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Literature was reviewed about underfloor systems and engineers having experienced these systems on completed projects were interviewed. Underfloor air distribution systems improve thermal comfort , indoor air quality and user satisfaction.

Thermal comfort (PMV and PPD indices) of a floor return underfloor ventilation system was evaluated through experiments with different supply air temperatures and internal heat loads. Results are shown and analysed.

This paper describes the precautions that have to be taken in design and installation of ventilation systems in order to reduce their noise. They concern fans, ducts and ductwork, air inlet and outlet, air diffusers, air handling unit.

A personalized ventilation system located underneath the front edge of a desk was tested regarding to its ventilation efficiency using a heated mannequin and tracer gas. The air change effectiveness ranged from 1.4 to 2.7.

Thermal comfort obtained with a ceiling cooling system was investigated through experiments with human subjects. Results give their perception of thermal comfort and its relationships with skin temperatures measured at several parts of the body.

In contemporary architectural design, the indoor climate receives little attention. Most architects are not familiar with the typical problems and solutions involved in climate design. However, it is this relation that provides much control over the initial climate conditions and can prevent costly artificial solutions. As a result, many design decisions are made without insight into the consequences on the indoor climate.

The control of thermal environment is complicated in buildings with glass-covered atriums. Numerical simulation can play an important role in the heating, ventilation, air-conditioning (HVAC) design of atriums. Many researches have developed various computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods to accurately predict the thermal environment in atriums. However, a simple, reliable and fast method to deal with complex building construction is more suitable for building designers and engineers to take as a routine assistant tool of HVAC design.

Traditional residential buildings in Anhui, Southern China, maintain comfortable indoor thermal conditions in the summer without any air-conditioning. To understand this phenomenon, the building thermal environment was simulated to study the physical principles for maintaining natural thermal comfort. Measured data such as outside temperatures, solar radiation intensities, the thermal characteristics of the structure, and the interior gain were used as the boundary conditions.

The new office building of the Ministry of Transport at Terneuzen in the Netherlands is a sustainable and energy efficient building with a good indoor environment. The building is constructed of sustainable materials, well insulated, utilises maximum daylight and is equipped with a minimum of building services. Passive and natural sources have been utilised as much as possible. An advanced natural ventilation system provides fresh air and controls the thermal comfort in summer.

Efficient energy utilization and indoor air quality (IAQ) inside office premises and other public places have become issues of increasing concern in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). The Government of HKSAR has launched a territory wide consultation in 1999 on the proposed Indoor Air Quality Management Programme for offices and public places. This paper briefly introduces the proposed Indoor Air Quality Management Programme and its proposed target objectives.