Thermal Mass and Night Ventilation Utilising Hidden Thermal Mass

This paper presents an overview of systems that utilise thermal mass in conjunction with night ventilation. It discusses the concepts behind and development of a system (CoolDeck) to improve the performance of systems where air is ventilated through false ceiling and floor voids to access hidden mass. The system improves thermal interaction between the circulating air and the thermal mass of the slab. A case study is presented demonstrating the effectiveness of the system in a refurbishment application (Stevenage Borough Council (UK) offices). The incorporation of phase change material into the system for a subsequent phase of the refurbishment is also described.