English

Numerical modelling is performed for three-dimensional turbulent buoyant flows emerging from an air diffuser in an air-conditioned, ventilated room. The velocity and temperature distributions of air in the room are calculated, and the calculated results are found to be in reasonable agreement with published experimental observations. Calculations of Air Diffusion Performance Index (ADPI) for a sidewall grille are carried out for different flow rates of air supply. The predicted ADPI values are found generally to be consistent with the corresponding experimental values.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (formerly the National Bureau of Standards) has through an interagency agreement with the Public Building Service of the General Services Administration performed an evaluation of the thermal and environmental performance of a new Federal office building in Portland OR. The building was constructed during the 1986 and 1987 and occupancy began in August of 1987. This evaluation is part of a research effort by the Center for Building Technology of NIST to develop methods for evaluating advanced technology buildings.

The ventilation and leakage characteristics of suspended floors are not well documented. As part of a larger study of air flows in housing, the air flow through a suspended floor has been investigated under a number of conditions and methods of ventilation. The leakage of the suspended floor and the space beneath it has been measured and is compared with the house leakage.

More than two months of detailed test data have been gathered using modified constant concentration tracer gas techniques for a six-storey, 60 apartment, multi-family building. Weather, and interior conditions in the building were part of the data set. Because of occupant effects, large changes in air exchange rates were observed, often over short time period. The test apartment allowed us to evaluate the influences of weather alone with the added feature to employ controlled window openings.

Experimental investigations concerning energy savings achieved in buildings with passive solar components (e.g. large south-front windows, sunspaces or Trombe walls) have already been effected under test conditions. Since, however, the influence was found to be a very strong one, the main purpose of the present project was to analyze inhabitants' acceptance and use of various components like shading devices, moveable heat insulation, manual ventilation, room temperatures, and heating systems.

Air quality and draught avoidance are fairly important to office staff; consequently, the occupant's perspective should be taken into account when assessing the relative merits of different methods of ventilation in office buildings. Environmental comfort ratings and a variety of other judgements were collected in interviews with 169 staff in two air-conditioned and three naturally ventilated office buildings.