Mutual Interaction of Daylight and Overheating in the Attic Space in Summer Time

Dušan Katunský (), Marián Vertaľ, Erika Dolníková, Silvia Zozuláková, Kristián Hutkai and Zuzana Dická
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Dušan Katunský: Institute of Architectural Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Technical University of Kosice, Vysokoškolská 4, 042 00 Kosice, Slovakia
Marián Vertaľ: Institute of Architectural Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Technical University of Kosice, Vysokoškolská 4, 042 00 Kosice, Slovakia
Erika Dolníková: Institute of Architectural Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Technical University of Kosice, Vysokoškolská 4, 042 00 Kosice, Slovakia
Silvia Zozuláková: CRIC–Center for Research and Innovation in Construction, Technical University of Košice, Park Komenského 10, 042 00 Košice, Slovakia
Kristián Hutkai: Institute of Architectural Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Technical University of Kosice, Vysokoškolská 4, 042 00 Kosice, Slovakia
Zuzana Dická: Institute of Architectural Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Technical University of Kosice, Vysokoškolská 4, 042 00 Kosice, Slovakia

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 23, 1-25

Abstract: The classroom space located in the attic of an old building is the subject of this study. The building was renovated and new spaces were created in the unused attic to expand classrooms. The original space under the sloping roof was not used because its internal headroom was not suitable. During the restoration, the entire original truss was raised gradually (in parts) by 1.2 m. This created a space with an entire area that can be used for classrooms. Continuous strips of vertical windows measuring 860/600 mm were installed in the space which enable a visual connection between the interior space and the exterior. At roof level, there are also two rows of skylights above each other which ensure enough daylight is present but create unpleasant overheating in the summer. The purpose of this study is to find a way to optimize the shading of transparent surfaces and the heat accumulation of building structures in order to achieve suitable interior conditions in the attic. This task was achieved by shading the windows in the attic. Shaded windows decrease illumination by 82% compared to unshaded ones. The percentage decrease in illumination is more significant than the decrease in the maximum temperature due to overheating. Additionally, the maximum temperature in the attic drops by only 31% if vertical and skylight windows are shaded with external blinds compared to unshaded windows. The minimum air temperature reached in the attic also drops by 26%. In order for users in the attic space to feel comfortable, it is necessary to use HVAC equipment in addition to the design of suitably built structures and window shading.

Keywords: skylights; daylighting; attic space; simulation; summer overheating (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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