In France, air conditioning of offices is often required especially in areas with high noise levels and in the Mediterranean climates. Evaporative cooling systems appear able to give a cost effective solution to the growing demand for summer comfort: hence, the CSTB and Gaz de France are currently conducting a joint research on the efficiency of such systems. On the basis of a comfort criteria, this have been done by computer simulations taking into account different kinds of systems, buildings, and climatic areas.

Fast development of computer technology and the greater use of it in all spheres of activity have caused the development of software support in the field of HV AC systems. Considering the fact that today time is of great value and that contemporary technical systems demand economy and rationalisation of operating costs and energy, the qualitative and user-friendly computer-aided engineering is of maximum importance.

A field study investigated outside air delivery and thermal comfort in a normally operating variable-air-volume (VA V) system. In addition to finding that outside air delivery and thermal comfort are generally acceptable under a variety of operating conditions, a number of practical diagnostic techniques were used to more fully understand VA V system operation and design. It was concluded that unless a VAV system is well understood or continuously monitored, the likelihood of unexpected system behavior that can impact the outside air delivery and thermal comfort is high.