Summer thermal comfort: compliance assessment and overheating prevention in new apartment buildings in Estonia

摘要

This study analyses which building parameters contribute the most to overheating in dwellings and which properties will make a room critical', to be chosen for compliance assessment procedure through temperature simulation, as required in Estonia for new residential buildings. Indoor temperature measurements, conducted in 18 apartments from 16 apartment buildings, show clear evidence of overheating. Compliance assessment of 25 new buildings were conducted using IDA-ICE software. The analysed sample consisted of typical multi-storeyed buildings with mainly massive concrete structures. From the simulated buildings, 68% did not meet the requirements, showing that this relatively new building code requirement was not fully established in practice. Results of the analysis indicate that the requirement in apartment buildings is achievable without cooling, if passive measures are properly applied. Recommendations are given to designers, as well as policy-makers, to improve the situation in the residential building sector.