Thermal comfort in traditional dwellings, a comparison between physical measurements and simulated data

Summertime overheating is constantly increasing in every building, either new or old, due to global warming and climate change. The air temperatures in the UK are expected to increase by +4.4°C significantly affecting thermal comfort conditions in domestic buildings. High internal temperatures can be affected by different factors including occupants’ behaviours, ventilation rates and design strategies. This paper analyses two semi-detached houses to assess risks of overheating under real weather conditions. Dynamic Thermal Simulation (DTS) is conducted, and the results are compared with the data obtained from physical measurements to assess the accuracy of the simulations in comparison to actual measurement. The results show significant discrepancies between the monitored and simulated data. Thermal comfort in the living areas exceeded the acceptable ranges defined by CIBSE TM59, particularly those facing south on the first floor. A sensitivity analysis conducted to assess the main factors affecting the accuracy of the results when conducting dynamic thermal simulations. According to the results, the ground temperature followed by U-values of the building fabrics are the key factor that could significantly affect the simulation results.