office building

In the EU Joule project Nat Vent one of the work packages was dealing with controlled air flow inlets. During the last conference in Greece and overview was presented on availability, performances and application of controlled air flow inlets. At the presented poster an interactive IAQ computer tool was demonstrated. This tool has been improved and is now available. Some participating countries in the Nat Vent project have carried out special tests with the NatVent IAQ tool. The NatVent participants were asked to design a natural ventilation system according to their national requirements.

This paper presents a set of detailed experimental data of room airflow with displacement ventilation. These data were obtained from a new environmental test facility. The measurements were conducted for three typical room configurations: a small office, a large office with partitions, and a classroom. The distributions of air velocity, air velocity fluctuation, and air temperature were measured by omnidirectional hotsphere anemometers, and contaminant concentrations were measured by tracer gas at 54 points in the rooms. Smoke was used to observe airflow.

The use of raised access flooring systems for office environments has become much more frequent in recent years. Power and data cables housed in the floor cavity can easily be accessed and modified to accommodate changes in the occupancy and use of the space. This cavity can also be used as a supply air plenum, which allows introduction of conditioned air through the floor.

To remedy comfort problems in a 99,000 fi2 (9,200 m2) office building, the total airflow rate was reduced by 35%, and the total outside airflow was reduced by 86% in four multi-zone air-handling units that serve the office building. After the airflow reduction, the peak room relative humidity level was reduced from 70% to 55%, and cold and hot deck reset schedules were implemented. These improved operating practices reduced building energy consumption by 27%.

This paper evaluates the performance of traditional displacement ventilation systems for small offices, large offices with partitions, classrooms, and industrial workshops under U.S. thermal and flow boundary conditions, such as a high cooling load. With proper design, displacement ventilation can maintain a thermally comfortable environment that has a low air velocity, a small temperature difference between the head and foot level, and a low percentage of dissatisfied people.

This paper gives an overview of the European NatVent® project on'Overcoming Technical Barriers to Low Energy Natural Ventilation in Office Type Buildings in Moderate and Cold Climates'. The project was targeted at countries like the UK with low winter and moderate summer temperatures where summer overheating from solar and internal gain can be significantly reduced by low-energy design and good natural ventilation.

Samyn & Partners conceived with the studies of the Belgian Building Research Institute, the refurbishment of an existing office building in one of the most polluted avenues in Brussels. Designed to save maximum energy, the building meets all modem comfort standards, respects the environment and creates attractive and enjoyable working space.