you think? Kind of appropriate after featuring the thermal bridging exposure from the Aqua Tower that Dr. John Straube’s new manual, “High Performance Enclosures” shows up in our mail box!

So I haven’t had a chance to jump fully into this new publication from Building Science Press but what I have seen is excellent. Straube provides with clarity both the graphics and text to explain in detail numerous enclosures from both the low rise and high rise camps. I particularly like the work he’s done on building form and orientation plus the discussions on building loading. As expected there is some duplication for clarification of principles from Straube and Burnett’s 2005, “Building Science for Building Enclosures” which was a modernization and expansion of Hutcheon and Handegord 1983 classic, “Building Science for a Cold Climates”; but unlike the latter references which were targeted more to the engineering sciences, the new publication is more for the practicing engineering, technician, architect and builder -  having less theory and more practical example of the what and how to do’s. For a good one-two punch at building science and enclosures you won’t find a better pair of manuals than the 2005 and 2012 publications to keep you company during those cold winter design days.

To order visit,  http://www.buildingsciencepress.com/Building-Science-for-Building-Enclosures-P6.aspx

___

A note at all publishers…we get the reasoning behind the paper bound publications but really - it’s getting old…we would happily pay a small premium for secured .pdf versions rather than fund the world of transportation, duty and brokerage which adds zero value to the materials. Look at it this way...if we spent less money on zero education value items we could spend more money on the valuable educational items. Those are my thoughts and I'm sticking to them...

Suggested reading:

Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) of Building Materials

Building Enclosures: A Filter, Sponge and Capacitor

If this is not the cook book for your new building you may want to look for another chef.

Recipe for High Performing Buildings – Better Than Standard Practice

If you are an architect, building owner, facility manager, or design/build contractor and want to learn how buildings can achieve energy, economic, and environmental performance substantially better than standard practice…ASHRAE's High Performing Buildings publication is for you.

High Performing Buildings describes measured performance of practices and technologies to promote better buildings, presenting case studies that feature integrated building design practices and improved operations and maintenance techniques. They tend to be built around three fundamentals: They take advantage of climate and location, they have envelopes that reduce load and enhance natural lighting, and they use high-efficiency mechanical systems and lighting.

Link: <www.HPBmagazine.org/subscribe >

RBc: The latest issue features among others, Manitoba Hydro Place; a radiant cooled and heated 700,000 sq.ft. 22 plus story building that is beating the Model National Energy Code by 60% and ASHRAE 90.1-2007 by 52%.

We featured this project back in 2010 < http://blogs.healthyheating.com/2010/05/manitoba-hydro-place-a-new-benchmark-for-cold-climate-buildings.html>

Just a reminder this project has a radiant based HVAC system (heating and cooling), dedicated outdoor air systems, geothermal with high efficient condensing boilers, low VOC finishes for IAQ etc…if this sounds familiar it should because if it’s not the recipe for your new building you may want to look for another chef.

Suggested reading:

• http://www.healthyheating.com/Page%2055/Page_55_i_cooling_eq.htm
• http://www.healthyheating.com/DOAS/DOAS_Introduction.htm
• http://www.healthyheating.com/Page%2055/Page_55_a_benchmark.htm

We'll be talking about these and other principles at the following upcoming courses

• Energy Center of Wisconsin: HVAC hybrids: transitional solutions bridge tradition and the future and How vision affects residential design: an exploration of human sensory systems, Wed, Feb 1, 2012, Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel and Convention Center, Schaumburg, Il.,
• 2012 Uponor Convention, Thermal comfort with Radiant Based HVAC and How not to do radiant cooling, April 11-12, 2012, Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas

Premier Issue of Better Building, A Magazine for Progressive Residential Constructors.

The folks from Business Information Group with Publisher Peter Leonard and his merry band of editors have just launched the premier issue of Better Building, a magazine for progressive residential constructors.

Inside the front cover is Murray Pound, Vice President of Operations for Gold Seal Master Builder. Murray is a unique individual in that he is both a master builder and professional fire fighter who has been advocating for fire sprinklers for many years. He’s seen the carnage and horrific scenes from senseless destruction and knows firsthand the aftermath of buildings burnt to the ground.

I have the pleasure of knowing Murray and always pay attention to his stories as a builder and the stories of fires he’s fought and so should you. As a 13 year veteran fire fighter and just completing their 300th project -  the folks at Gold Seal have a deep understanding of safe, secure, energy efficient comfortable homes…check them out today.

There are a number of residential fire safety systems available today and one of them comes from Uponor a supporter of ours and colleague to the industry. They’re a leader in this field and we suggest you look at their product offering.

Lots of other good stuff in the issue including a few words from yours truly on building codes, enclosures, IEQ and HVAC systems – access the issue here (note: you’ll have to scroll down on the landing page to Supplements & Special Features).

Award of Excellence Given to Recently Restored Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Building

The confluence of sustainability and historic preservation is apparent in downtown Atlanta’s recently restored Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Building, dedicated in 1933 to serve as the central postal facility for the southeast.

Architecture, interiors and planning firm Lord, Aeck & Sargent designed and oversaw the $62 million exterior restoration and interior rehabilitation/adaptive reuse of the building, approaching the project with the dual goal of preserving the building’s character-defining historic elements and simultaneously adapting it to serve the GSA’s current needs for an energy-efficient, contemporary workplace that is targeting LEED Silver certification.

The project received an Award of Excellence from the Atlanta Urban Design Commission at the AUDC’s 34th annual awards ceremony in June. Considered one of the best examples of federal architecture of the Great Depression era, the building was designed by prominent Atlanta architect A. Ten Eyck Brown and his associates. The 350,000-square-foot structure’s modern classical symmetry and art deco ornamentation exhibit a “starved” classicism that reflected the economic conditions of the time.

For overview of this historic renovation and other outstanding project by Lord, Aeck & Sargent visit the project gallery.

For further details contact: Annie Kohut | Kohut Communications Consulting (tel) 770-913-9747 | (cell) 404-786-6062 (fax) 770-913-3197 | annielk@bellsouth.net www.kohutcommunications.com | Follow me at http://twitter.com/kohutcomm

Modern Hydronic Heating, 3rd Edition - John Siegenthaler, P.E.

Modern Hydronic Heating  

Never thought it was possible to make it any better but industry colleague John “Siggy” Siegenthaler, P.E., steps up his latest edition with current information, photo’s and new mechanical, electrical and architectural illustrations not found in other design text books. Updated are numerous resources including list of key words, sample questions and exercises with suggested reading material for further studies. Also new is a wide range of simple and useful formulas that should be part of every person’s tool kit. If you’ve been looking for an all-in-one resource addressing the power of integrated modern hydronics including practical real world applications for geo and solar thermal systems – it’s time to donate away those dozen antiquated books for this single source one of a kind instruction manual that will serve educators, students, designers and trade persons well into the future of high performance hydronic systems.

…and the best part is if you order it before February month end from Siggy himself you’ll get the introductory hot off the press price – a $49 savings!

Robert Bean, R.E.T., P.L.(Eng.)
Journal of Indoor Environmental Quality
Editor

 

The Measurement of Radiant Heat in Relation to Human Comfort

The Measurement of Radiant Heat in Relation to Human Comfort
Journal of Industrial Hygiene, March 1932, pp., 95-111

“…negative radiation (cooling) was produced by the cold walls and floor of the room, in spite of the fact that the plenum system was delivering air at a relatively high temperature. In these experiments it was found that a far more uniform and equable temperature was maintained by the panel heating system when the plenum system was discontinued.”
H. M. Vernon, M.D. (1870-1951)
(Image credit: T.Bedford, through NCBI et al)

Learn more about mean radiant temperatures and enclosure performance.

What Is an Effective Portable Air Cleaning Device?

Excerpt: “The use of portable air cleaning devices in residential settings has been steadily growing over the last 10 years. Three out of every 10 households now contain a portable air cleaning device. This increased use of air cleaners is accompanied by, if not influenced by, a fundamental belief by consumers that the air cleaners are providing an improved indoor air environment. However, there is a wide variation in the performance of air cleaners that is dependent on the specific air cleaner design and various indoor factors…Source control is and will always be the preferred approach to reduction of contaminants within an indoor setting, whereas air cleaning is representative of a supplemental means of managing airborne pollutants.”

citation: Shaughnessy, R.J., Sextro, R.G., What Is an Effective Portable Air Cleaning Device? A Review, Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 3: 169–181, 2006

RBc: Source control is and will always be the preferred approach to reduction of contaminants within an indoor setting… repeat after me...Source control is and will always be the preferred approach to reduction of contaminants within an indoor setting. Work with interior designers and architects who get this basic concept.

Suggested reading:

• Particulate Matter
• Filter Fist-a Cuffs & Who is this MERV character?

Residential Indoor Air Quality Awareness Course

Residential Indoor Air Quality Awareness Course, November 23rd – 25th, 2010, Calgary, Ab.

This 3-day program is a condensed exploration into the numerous elements which influence Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) in residential buildings. Participants will be introduced to the terms of Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) and its effect on health and wellness.

The PCA (Prevention, Correction and Avoidance) approach to IAQ is detailed though instruction on the building sciences for cold climates including various options in HVAC equipment and systems. The program also reviews the ASTM Standard D-7297-06, Standard Practice for Evaluating Residential Indoor Air Quality Concerns including a look at various instruments and instrumentation used by investigators.

Included with your registration fee is the 400 page course manual and access to all the instructor slides and the best part is the $200 NRCan subsidy is still available for this course! Seats are limited and filling fast.

Registration details.

The Fight to Know? A European Environmental Bureau Campaign

1st June 2007 the new EU legislation on chemicals concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (known as REACH) entered into force. It introduced a novel provision allowing any consumer (hereafter referred to as ‘citizen’) to ask any supplier if their products contain officially recognized Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) that are listed on an official Candidate List. This right of citizens is referred to as the ‘right to know’. According to that right, suppliers are legally obliged to provide an answer with at least the name of the SVHC, and information allowing safe use of the article, within 45 days, free of charge.

SVHCs are substances that have been identified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction or that are persistent and bio-accumulative or warrant similar concern.

From January to August 2010 the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), a federation of over 140 environmental citizens’ organizations based in EU Member States, and surrounding countries, launched a campaign to test how the ‘right to know’ under the REACH Regulation works in practice.

In total, 158 ‘right to know’ requests were sent to 601 retailers/brands established in five European countries. The answer rate was very disappointing: 50% did not answer at all and over 75% were deemed to give answers that do not fulfill minimum REACH requirements. However 22%of the requests were followed with adequate responses, with some retailers showing a very pro-active profile in their chemicals policy.

RBc: Interesting campaign given the comprehensive research done in Europe particularly at DTU on toxic substances in consumer goods.

Suggested readings:

• Current State of the Science: Health Effects and Indoor Environmental Quality
• Bringing Green Homes within Reach: Healthier Housing for More People
• The Medical Perspective on Environmental Sensitivities

 

 

Understanding of energy use and conservation greatly misunderstood by general public.

It should not come as a surprise that the general public has serious deficiencies in understanding energy use. In our recently published article E5 = Earth Stewardship; A look at energy, efficiency, entropy, exergy and efficacy we discuss the key fallacy about electrical efficiency pointing out that a significant percentage of the population believes electricity is 100% efficient when on a good day coal generated electricity might reach 35%...a far cry from 100%.

Below is a research abstract from an August 16th, 2010 publication from the National Academy of Sciences addressing this topic in greater detail from an anthropology perspective – it’s on our highly recommended reading list and its free.

Public perceptions of energy consumption and savings

Abstract: In a national online survey, 505 participants reported their perceptions of energy consumption and savings for a variety of household, transportation, and recycling activities. When asked for the most effective strategy they could implement to conserve energy, most participants mentioned curtailment (e.g., turning off lights, driving less) rather than efficiency improvements (e.g., installing more efficient light bulbs and appliances), in contrast to experts’ recommendations. For a sample of 15 activities, participants underestimated energy use and savings by a factor of 2.8 on average, with small overestimates for low-energy activities and large underestimates for high-energy activities. Additional estimation and ranking tasks also yielded relatively flat functions for perceived energy use and savings. Across several tasks, participants with higher numeracy scores and stronger pro-environmental attitudes had more accurate perceptions. The serious deficiencies highlighted by these results suggest that well-designed efforts to improve the public's understanding of energy use and savings could pay large dividends.

Citation:Shahzeen Z. Attari, Michael L. DeKay, Cliff I. Davidson, and Wändi Bruine de Bruin, Public perceptions of energy consumption and savings, PNAS 2010 : 1001509107v1-201001509.

RBc: Suggested reading http://www.healthyheating.com/Low_Exergy_Systems/Energy_Efficiency_Entropy_Exergy_Efficacy.htm

 

2010 Fall Professional Development Courses - AIA/CES, ASHRAE and HRAI

Greetings All!

If you are working on professional development and continuing education, please make note of the following fall programs on building science, indoor air quality, thermal comfort, sustainability, snow melting, radiant heating and cooling and others. I'll be instructing all of these programs and have Professor Birol Kilkis, Ph.D. on-line as well for the ASHRAE Webinar.

You can register on-line for all the course and make note the HRAI programs are eligible for Government subsidies.

HRAI Hydronic Radiant Certification Course – 4 day program (Government subsidies available) It is highly recommended that participants have been certified in heat lossand gain and have previous experience in doing pressure differential calculation for duct or piping design.

Calgary, Sep 28, 2010 to Oct 01, 2010
Kelowna, Nov 30, 2010 to Dec 03, 2010

HRAI online registration:
https://olrs02.hrai.ca:444/courses/RegistrationHomePage.aspx

HRAI Indoor Air Quality Awareness – 3 day program focusing on building science, interior design and HVAC systems.(Government subsidies available) - Open to all including architects, interior designers and decorators, trades, suppliers, health care professionals etc.

Calgary, Nov 23, 2010 to Nov 25, 2010

HRAI online registration:
https://olrs02.hrai.ca:444/courses/RegistrationHomePage.aspx

ASHRAE Webinar – Basics of Panel Heating and Cooling, 3 hours program
ASHRAE Distinguished Lecturer Series and AIA/CES Professional Development Course
Wednesday, October 13, 2010 – 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. EDT

ASHRAE online registration:
http://www.ashrae.org/education/page/2655#o13

AIA/CES Professional Development Webinars  - One hour programs offered without charge...be sure to thank the folks at Uponor for making this possible! Uponor is a registered provider of education through the AIA contiuing education system. 

Uponor online registration:
http://www.uponorpro.com/Extranet%20Home/Training%20and%20Education/Calendar

Sep 20, 2010 11:00 am EST, Snow and Ice Melting, ASHRAE Distinguished Lecturer

Sep 20, 2010 1:00 pm EST, Snow and Ice Melting, ASHRAE Distinguished Lecturer

Oct 4, 2010 11:00 am EST, Frost Prevention, AIA/CES Professional Development

Oct 4, 2010 1:00 pm EST, Frost Prevention, AIA/CES Professional Development

Oct 18, 2010 11:00 am EST, Indoor Air Quality, Introductory course for the hydronic industry

Oct 18, 2010 1:00 pm EST, Indoor Air Quality, Introductory course for the hydronic industry

Nov 8, 2010 11:00 am EST, The Human Factor in HVAC, ASHRAE Distinguished Lecturer

Nov 8, 2010 1:00 pm EST, The Human Factor in HVAC, ASHRAE Distinguished Lecturer

Nov 15, 2010 11:00 am EST, Radiant Based HVAC Systems, ASHRAE Distinguished Lecturer

Nov 15, 2010 1:00 pm EST, Radiant Based HVAC Systems, ASHRAE Distinguished Lecturer

Dec 6, 2010 11:00 am EST, Thermal Comfort,  AIA/CES Professional Development

Dec 6, 2010 1:00 pm EST, Thermal Comfort,  AIA/CES Professional Development

Dec 13, 2010 1:00 am EST, Radiant Heating and Cooling, AIA/CES Professional Development

Dec 13, 2010 11:00 am EST, Radiant Heating and Cooling, AIA/CES Professional Development

Taking Responsibility for Indoor Environmental Quality – The Engineering Perspective

Taking Responsibility for Indoor Environmental Quality – The Engineering Perspective

ASHRAE Standards addressing thermal comfort and air quality define acceptability as 80% or more occupant satisfaction. Is this sufficiently high enough? Should it be higher? I don’t have the answer to that dilemma but consider this from the mechanical engineers perspective and the key elements that influence occupant satisfaction that are out of his or her control…

1. Is it reasonable to hold the engineer responsible for 80% occupant satisfaction for indoor environments in buildings located in densely populated metropolitan areas where the outdoor air for ventilation air is sometimes contaminated more than the indoor air and where;

2. the building is defined by architects, interior designers and decorators many with little building science skills but lot’s of interest in the aesthetics and art of architecture and where;

3. the building is constructed by trades who are judged not on the final IEQ and energy use but on assembly of components to bare bones minimum codes and where;

4. the building uses domestic and foreign materials some manufactured in unregulated systems using questionable methods and compounds and where even good materials manufactured in regulated systems break down due to moisture, heat, UV and ozone and where;

5. the buildings mechanical systems are likely complicated by necessity because of architectural designs and where;

6. the building and building systems are ultimately controlled by building maintenance personal many lacking the necessary mechanical management skills or by occupants who have little desire to maintain mechanical systems?

Put yourself in the HVAC engineers shoes when they have no control over the outdoor air and they’re rarely asked for opinions on architectural elements that become IEQ and energy landmines; they have to constantly deal with people who confuse standards (voluntary) with codes (mandatory) and codes with being the highest benchmark when they are the lowest benchmark; and they are observers of buildings fabricated by trades judged on meeting the minimum requirements of assembly or what I call the “how” without having to understand the “why”; throw in architectural materials supplied without passing quality control like the current Chinese drywall fiasco; and mechanical system that end up being fabricated as one of kind works of art using complicated electromechanical systems that occupants and janitors most definitely don’t want to have a relationship with…

It’s not an easy task for engineering professionals when you consider the prime expectation is to protect the health and welfare of the public tossed together with industry standards that are increasing being adopted into building programs and enforced by codes…if industry wants the engineer to take responsibility for the energy and indoor environments based on ASHRAE Standards he or she can no longer be invited to the table after the building has been designed.

If - Then

Our message is...IF industry and the public want engineers to take responsibility for meeting energy and indoor environmental standards, THEN buildings must be designed from the inside out based on human factor needs served by engineering and health science principles.

The process of the architects and their clients saying to the engineer, “here’s our building now you make it energy efficient, healthy and comfortable” must be replaced with the building and mechanical engineer with clients saying to the architect and interior designers and decorators, “here’s the environment and energy allowance, now you folks take that criteria and design and fabricate a building that works around our enclosure, HVAC and Lighting systems”, oh and have a nice day.

That reframe to me …is the only way you’ll get buildings to be energy efficient, healthy and comfortable.

For more about engineering, energy and environments visit these links:

1. http://www.healthyheating.com/Thermal_Comfort_Working_Copy/HH_physiology_intro.htm 
2. http://www.healthyheating.com/Low_Exergy_Systems/Energy_Efficiency_Entropy_Exergy_Efficacy.htm
3. http://www.healthyheating.com/what_makes_a_good_architect.htm
4. http://www.healthyheating.com/Thermal_Comfort_Working_Copy/indoor_environmental_quality_health.htm

 

NRC-IRC Preliminary Report on Ventilation Rates

“Our preliminary results indicate that there is a marked seasonal dependence of the air change rates and some of the measured IAQ parameters. Most of the pollutants were found to have higher concentrations in winter/fall, with the exception of formaldehyde and some organics (aldehydes and ketones). Our data for phase one of the field study indicates that on average the homes do not meet the nominal ventilation rate goal of 0.30 air changes per hour for residential buildings. Based on the PFT measurements, 74% of the homes do not achieve this ventilation rate during the winter/fall period.”

Source/credit and suggested reading: Preliminary Results from a Field Study Investigating the Impact of Ventilation Rates on Indoor Air Quality and the Respiratory Health of Asthmatic Children in Québec City

RBc: Our purpose at the Journal of Indoor Environmental Quality is to serves as a technical interpreter and consolidator of academic research done within the building sciences. So we’re constantly monitoring what comes out of academia or government research facilities. Our observations continue to support the statement that says, “there remains a major disconnect between research in housing (what should be) and the building industry (what gets assembled).” We also suggest that until health related elements defined by indoor environmental quality, remain under the construction umbrella based on a volunteer free market system IEQ will be judged by construction standards instead of health standards - ergo the disconnect will continue. Again it’s why we believe that elements of architecture, that being interior design and HVAC should be repositioned under the health care profession where they belong.

Suggested links:

• http://www.healthyheating.com/Definitions/HVAC.htm
• http://www.healthyheating.com/Definitions/healthyheating.htm.
• http://www.healthyheating.com/Definitions/enviro_ergo_def.htm
• http://www.healthyheating.com/IEQ_Radiant.htm
• http://www.healthyheating.com/HRAI_AGM_2010_Banff/HRAI_AGM_Robert_Bean_IAQ.htm

 

The story behind energy, entropy, efficiency, exergy and efficacy

We just released our long awaited simplified summary of energy, entropy, efficiency, exergy and efficacy based on our brand new presentation on sustainability and early feedback from industry leaders has been great. It’s all consolidated into a single web page – written of course in basic easy to understand language and linked back to numerous pages within the www.healthyheating.com website.

If you missed the HRAI of Canada’s annual general meeting in Kananaskis, Alberta, saw the sustainability slides posted earlier but wanted the descriptive language – well now you have it.

Also be sure to check out our updated Indoor Air Quality presentation, Inspecting Hydronic Systems and Skill Sets slides from the Canadian Hydronic Council meeting held in the spring.