Spectators’ aerothermal comfort assessment method in stadia

Spectators’ aerothermal comfort in stadia is affected by the stadium morphology. The morphology signifies not only the global building form, but also the dimension, the position, the porosity of the different building elements, such as the roof, the façade and the spectators’ terrace. The airflow modifying effects of these architectural parameters have been investigated in a boundary layer wind tunnel using a stadium model of a variable geometry. The present article illustrates a method of spectators’ aerothermal comfort assessment based on the results of the wind tunnel tests, and a comfort zone of flexible outlines. The last blends the wind comfort assessment method used by the CSTB Nantes, the bioclimatic chart revised by Arens et al. [Thermal comfort under an extended range of environmental conditions. ASHRAE Transactions 1986;92(Part 1):18–26] and the new wind chill concept.