The Effect of Shading Device and Natural Ventilation on Thermal Comfort in Office Buildings

Window opening ratios have bigger role on thermal comfort conditions of buildings than size and type of fixed external shading devices. In this study, author analyzed an office with standard envelope, by using EDSL Tas software with PMV and PPD results according to thermal sensations of ASHRAE, ISO 7730: 2005 and EN 15251: 2007 for generating the effect by window opening ratio and size of horizontal shading device which affect thermal comfort in Mediterranean climate conditions of Famagusta region. The building which dynamic thermal simulations have been done for it, is oriented on east to west because of the best wind availability. PMV and PPD results showed that thermal comfort is affected by window opening ratios. Annual averaged PMV performance of the simulated office is based on the office hours, this paper shows; 30 cm long with or without any horizontal shading device, when the window is 0% (closed) open PMV is -0.34. When window is 25% open, PMV is -0.25. When window is 50% open (half), PMV is -0.21. When window is 75% open, PMV is -0.2 and when window is 100% (full) open PMV is -0.19. Moreover, according to category A, when PMV is -0.2 to 0.2, averaged yearly thermal comfort based on office hours obtained is approximately 326 hours of all year, according to category B, when PMV is -0.5 to 0.5, averaged yearly thermal comfort obtained is approximately 742 hours of all year and according to category C, when PMV is -0.7 to 0.7, averaged yearly thermal comfort obtained is 915 hours of all year. Keywords: Fixed shading devices, Mediterranean climate, PMV and PPD, ISO, EDSL Tas Software, Thermal comfort.