Compliance with Summer Thermal Comfort Requirements in Apartment Buildings

Abstract

In this study we have investigated the compliance with summer thermal comfort requirements of 16 new apartment buildings in Estonia by modelling and simulating dwellings using energy and indoor climate simulation software IDA-ICE. We also conducted field measurements of indoor temperature in 17 dwellings in 16 different apartment buildings during the period from 1 July to 31 August 2014. It has been found that 81.3% of the simulated buildings do not comply with the requirements. Measurements show that overheating can be a problem in apartment buildings also in cold climate regions.