Thermal Comfort & Overheating

The risk of overheating in buildings, both residential and commercial, is becoming more common due to the increasing use of lightweight construction methods, the high levels of insulation and low air permeability rates required to meet increasing CO2 emission and energy performance standards. Moreover, cities are expected to experience an increasing risk of overheating due to climate change and the urban heat island phenomenon. This has implications for the occupants’ productivity and health, whilst also increasing the energy demand for cooling and ventilation.

SRE’s building physics specialists undertake detailed dynamic simulation modelling, under various thermal comfort standards (CIBSE Guide A, TM52, TM59; ASHRAE Standard 55; BB 101; HTM 03-01) to inform overheating risk and thermal comfort levels. These reports can also be used in support of BREEAM and planning applications.