Overview

The objective of building design is to provide a thermally comfortable in space environment for building occupants. If you accept this premise, then the measurement of energy performance, and occupant thermal comfort must not only include mean radiant temperature, be based upon operative temperature, and allow for location specific measurements of conformance to design objectives.

ABOVE is a unique computer program that provides building and room heating and cooling information filtered by the impact of human thermal comfort based upon operative temperature. The Windows® based program is easy to use, requiring basic room or building information inputs necessary to calculate thermal transfer into and out of the built environment.

Selected graphic output is quickly generated on readily available personal computers. Users select input factors like convection output and locations, radiant in space heater or cooling panel output and location, design configuration and component thermal transfer values, design temperature conditions, solar factors, infiltration factors, and other analysis specific information. ABOVE produces specified numerical and graphic information that enables the user to evaluate the effectiveness of the input design factors in meeting the design objectives.

The temperature contour graph, known as the THERMAL COMFORT SIGNATURE®, TCS®, may be produced in color/black and white, °F/°C temperature index required, horizontal/vertical plane at whatever location desired. The resultant TCS graphically portrays the areas by temperature gradient specified in dry bulb, mean radiant, or operative temperature an occupant would experience under the designed conditions.

The program is dynamic, enabling numeric and graphic performance analysis under the range of daily and seasonal conditions, permitting evaluation of stratification and radiant asymmetry impacts. By quantifying location design performance provided by ABOVE, the user can optimize the design to meet thermal requirements for each area, use, or application. Finally, the program delivers information about the energy required to produce the specified thermal environment.

ABOVE provides the user with a design tool that relates heating system design to in-space occupant thermal comfort. Knowledge of thermal comfort impacts by location empowers the user to evaluate building and HVAC design tradeoffs leading to development of accurate information of dynamic building energy and thermal comfort performance.

How the program works:

ABOVE actually calculates the results of the input factors that describe the building design for the defined uniform rectangular space or building. Currently, the LBL Windows 5.2, US DOE Weather Program xxx, and US DOE Degree Day, and Design Temperature Program xxx, Energy Plus, and Bild, links are included in the program for information input.

Program out put includes dynamic and equilibrium:

• Slab on grade heat transfer
• Fenestration heat transfer and thermal comfort impacts
• Mean Radiant, Dry Bulb, and Operative Temperature data output
• Radiant panel sizing and design requirements
• Convection in-space sizing and design requirements
• Temperature gradients by location in vertical/horizontal plane
• Comparative in-space energy consumption
• Temperature information for building component surfaces
• Impact of internal and external radiant heating or cooling
• Daylighting energy and thermal comfort analysis
• Passive solar energy and thermal comfort analysis
• Trombe wall and thermal storage energy and thermal comfort analysis
• Fire place energy and thermal comfort impacts .
• Thermal storage unit energy and thermal comfort impacts
• Hybrid system design energy and thermal comfort impacts

Program applications:

ABOVE was developed for use in the design of all types of buildings using convective or radiant heating or cooling systems to provide occupant thermal comfort. The program empowers each of the building designers -architect, mechanical engineer, contractor, owner, developer - to evaluate the impact of solar and nocturnal radiation, as well as the use of different fenestration for day lighting, thermal storage, or solar optimization in both new construction and renovation projects.

ABOVE is a must have tool for quick, easy, desk top analysis of every day and state of the art building and HVAC design options. The user is able to move from 'shot gun' design to precise 'rifle' design accuracy. Each of the many building and HVAC design component options may be independently evaluated in relation to the 'set' or 'given' design parameters, in relation to energy and occupant thermal comfort. Regardless of which program is now being used, ABOVE empowers the user to fine tune the master building and HVAC design to optimize energy use in relation to occupant thermal comfort.