English

Describes the testing of 8 federal office buildings (size from 3000 sq.m. - 45000 sq.m.) for their air infiltration characteristics, as part of the NBS program to develop diagnostic test methods for evaluating the thermal integrity of federal office buildings. Performs tracer gas tests in the autumn, winter and spring to evaluate both the ventilation of these buildings during occupied periods and the natural air leakage under various weather conditions.

Reports the results of measurement of ventilation efficiency in a full scale model of a small office with a diffuse air supply, which can be used to improve ventilation efficiency and therefore reduce air supply rates. Steady state and transient definitions of ventilation efficiency are given. Finds that ventilation efficiency depends on air flow rate and heat gain in the office. Higher air flow rates give lower pollutant concentration in the ocupied zone but also more mixing between the occupied and under-ceiling zones.

Despite having balanced mechanical ventilation, a large number of modern buildings in Sweden have unsatisfactory indoor climate. Problems include mould, irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, skin rashes, feelings of dryness, hoarseness andheadaches. To control ventilation according to requirements the right indicator variable must be selected and the system must permit the proper control in the occupied zones. Measurements of air pollutants were carried out outside and inside a mechanically ventilated office building.

Discusses the problems associated with poor air quality in tight buildings. Considers how problem conditions can be identified and evaluated, and gives some possible solutions to improving air quality. These include turning the thermostat down slightly, increasing ventilation levels, and ensuring that themechanical ventilation system is working properly, or calling in a specialist to identify the problem.

States that in localities which must be ventilated by law such as cinemas, restaurants and assembly rooms of various kinds the fresh air supply is often greatly in excess of what is strictly needed. This excess air has to be transported, and possibly heated, cooled, humidified and dehumidified. Describes how controlling the air quality makes it possible to restrict the quantity of fresh air to the basic requirements, thereby keeping ventilation heat losses to a minimum. The control variable is the room air quality as monitored by a sensor.

Describes the results of air tightness tests of various service penetrations through a polythene vapour barrier and associated insulation. The service penetrations studied were insulated and uninsulated ventilation ducts, plastics, pipes, electrical boxes and electrical conduits. Various methods of sealing the penetration were tested for each case. Recommendations are made for choice of sealing method based on performance and case of installation. Examples are given of the effect of leakage through service penetrations on total building leakage.

Parts 2 and 3 of a series of articles. Describes office buildings with natural and mechanical ventilation systems mentioned in part one, where the mechanical ventilation plus humidification and cooling is used only during the coldest parts of the winter and hottest parts of the summer. Provides comparative cost analysis for the building. Discusses design criteria to take account of fullor part time natural ventilation. Treats maximum room depths, window types,external and internal doors, furniture, room layouts.

The report aims to provide the basis for the design and set up of experiments for the evaluation of the effects of energy conservation measures in residential buildings. The first part deals with general planning of the experiment, basic principles of building physics, thermal comfort and energy related behaviour of occupants. The second part decribes the design of the experiment, and the third part is devoted to measurement techniques, data acquisition and installation rules in the different fields of building physics and heating systems.

The estimation of the average wind pressures on buildings can be made via wind tunnel measurements. Carries out measurements on 5 models of buildings under various conditions. With the aid of these results and some interpolation, makes a prediction of the average wind pressure for a large number of buildings. Includes studies of the effects on the pressure caused by another building upwind.

Presents the results of an experiment designed to measure the additional energy savings achieved by adding two person days of house doctoring to a standard energy audit. Compares a house doctor and audit treatment to an audit alone and to a passive control group. Treatments were applied to randomly selected groups of 10 houses each in Walnut Creek California. The difference in energy savings between the treatments, based on monthly utility bills, were not statistically significant due to wide variation in savings and the loss of several houses from each group.