The evaluation of comfort in passively heated dwellings

This paper refers to both US experience and to preliminary results from UK field trials in assessing the extent to which the thermal characteristics of different types of passive system meet the design requirements for comfort. The approach put forward is from the point of view of the designer who wishes to minimise the risk of discomfort arising in a dwelling which has a heating load that will be met in part by passive solar heating. The thermal characteristics of the different types of passive system are discussed. Possible localised sources of discomfort are examined, and various design strategies which can be adopted to avoid the risk of discomfort are suggested. Finally, the value of comfort indices is briefly discussed in relation to the evaluation of comfort in passively heated dwellings.