The Impact of Sun Radiation on the Thermal Comfort in Highly Glazed Buildings Equipped with Floor Heating Systems

Abstract

Occupants of highly glazed buildings often suffer from thermal discomfort during the mid-seasons when no shadings are used in such buildings, especially when inertial heating systems are used. The present study is devoted to evaluating the impact of long solar beam exposure on the internal thermal discomfort in glazed spaces when heating is implemented through a floor system. A comprehensive experimental study is carried out using an experimental bi-climatic chamber which is fully monitored and controlled, allowing realistic simulations of the dynamic movement of the sun patch on a heated slab. The findings show that a period of discomfort as long as 8 h can occur, and persist far after the sunbeam exposure stops. During this period, the heating slab’s surface temperature, considered from an average point of view, can attain 34°C while the indoor temperature reaches 26°C. Simulations conducted using a previously developed model display a good fit with the measurements.