Comfort in Buildings - Comfort Control in Buildings - page 60

Fig. 3.10 Acceptable range of operative temperature and humidity for spaces that meet the criteria
specified in this section. Source : (ASHRAE55 1992 )

Table 3.10 Comfort zones inside the psychometric diagram
Parameter

Summer Winter

Indoor air temperature ( ◦ C) 23-26 20-24

Relative humidity (%) 40-60 40-60

3.3.3.3 Givoni Diagrams

These kinds of diagrams, developed by Baruch Givoni, are based on the psycho-
metric diagram, that is, they use air humidity and temperature main characteristics
to evaluate thermal sensation and comfort. Its main objective is to determine the
microclimate conditions inside buildings which allow the researchers to evaluate
the heating and cooling energy necessary to maintain adequate comfort conditions
(Fernández 1994 ).
To do that, on the common psychometric diagram, some comfort zones for the
winter and the summer are superimposed. The characteristics of these zones can be
observed in Table 3.10 . In addition, a scheme is also included which contains the
main strategies which will be necessary to apply in order to correct the behaviour
of the building, that is, to translate a data point from outside to the comfort zone
(Givoni 1994 ). As an example, if most parts of the points fall into the E zone, the
recommended strategy will be to turn on the ventilation in order to move these points
into the comfort zone, see Fig. 3.11 .