Office Development, Norwich
Gladwood were commissioned to undertake thermal modelling, compliance checking and EPC asset rating of a proposed Office Building at Costessey, Norwich using IES (Integrated Environmental Solution) software. This project was commissioned by the Building Contractor and Gladwood worked closely with the design team to achieve the required EPC rating so the correct BREEAM credits could be awarded.
The proposed office development consists of a three storey structure incorporating open plan offices, meeting rooms and conference facilities.
The building is to be naturally ventilated. Opening lights are to be on actuators. Between 06:00-20:00 these will open when internal temperatures within office spaces are between 21°C - 24°C, and when the external air temperature is ≤ 24°C. Between 20:00 and 06:00 these will open when office temperatures are ≥21°C and when the external air temperature is less than the internal air temperature. Stale warm air from within the office spaces is to leave the building via convection chimneys which draw air from the office areas via high level bulk heads which eject air from the building via roof mounted monodraught louvers. The convection chimneys are controlled via automated dampers which open in unison with the automated windows. Windows are also designed to open when internal CO² levels exceed tolerable limits.
Gladwood also investigated how the EPC asset rating can be reduced to ≤25 through the implementation of the Monodraught ‘Cool-Phase’ mechanical ventilation system. The system utilises a ‘thermal battery’ composed of ‘Phase Change Material’ (PCM), over which external air is drawn. The PCM exploits the latent heat capacity available from the phase change of the material between solid and liquid states. This results in a material that behaves similar to a high thermal mass material, but without the mass and space penalties. Using the DSM (dynamic simulation method) we were able to show the benefits using the above Monodraft system. This system achieved the EPC rating required and using construction methods that the Building Contractor was happy to implement.
