Predicted Ventilation Rate and Thermal Comfort in a Naturally Ventilated Gymnasium in the Northeastern United States

The potential of natural ventilation to maintain acceptable air quality and thermal comfort in gymnasia was investigated via a case study and parametric modeling of a multisport facility at a university campus in the northeastern United States. Indoor temperatures at multiple locations were recorded for six days during August 2015 to verify the thermal accuracy of this model. Model and measurements differed on average by 0.5 degree C. A parametric modeling study considered the effect of a range of natural ventilation opening configurations, sizes. Simulations covered the summer months June, July, and August. Metrics for performance were hours during which at least the minimum ventilation flow rate required by ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2013 was maintained and hours during which temperature fell with an acceptable range as defined by the adaptive thermal comfort model in ASHRAE Standard 55-2013. Ventilation opening alternatives included increasing opening size or opening effective ventilation area of existing wall vents and adding rooftop vents.