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Heating, ventilation and air conditioning testing
BRE provides a world-leading independent and impartial service to assesses the performance of heating, ventilation and air conditioning testing systems.
The choice of environmental conditioning system (heating, ventilation and air conditioning or HVAC) can have a major impact on operating costs, energy efficiency and occupant comfort. Choosing an environmental system without first assessing its suitability can be costly. In fact, nine out of ten recent studies conducted in BRE’s environmental chamber showed that the initial design was not achieving clients’ requirements for occupancy satisfaction. BRE can help with getting the design right and solving problems in existing buildings.
BRE provides an independent and impartial service that assesses the performance of all types of HVAC systems and advises on overall suitability, design issues, installation, energy efficiency, running costs etc. We do this by carrying out physical modelling (using full-size or scale mock-up models), standard test procedures and/or site investigations
On-site system performance test
BRE carried out full scale system tests to accurately measure the cooling performance of the installed air conditioning system and to assess thermal comfort in the occupied spaces. The tests were carried out under controlled design load conditions using simulated occupant and office heat gains and solar heat gain ‘patches’. The test areas were fully instrumented so that thermal comfort could be assessed throughout the space. The tests were carried out before the building was occupied. The tests enabled the client to optimise the position of cooling and ventilation terminals and system control. The tests also allowed the client to provide independent proof of performance.
Investigating poor comfort in an air conditioned office
BRE was commissioned to investigate the extent and cause of complaints about poor occupant comfort. We conducted a detailed survey of the building air conditioning system and measurement of thermal comfort. BRE was able to advise the client on probable causes and a range of options to alleviate the issues.
Laboratory mock-up test of a floor and desk cooling system
BRE and the client built a fully functioning mock-up of part of a trading floor with chilled water cooled desks to investigate and optimise the design of the desks and the cooling system equipment load and the effect on CPU operating temperatures and thermal comfort around the desks. BRE as also undertaken similar environmental chamber mock-up tests of other types of buildings.
