English

This report describes results from the first group of field measurements of the air change rate in 49 nonresidential buildings in the Stale o"f California. The air change rate measurements were made using a tracer gas method. Procedures were based on protocols developed in ''Protocol for Measuring the Air Change Rate in Non-residential Buildings." Purpose of the tests was to obtain preliminary data for determining the effect of the various California Energy Codes on the air change rates in non-residential buildings.

This report describes various measurement protocols to be used in the measurement of air change rates in non-residential buildings. The measurement protocols are based on the use of tracer gas techniques.

Ventilating a fire compartment during operational fire fighting procedures may have unpredictable consequences. In some cases the ventilation is advantageous: the hot gases are removed from the fire enclosure, the visibility improves and the enclosure cools down. In some cases the opposite happens: with the accelerated burning rate, more smoke is spread around, and the temperatures rise. The most dramatic consequence is the initiation of a backdraft, where the pyrolyzed gases ignite instantaneously, in the worst case causing a severe explosion.

As part of a long-term investigation into fabric energy storage systems, EA Technology has been monitoring the headquarters of Weidmuller Interface, the first UK application of Termodeck, since the building was occupied in July 1994. Has the system lived up to expectations?

Natural night-time ventilation is often used to pre-cool low energy buildings, but can lead to security risks and weather damage. A prototype night ventilator has been built to combat such problems, but how has it performed in field tests?