Chilled ceiling and beams - BRE research.

There is increased interest in using chilled ceilings and beams for cooling in UK buildings, on account of their perceived advantages over traditional air or chilled water based systems. However, there is currently limited knowledge or experience of the use of chilled ceiling and beam systems in the UK, and there is no proper professional guidance. Designers are particularly concerned to avoid condensation occurring on the exposed cold surfaces that could cause a health problem or lead to the so-called "office rain" effect. BRE has monitored the performance of operational chilled ceiling and beam cooling systems in four buildings during the summer of 1996 as part of a larger CIBSE research project to develop guidance on the design and operation of chilled  ceiling and beam systems. This paper reports some preliminary findings from the building monitoring, and discusses the need for condensation control strategies.