Thermal comfort and draught assessment in a modern open office building in Tallinn

Martin Kiil, Alo Mikola, Martin Thalfeldt, Jarek Kurnitski

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference article in proceedingsScientificpeer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)
132 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Modern office building users have high expectations about the working environment and thermal comfort, which requires the installation of complex technical systems such as combined cooling and ventilation. Room conditioning units of these systems must ensure temperature and ventilation control in a way that air velocity is low and the air temperature in acceptable range. Achieving air distribution avoiding draught is one of the key elements of a thermal comfort in modern office landscape. Higher air velocity in occupied zone is easily perceived as draught, which causes occupant dissatisfaction and complaints, as well as decrease in the productivity or effective floor space area. To reduce complaints, room air temperature setpoints or ventilation airflow rates are often modified, which may result in higher heating energy demand. In addition, excessive heating setpoint rise will not only consume more energy, but may cause health problems. Compared to cellular offices it is more difficult to ensure thermal comfort conditions in open office spaces where there are no walls for air flows. In addition, due to the higher number of employees it is more difficult to meet satisfactory conditions for everyone. The aim of this study was to evaluate thermal comfort parameters such as room air temperature, air speed and supply air temperature and how the users sense it in a modern office building in Tallinn, Estonia. Design room air temperature setpoints and air exchange rate were evaluated on open office spaces. Measured data with web-based indoor climate questionnaire was analysed. Results show which design and measured parameters make it possible to match the user comfort at all times.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationClima 2019 Congress
PublisherEDP Sciences
Number of pages7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 13 Aug 2019
MoE publication typeA4 Conference publication
EventREHVA World Congress - Bucharest, Romania
Duration: 26 May 201929 May 2019
Conference number: 13

Publication series

NameE3S web of conferences
PublisherEDP Sciences
Volume111
ISSN (Print)2255-0403
ISSN (Electronic)2267-1242

Conference

ConferenceREHVA World Congress
Abbreviated titleCLIMA
Country/TerritoryRomania
CityBucharest
Period26/05/201929/05/2019

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