Calculation of design cooling loads is of critical concern to designers of HVAC systems. The work reported here has been carried out under a joint ASHRAE-CIBSE research project to compare design cooling calculation methods. Peak cooling loads predicted by the ASHRAE heat balance method are compared with these predicted by a number of implementations of the admittance method using different window models. The results presented show the general trends in overprediction or underpredictiori of peak load. Particular attention is given to different window modelling practices.

System identification techniques are developed allowing room or building ventilation and moisture release rates to be inferred from field psychrometric data only. The techniques have been developed primarily to allow the surveying of a large number of houses so that statistical properties can be compiled, in which high accuracy of individual results is not required. This system provides an alternative to PFT tubes, with some economic advantages.

Experiments and computer simulations were conducted to evaluate the performance of radiant barriers under three different insulation levels in residential applications. The experiments were conducted in central Texas, USA using side-by-side comparisons in which two houses, with identical floor plans and thermal profiles, were used. The houses were instrumented, calibrated, and their heat transfer rates across the ceilings were measured and recorded. A heat and mass transfer model was used to run the computer simulations.

The effects of air change and ground covers on crawl space moisture balance in a cold climate are discussed in this paper. The objectives were to assess the suitability of outdoor air-ventilation in the crawl spaces of apartment buildings, to determine the optimum air change rate with and without ground covers, and the effect of the ground covers' thermal insulation on moisture behaviour. Measured data from the test building was used to develop the crawl space model in a modular simulation environment, where the parametric simulations were carried out.

Forty sites were visited during a survey of exposures to diesel engine exhaust emissions. Personal and background exposure to gaseous components, respirable dust, elemental carbon, organic carbon and total carbon were measured and details of control systems were recorded. The results show a wide spread in exposure patterns reflecting the different work practices, job categories of employees and the control methods used. However, sites where fork-lift trucks were in use consistently produced the highest exposures.