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Catch our discussion on indoor
environmental quality and HVAC systems with Sam and Cheryll & the Rock
House team - the Überesses of interior design on their nationally broadcasted “At Home” radio program.
These two professionals know what they are doing when it comes to housing and design. I had a lot of fun doing the interview - it really was for the discerning client building new or renovating. I know you will get something useful for your "wish list" from the program...I know I always learn something new when listening to these two dynamic ladies.
Dates: Feb. 16th Saturday @ 5:00pm or Sunday February 17th @ 6:00am on am1150 or check your local channels for programming details.
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Source: National Institute of Building Sciences
RBc: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) ...what else matters (grin)?
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Excerpt: “Integrated health, on the other hand, represents an
approach to individual and population health which respects and includes all areas,
such as the physical and social environment, education, agriculture and
architecture. I know that this is a somewhat wider definition of integration
than commonly used, but I want to argue that a successful health service needs
to embrace this broader and more complex concept of integration.”
Source: HRH The Prince of Wales, “Integrated health and post modern medicine”, Journal of The Royal Society of Medicine, 2012: 105: 496–498
Glad to see the health reference to the physical environment and architecture.
“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” World Health Organization
“We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us.” Winston Churchill
Additional reading:
Last weeks post: BC Building Info
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18 Dec, 2012 10:37 CET Indoor environments that are too hot, too cold or draughty
create discomfort and lower human productivity. MSc (Tech) Riikka Holopainen
from VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, has written a doctoral thesis on
a new method for estimating the actual level of human thermal comfort in
low-energy buildings. The method is also the first of its kind to be integrated
with a building simulation tool. Factoring in the different ways in which
buildings are used and the different kinds of people using them at the design
stage can help to improve energy efficiency and human comfort.
Energy-efficient passive and zero-energy buildings require considerably less heating than traditional buildings. Traditional HVAC solutions are therefore no longer suitable for designing indoor environments for low-energy buildings.
The Human Thermal Model (HTM) is a new technique developed by Senior Scientist Riikka Holopainen from VTT in her doctoral thesis, which can be used to design and create optimal indoor environments for low-energy buildings. One of the novelties of the method is the fact that it allows scientists to measure how different solutions are likely to affect human thermal comfort and the energy efficiency of buildings at the design stage.
The model is based on the physiological thermal control system of the human body, and it can be used to calculate the actual level of human thermal comfort in both steady-state and transient thermal environments. The thesis introduces the first ever mathematical application that integrates a building simulation tool with human thermal sensation. The model also produces information about previously complex comparisons, such as the effects of different structural solutions and HVAC systems on human thermal sensation.
Earlier models for measuring the comfort of indoor environments have not taken account of the human body’s own thermal control system. These methods are also insufficient for designing passive and zero-energy buildings. Models based on laboratory measurements, for example, overestimate the heat perceived by humans in warm conditions and underestimate it in cool conditions. They also factor in clothing as a hermetically sealed unit similar to a diving suit.
Both internal and external factors affect human thermal sensation. Internal factors include personal characteristics, anatomy, activity level, whether work is physical, and clothing. External factors include room temperature, which covers air and surface temperature, as well as air velocity and relative humidity. Holopainen has demonstrated that the most important factors contributing to thermal sensation and comfort are air and surface temperature, activity level and clothing.
Ensuring building optimisation and human comfort at the design stage
Indoor environments that are too hot, too cold or draughty create discomfort and lower human productivity. Bed-bound patients in hospitals, for example, spend a great deal of time lying still and therefore need a sufficiently warm indoor environment and bedclothes. Checkout operators in shops, on the other hand, may have to sit in heat in summer and in cold and draughts in winter. Factoring in the different ways in which buildings are used and the different kinds of people using them at the design stage can help to optimise indoor environments and improve human comfort. Employees can also be given clothing advice.
The Human Thermal Model is suitable for both new builds and renovations. Engineering firms and the construction industry can now develop their products to better meet the needs of different buildings and users.
In the future, the HTM and building automation systems will work together to automatically regulate ventilation, heating and cooling according to actual needs, incorporating human thermal comfort as an integral aspect of workplace productivity enhancement.
Source: Holopainen, R., A human thermal model for improved thermal comfort, Doctor of Science in Technology Thesis, Aalto University, VTT, December 2012
<http://www.vtt.fi/inf/pdf/science/2012/S23.pdf>
Additional reading:
Thermal Comfort: A Condition of Mind
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Creating a free online tool for evaluating comfort according
to ASHRAE Standard-55.
The Center for the Built Environment have developed a web-based graphical user interface for thermal comfort prediction according to ASHRAE Standard-55. It includes models for conventional building systems (predicted mean vote) and also for comfort using the adaptive comfort model, and with increased air speeds (for example, when using fans for cooling). It also provides new features such as visualization of comfort boundaries within the psychrometric chart.
The tool works in Firefox, Chrome and Safari. Internet Explorer is not supported
Hoyt Tyler, Schiavon Stefano, Moon Dustin, and Steinfeld Kyle, 2012, CBE Thermal Comfort Tool for ASHRAE-55. Center for the Built Environment, University of California Berkeley, http://cbe.berkeley.edu/comforttool
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As our long time readers know, we feel strongly that HVAC trade
schools along with architectural and engineering programs should teach the
basics in human anatomy and physiology; for those parts related to the indoor
environment.
It just makes so much sense that those in industry responsible for indoor spaces should be able to explain how the indoor climate affects the body or how the body responds to the indoor climate.
Doesn't it make sense to you as well?
How long would it take to explain the fundamentals?
Two hours.
We know you don't have two hours to spare online so we’ve uploaded a sample on thermal comfort that we teach in our integrated design program at the following link:
< http://www.healthyheating.com/Thermal-Comfort-in-Simple-Terms.htm>
It’s basic but educational enough that it should open reader’s eyes as to how we sense and percieve temperature.
How long to read it?
10 min. max.
Enjoy,
RB
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Preview from the REHVA Journal December 2012 issue; Highlights from the Indoor climate in low energy buildings – main topic in Healthy Buildings Conference
Excerpt from one conference report: “Occupants were generally satisfied with their new houses, but were most dissatisfied with the thermal conditions. A majority (68%) specified that they experienced too warm during summer. This was the most prevalent complaint, and in agreement with physical measurements. During winter the occupants were also most dissatisfied with thermal conditions as 27% of respondents experienced too cold, and 25% found that the temperature varied too much. Additionally, there were a series of problems with the technical installations and their use was difficult. The energy use was higher than expected.”
If you haven’t had a chance to read the study, it concluded with a series of recommendations to increase occupant satisfaction in low energy houses:
• Avoid uncomfortably high temperatures during summer with external solar shading, consider the size of the windows facing towards the sun and make effective use of natural ventilation possible.
• Develop more robust and easy-to use technical installations enabling occupants to control the indoor climate and energy consumption as intended in their new relatively technically advanced house, e.g. by a single user-friendly user interface that can communicate with all relevant technical installations.
• Ensure that occupants can use their house as intended by technical installations being fully operational from day one.
• Communicate about the energy consumption so that occupants get realistic expectations according to their family situation and behavior.
Ok…so for our long time readers do you recognize any of these comments?
We'll be discussing more on these topics in our three day integrated design program.
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Download the REHVA December 2012 preview here:
Indoor climate in low energy buildings – main topic in Healthy Buildings Conference (PDF 2.6 MB)
Be sure to sign up for the REHVA eNewsletter - you can also download past issues here.
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Our favorite manuals on the properties and processes of moist air include Gately, D.P., Understanding Psychrometrics, ASHRAE, 2002 and Rutkowski, H., Psychrometrics: Theory and Application, ACCA Manual P, 2005; and anything written by Lew Harriman, Bill Rose, Tim Padfield, Joe Lstiburek or John Straube.
For the working stiff who just wants to dive right in without an in-depth theory discussion, the ACCA Manual P authored by Rutkowski and associated technical team is your friend…cover to cover it’s only 54 pages and will serve your studies well.
For a more in-depth study including a historical look at
psychrometrics you’ll want the ASHRAE publication authored by Gately. At 273
pages, it lacks nothing in subject matter and as far as we have discovered to
date has the most comprehensive and comprehendible theory of any other moisture
manuals in our library.
So there you have our recommendations…pick up the manuals through ASHRAE and ACCA and read content from the other noted resources (Google search psychrometrics+ name, i.e. psychrometrics + Lew Harriman).
If you’ve not downloaded our ACCA 2012 slides on Radiant Cooling for High Humidity Geographies, we invite you to do so before we remove the web page, currently located at this URL:
< http://www.healthyheating.com/ACCA_2012/ACCA-2012-Radiant-Cooling-PartI.htm >
To obtain the password simply join our Linked-In discussion group and start a new thread with your request; because we have many password protected presentation, it’s important that you copy and paste the above URL in the “add more detail” section.
This topic is part of our three day integrated design course and we’ll be covering it again in detail so if you missed our ASHRAE and ACCA presentations you can still catch us at various locations across Canada before the end of the year.
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"Because of poor acoustics, students in classrooms miss 50 percent of what their teachers say and patients in hospitals have trouble sleeping because they continually feel stressed. Julian Treasure sounds a call to action for designers to pay attention to the “invisible architecture” of sound."
RBc: "Noise goes up - heart rate goes up...this is not good for you."...We love this quote because it enforces what we have been teaching on indoor environmental quality...so many people believe the indoor air quality is the sole proxy for IEQ but this is a poor understanding of much more complex topic. Julian Treasure does a marvelous job emphasizing where indoor sound quality fits into the grand scheme of quality indoor spaces.
Once again the building professionals are connected to health professionals through the needs of the occupants.
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Just wanted to set aside some time to thank Dan Foley(Foley Mechanical), the fine folks at the Air Conditioning Contractors of America and the corporate sponsors of the recently held ACCA Hydronics Roundtable event. In alphabetical order they include;
A special thank you to Uponor one of our educational partners for bringing our Radiant Cooling for High Humidity Geographies to the conference attendees.
With ACCA’s Quality Assurance program and these manufactures and service providers’ commitment to excellence there can be confidence in the design and installation of radiant based HVAC systems in America.
Thanks to all.
Robert Bean, R.E.T., P.L.(Eng.)
Registered Engineering Technologist - Building construction (ASET)
Professional Licensee (Engineering) - HVAC (APEGGA)
Building Sciences / Industry Development
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Suggested research priorities include:
1.Establish the optimal daily pattern of light and dark exposures for good mental and physical health.
2.Determine how our homes can help us to live in the healthy pattern of light and dark, taking into account the way we use windows and shading to control privacy, glare and temperature, as well as light exposures and view.
3.Develop design solutions and technologies for different climates that deliver healthy light, warmth, view, and fresh air, with a minimum of energy use.
Source: Health and well-being through residential windows , National research Council Canada, Volume 17, Number 3, September 2012 , < http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/ci/v17n3/4.html> accessed September 17, 2012
Suggested reading:
Veitch, J.A., The physiological and psychological effects of windows, daylight, and view at home, NRC Institute for Research in Construction, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, NRCC-54002, May 2011, <http://archive.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/obj/irc/doc/pubs/nrcc54002.pdf> accessed September 17th, 2012
Veitch, J.A., The Physiological and Psychological Effects of Windows, Daylight, and View at Home, NRC Institute for Research in Construction, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, February, 2012, <http://archive.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/obj/irc/doc/pubs/nrcc54002.pdf > accessed September 17th, 2012
RBc: As we have said many times before – the building scientist is intimately connected to the heat scientist through the physiological and psychological needs of the occupants.
Ironically most academic architectural and engineering programs do not teach human factor fundamentals and the knowledge of such elements does not cross the radar screen of building contractors including the various sub trades. What does this mean? It means the various people on your construction project potentially having an effect on you physiologically and psychologically have no training in this area…go figure.
These and other items are fodder for our three day integrated design program.
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I love this presentation because it’s the perfect analogy for the HVAC industry – it is representative of what we’ve been preaching about for over two decades. Our own rules for HVAC are based on the hypothesis that HVAC is a consumer product as such one should; “design for people, design for simplicity and design for familiarity”...to do this takes a study in industrial design, product ergonomics, and ethnography/anthropology…fields of study that don’t typically fall on the radar screens of the HVAC designer/distributor and contractor.
Have a look - see if you can see the HVAC industry within this talk...especially if you are from the hydronics business.
Suggested further studies:
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