[New Paper] Overheating calculation methods, criteria, and indicators in European regulation for residential buildings

With the ongoing significance of overheating calculations in the residential building sector, building codes such as the European Energy Performance of Building Directive (EPBD) are essential for harmonizing the indicators and performance thresholds. This paper investigates Europe's overheating calculation methods, indicators, and thresholds and evaluates their ability to address climate change and heat events. The study aims to identify the suitability of existing overheating calculation methods and propose recommendations for the EPBD In this context, we identified a need to provide an overview of overheating calculation methods, criteria, and indicators in European regulation for residential buildings. The objective of this paper is an attempt to respond to the following research questions:

✅ Q1: What are the methods and criteria to assess thermal comfort and overheating in European building codes based on the EPBD?
✅ Q2: How to characterize and compare different methods and criteria?
✅ Q3: What is the main difference that distinguishes different methods? What is the unique overheating national method?
✅ Q4: What factors should be considered to advance the overheating assessments in future revisions of building regulations?

The study results provide a cross-sectional overview of twenty-six European countries. The most influential overheating calculation criteria are listed the best approaches are ranked. The paper provides a thorough comparative assessment and recommendations to align current calculations with climate-sensitive metrics. The results suggest a framework and key performance indicators that are comfort-based, multi-zonal, and time-integrated to calculate overheating and modify the EU's next building energy efficiency regulations.

Citation: Attia, S., Benzidane, C., Rahif, R., Amaripadath, D., Hamdy, M., Holzer, P., ... & Carlucci, S. (2023). Overheating calculation methods, criteria, and indicators in European regulation for residential buildings. Energy and Buildings, 292, 113170.

📣 Read and share the 📄 article. The paper is available in Open Access format: https://lnkd.in/ejvh_jpp

Download the extended study report: Attia et al. (2023). Overheating Calculation Methods in European Building Energy Codes.SBD Lab, Belgium, DOI: 10.7910/DVN/LCBTNX, Available from: https://lnkd.in/ePJG6S5R

This paper required more than two years of work. Special thanks to
Caroline Benzidane and Oriane Laurent for all the preparation and analysis work. This study was a part of the IEA EBC Annex 80-Resilient Cooling of Buildings. Ramin Rahif, Deepak Amaripadath, Mohamed Hamdy, Salvatore Carlucci

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