Methodology for the Evaluation of Natural Ventilation in ... - Cham
Methodology for the Evaluation of Natural Ventilation in ... - Cham
Methodology for the Evaluation of Natural Ventilation in ... - Cham
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Figure 10. Prototype Build<strong>in</strong>g Design Characteristics2.4 Build<strong>in</strong>g Per<strong>for</strong>mance <strong>Evaluation</strong>A prototype build<strong>in</strong>g was selected to evaluate a scale model<strong>in</strong>g technique <strong>for</strong> naturally ventilatedbuild<strong>in</strong>gs. The build<strong>in</strong>g is a commercial <strong>of</strong>fice build<strong>in</strong>g, built and owned by <strong>the</strong> company thatoccupies <strong>the</strong> build<strong>in</strong>g. The company is an organization dedicated to provid<strong>in</strong>g hous<strong>in</strong>g andassistance to <strong>in</strong>dividuals and families <strong>in</strong> need, and thus desired a build<strong>in</strong>g that had relatively lowconstruction and operational costs. The build<strong>in</strong>g is an example <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> type <strong>of</strong> commercial <strong>of</strong>ficebuild<strong>in</strong>g currently be<strong>in</strong>g constructed that uses an open floor plan to allow <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> greatest amount<strong>of</strong> flexibility, and <strong>in</strong>corporates much glaz<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> build<strong>in</strong>g façade to take advantage <strong>of</strong>available natural daylight. The natural daylight throughout <strong>the</strong> build<strong>in</strong>g, particularly <strong>in</strong> thoseareas towards <strong>the</strong> center <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> floor plan, provides an aes<strong>the</strong>tic <strong>of</strong> an open build<strong>in</strong>g, which isenhanced by <strong>the</strong> glass atrium <strong>in</strong>cluded <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> design. This feature is common to manycommercial <strong>of</strong>fice build<strong>in</strong>gs, both mechanically ventilated and naturally ventilated ones.Several aspects <strong>of</strong> a build<strong>in</strong>g contribute to <strong>the</strong> overall build<strong>in</strong>g operation, such as <strong>the</strong>rmalper<strong>for</strong>mance, ventilation per<strong>for</strong>mance, and energy per<strong>for</strong>mance. Each <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se areas has animpact on specific systems <strong>of</strong> a build<strong>in</strong>g, yet <strong>the</strong>y are <strong>in</strong>terrelated, contribut<strong>in</strong>g not only to <strong>the</strong>overall per<strong>for</strong>mance <strong>of</strong> a build<strong>in</strong>g but also to <strong>the</strong> health and com<strong>for</strong>t <strong>of</strong> its occupants. Monitor<strong>in</strong>g<strong>of</strong> build<strong>in</strong>gs is not new, but apply<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> knowledge and assess<strong>in</strong>g naturally ventilated build<strong>in</strong>gscan pose some difficulties. A multi-pronged approach was taken to fully evaluate <strong>the</strong> naturallyventilated <strong>of</strong>fice build<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g long-term and short-term monitor<strong>in</strong>g, and survey<strong>in</strong>goccupant behavior. This method provided adequate data on <strong>the</strong> overall build<strong>in</strong>g per<strong>for</strong>manceunder a variety <strong>of</strong> conditions. Some aspects <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se data were <strong>the</strong>n used to determ<strong>in</strong>e how <strong>the</strong>build<strong>in</strong>g functioned relative to o<strong>the</strong>r build<strong>in</strong>gs as well as compliance with build<strong>in</strong>g codes, as is<strong>the</strong> case with ventilation. <strong>Natural</strong> ventilation <strong>in</strong> particular has unique characteristics that must be35