Assessing Overheating Risks in Moderately Insulated Irish Social Housing: Analysis of Building Energy Ratings and Indoor Temperature Profiles

Fahimehsadat Sajadirad (), Richard O’Hegarty and Oliver Kinnane ()
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Fahimehsadat Sajadirad: School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy, University College Dublin, D14 E099 Dublin, Ireland
Richard O’Hegarty: School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy, University College Dublin, D14 E099 Dublin, Ireland
Oliver Kinnane: School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy, University College Dublin, D14 E099 Dublin, Ireland

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 6, 1-19

Abstract: As buildings become more energy-efficient in cold climates, the unintended consequence of increased overheating risk during warmer seasons necessitates attention. In this context, there is an absence of research addressing the assessment of overheating risks in residential buildings in Ireland. This study assesses data from a sample of 1100 social housing units in Dublin, the majority of which have a Building Energy Rating (BER) of C, representing moderately insulated dwellings. Using indoor temperature data and outdoor climate reports for 2022, the research evaluates overheating risks based on both static and adaptive criteria in the living room zone of dwellings. The static methods used include the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) Guide A and the Passivhaus Institute standard, while adaptive methods follow CIBSE TM59. The findings reveal discrepancies in overheating risk assessments: overall, 4% surpass thresholds under CIBSE Guide A. In contrast, 41% of dwellings exceeded overheating thresholds under the Passivhaus standard during the May to September 2022. Adaptive criteria, however, indicated minimal overheating instances, at 0.4%. These results highlight how different assessment methodologies influence overheating risk conclusions. The impact of this study is two-fold. First it further strengthens existing literature which questions the appropriateness of static methods. Secondly, it shows that the risk of overheating in moderately insulated buildings in this sample set is minimal.

Keywords: climate change; overheating risk; residential buildings; indoor and outdoor temperature; adaptive criteria; static criteria; building energy rating; retrofit interventions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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