Façade Improvements to Avoid Draught in Cold Climates – Laboratory Measurements

With the goal of increasing building flexibility and reducing energy use, yet ensuring IAQ, the feasibility of natural ventilation in a building in Oslo is studied. However, the use of direct outdoor air poses some challenges in the Norwegian cold climate, particularly the risk of thermal discomfort due to draught and low local temperatures. The goal of this paper is to study the most suitable solution to avoid draught in cold climates while maintaining the required airflow rates.
In the presented test these airflow rates are studied to be supplied only by window opening with unidirectional airflow. Experiments are done in a full-scale model of an office for 2 persons in laboratory facilities with a temperature difference between indoor and outdoor of ca. 25 degrees. 16 types of potential improvements are studied at two airflow rates. Principle solutions to reduce the risk of thermal discomfort are presented.