Thermal Comfort

Two Points Are Available In This Credit; The Second Point Is Dependent On The First Being Achieved.

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Thermal comfort Accredited Professionals

We provide advice, support and information related to thermal comfort principles, structure, timing and processes, at all stages of the project, leading to certification.

Credit criteria

14.1 Thermal Comfort; 1 point is available where a high degree of thermal comfort is provided to occupants in the space, equivalent to 80% of all occupants being satisfied in the space. 14.2 Advanced Thermal Comfort; 1 additional point is available where a high degree of thermal comfort is provided to occupants in the space, equivalent to 90% of all occupants being satisfied in the space. * Where HVAC systems are not installed or fully fitted out at the time of As Built submission, thermal comfort modelling may be carried out as outlined in the Guidance section.

 

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17+ Years Experience In ESD

Our diverse team of Professionals include, Architects, Engineers and ESD Specialists. We have been around long enough to work on all possible project types. See our Past Projects. Deemed to satisfy as our team goes through 100's Section J reports every year.

Nominated area

For this credit, the nominated area includes all primary and secondary spaces.Please see the ‘List of Areas’ section of the Submission Guidelines for space type definitions.Where the functional requirements of the space dictate that thermal comfort requirements differ from those of this credit (such as a laboratory), or if the space will not be regularly occupied (for example a warehouse floor), these areas may be excluded. The reasons for exclusion must be justified by the project team.

 

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One (1) point is awarded where project teams demonstrate that, for 95% of the nominated area and 98% of the year, a high degree of thermal comfort is provided. There are a number of options for demonstrating compliance depending on the type of space, as follows.

  1. Naturally Ventilated Spaces – The internal temperatures in each space are within 80% of Acceptability Limit 1 of ASHRAE Standard 55-2013, in accordance with 14.1A;

  2. Mechanically Ventilated Spaces – The space meets specified prescriptive criteria for Thermal Comfort or the Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) levels are between -1 and +1, inclusive, in accordance with 14.1B; or

  3. Residential Spaces – An average NatHERS rating of 7 Stars or greater is achieved, in accordance with 14.1C.

A combination of methods is acceptable.

For naturally ventilated spaces, project teams must demonstrate that internal temperatures in each space are within 80% of the following requirements.

Ventilation Requirements:

  • Acceptability Limit 1 as per standard ASHRAE 55-2013, it must be shown that occupants have direct control over the opening and closing of windows, and that these are the main sources of ventilation; and

  • These spaces can contain ceiling fans or a heating system (see ASHRAE 55-2013 section 5.3 for more information)

A total of 4 points are presented as additional prescriptive measures and are shown on the right. The prescriptive points are combined with the results of the Energy Consumption Reduction and Greenhouse Gas Emissions reduction components of this pathway.

14.1B.A Prescriptive Thermal Comfort Requirements

This option can only be applied in NCC climate zones 1-7; projects in NCC Climate Zone 8 are required to demonstrate compliance via thermal modelling, in accordance with 14.1.2B.

To comply with this requirement, the HVAC system and building façade must meet the following requirements.

HVAC system requirements:

  • Dry bulb temperature must be between 20°C and 24°C.

  • Relative humidity must be controlled between 40% and 60%.

  • Air velocity must be no more than 0.2m/s with no supply air directed at occupants (unless they have direct control over air flow and/or direction).

  • Systems must have modulation/turn down capability (i.e. the demonstrated ability to maintain both dry bulb temperature and relative humidity at low space loads).

  • The system must have distinct internal zones (no more than 120 m2) and external perimeter zones (no more than 75m2) with independent temperature controls. Perimeter zones must have a maximum depth of 4m and cannot serve more than one orientation. Small deviations are allowed for zone sizes at the discretion of the mechanical engineer.

    Building façade requirements:

  • Solar Heat Gain Coefficient of façade glazing must be 0.3 or lower; OR, maximum solar heat gain through the glass must be calculated as no greater than 250W/m2 peak.

  • Total glazing U-Value (inclusive of glass and frame) is 3.0W/m2.K or lower.

For this option, PMV levels must be calculated in accordance with either ISO 7730-2005 or ASHRAE Standard 55-2013. The specified PMV levels must be met for each zone, not as an average.

Modelling must be carried out in accordance with ASHRAE Standard 55-2013. All inputs into the modelling or calculations (e.g. building form, materials, air conditioning system(s), shading, internal loads, etc.) must be clearly justified and referenced consistently throughout the rest of the submission (i.e. in related credits such as 'Greenhouse Gas Emissions' (15) or ‘Indoor Air Quality’ (9)). Values must be justified and sourced from either ASHRAE Standard 55-2013 or ISO 7730-2005. Alternative values may be accepted with proper justification and sourcing.

For equitable assessment the model must comply with the following requirements:

  • Perimeter zones shall have a maximum depth of 4m;

  • Zoning shall match the air conditioning zones (with the exception of perimeter zones which must be 4m in depth) with exceptions permitted for small enclosed spaces at the discretion of the mechanical engineer (e.g. a small perimeter office);

  • Inter-zone partitions should be modelled;

  • Each perimeter shall be reported independently (e.g. North, South, East and West);

  • Perimeter air conditioning zones cannot exceed 75m2;

  • Perimeter zones shall be reported independently of interior zones;

  • Model shall be completed with all systems assessed simultaneously;

  • Comfort predictions shall be measured at the midpoint of each zone (i.e. if the perimeter zone is 4m deep then the comfort prediction will be 2m from the perimeter), or taken as an average across the zone.

  • Comfort predictions shall be measured at a height of between 0.8 and 1.5m above finished floor level (FFL) of each zone, or taken as an average across the zone.

For this option, project teams must demonstrate that the space achieves an average NatHERS rating of 7 Stars or greater. Modelling must be completed in accordance with NCC Section J requirements. For more in depth information please contact us. 

One (1) additional point is awarded where project teams demonstrate that, for 95% of the nominated area and 98% of the year, a high degree of thermal comfort is provided. There are a number of methods for demonstrating compliance, as follows:

14.2A Naturally Ventilated Spaces

A. The internal temperatures in each space are within 90% of Acceptability Limit 1 of ASHRAE Standard 55-2013, in accordance with 14.1A Ventilation Requirements;

14.2B Mechanically Ventilated Spaces

B. The Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) levels are between -0.5 and +0.5, inclusive, in accordance with 14.1B.B Thermal Modelling Requirements;

14.2C Residential Spaces

C. An average NatHERS rating of 8 Stars or greater is achieved. Modelling must be completed in accordance with NCC Section J requirements.

A combination of methods is acceptable.

By default, this additional point is deemed ‘Not Applicable’ for retail and industrial projects, given that the majority of the spaces in these buildings will be transitory. For other projects, this point may need to be made ‘Not Applicable’. Please contact the GBCA if you believe this should be the case.

Innovative Technology or Process – Individual Comfort Control
One (1) additional point is available where the project has open plan work spaces (such as offices or education facilities), has achieved either the first or second ‘Thermal Comfort’ point, is mechanically ventilated, and meets the following requirements for individual thermal comfort control.

The individual comfort control system must allow control over at least one of the following:

  •   Air velocity;

  •   Temperature (whether radiant or from direct air temperature); or

  •   Air direction.

Spaces Where HVAC Is Not Fully Installed At Time of Submission

Where HVAC systems are not installed or fully fitted out at the time of submission, thermal comfort modelling may be carried out in line with the following requirements, in addition to those in 14.1.2:

  • Internal tenant loads including lighting and small power must be modelled using a notional fitout assuming the most energy intensive fitout allowable by NCC Section J, or according to the lease agreement or tenant fitout guide.

  • HVAC system zoning, cooling capacity, delivered air velocity and delivered air temperature may be assumed as aligned with other like spaces or floors within the building. Alternatively, a design as provided by the mechanical engineer is acceptable.

  • It may be assumed that an HVAC system has separate internal and perimeter zones with independent temperature control. The assumptions must then be provided to the tenant as part of the fitout guide.

  • Outdoor air rates and base building HVAC supply and relief air rates must be aligned with the as built mechanical design.

  • All other attributes are modelled in line with the requirements for 14.1.2.

Existing Buildings

An approximation of the estimated thermal and visual properties of an existing façade (e.g. the U-values and shading coefficients of walls/glazing) can be used, provided that all assumptions made are conservative (i.e. described the 'worst-case scenario').

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