Subjective and Simulation-Based Analysis of Discomfort Glare Metrics in Office Buildings with Light Shelf Systems

Amir Faraji, Fatemeh Rezaei (), Payam Rahnamayiezekavat, Maria Rashidi and Hossein Soleimani
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Amir Faraji: Construction Project Management Department, Faculty of Architecture, KHATAM University, Tehran 1991633357, Iran
Fatemeh Rezaei: Architecture Department, Faculty of Art and Architecture, KHATAM University, Tehran 1991633357, Iran
Payam Rahnamayiezekavat: School of Engineering, Design and Built Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
Maria Rashidi: School of Engineering, Design and Built Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
Hossein Soleimani: Construction & Building Management Department, KHATAM University, Tehran 1991633357, Iran

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 15, 1-21

Abstract: Glare is a kind of physiological phenomenon that influences occupants’ visual comfort. Discomfort glare scenes in comparison to other levels of glare have been difficult to estimate and need accurate and reliable metrics. In contemporary architecture, the glass façade is so popular since it can remarkably minimize energy consumption in buildings and maximize daylight utilization as a natural energy. However, it is necessary to consider occupants’ visual discomfort due to the daylighting glare risks during the initial stage of design. Since the measured glare metrics should have an acceptable correlation with the human subject data study, the agreement on the glare indices is complicated. This paper presents a comparison between subjective and simulation-based analysis of discomfort glare metrics in offices with a light shelf system. The discomfort glare metrics considered in this study include Daylight Glare Index (DGI), CIE Glare Index (CGI), Visual Comfort Probability (VCP), Unified Glare Rating (UGR), and Daylight Glare Probability (DGP). The parallel comparison was conducted by using simulation and questionnaire surveys to determine which criteria are more useful under different conditions. According to the findings, DGP yields the most reliable results in different levels of glare based on the subjective analysis and VCP has the lowest accuracy in each stage. UGR also has the highest accuracy rate for evaluating perceptible glare, DGI is applicable for assessing imperceptible glare, and CGI can be an acceptable index for approximating intolerable glare. The study results significantly reduce the complexity of the problem and can provide useful guidance for designers to select the most reliable glare metric based on climatic conditions.

Keywords: discomfort glare; glare metrics; light shelf system; visual comfort; office buildings (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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