Passive Houses: Thermal Comfort

Due to improved thermal insulation, temperatures of surfaces and the the room air are converging: temperatures of radiant heat become almost the same as air temperature, no disturbing anisotropic cold or warm radiation and no discomforting temperature stratification. In winter and in summer, perceptible temperatures stay within a comfortable temperature range. And indoor airflow can be decelerated to a very low rate. Thereby preeminently meeting the international criteria (ISO 7730), which are based on the groundbreaking works by P.O. Fanger. It is to be expected of building physics, but is it standing up to reality?

On former Conferences on Passive Houses, we have already had important contributions on the topic of thermal comfort, e.g. by Mr. Wolfgang Novak at the 9th Conference on Passive Houses in Ludwigshafen: ”In residential buildings with Passive House standard, there are no limitations of thermal comfort even under extrem winter conditions. ... Even close to the interior surfaces of exterior walls, measured parameters of comfort stay within the range of thermal comfort. If the required additional heating is supplied by supply air or by seperate radiators is.... negligible....”

Optimal thermal comfort in Passive Houses
no cold surfaces, not even on windows	no cold air, no perceptible airflow, not even on account of the ventilation system

Occupants explicitly praise thermal comfort in the living space again and again. A number of further analyses dealing with this topic are on the way. For the future, it is important to learn by experiences from already realised projects. That is why thermal comfort is the topic of

working group no.5: Analyses and Experiences with Thermal Comfort.

All contributions whether objective physical measurement data (laboratory or field data), socioscientific analyses or reports of case studies are welcome.

You want to submit a paper? Find more Information here.

Time schedule of the 10th International Conference on Passive Houses in Hannover

2005 Dezember 1st: Deadline for abstracts
2006 February 1st:    Notification on acceptance of abstracts
2006 March 1st:         Registration period for reduced fee ends
2006 March 15th:       Deadline for the written contributions of the preceedings

2006 May 19th and 20th   10. Conference on Passive Houses HCC Hannover with Exhibition on Passive House Components and manufacturers session

May 21st field trip to the most interesting Passive House projects and construction sites incl. refurbishment in the region near Hannover.

(updated:2005-10-07   © Passivhouse Institute PHI; this page might be reprinted if unchanged)

The PHI is not responsible for the content of linked web-pages. 
Passive House Institute, Dr. Wolfgang Feist. mail@passiv.de.