Methods for assessing domestic overheating for future building regulation compliance

Due to both changing building design and projected climate change, the conditions within dwellings in the UK are likely to show increased risk to overheating. There is therefore a growing requirement for a suitable industry standard to assess overheating risk in the domestic sector, ensuring that both new dwellings and refurbishments to existing dwellings take future climate into account. This study compares the type of advice gained and the form of calculation used for a series of different summertime overheating analyses. Using simple overheating definitions, a case-study dwelling is simulated for two UK locations across different climate scenarios and the consistency in advice provided by the chosen methods is discussed. The results suggest there are issues around the consistency of such varied models, but also highlight the need to strike a balance between a method that reliably accounts for building thermal performance while also providing a clear and useable approach that can be adopted within industry practice.

► Use of standardised modelling of domestic overheating in the UK overviewed.
► Application of dynamic building modelling proposed with climate projections.
► Suggestions made for industry-sensitive approach to future overheating analyses.
► Probabilistic tool presented to aid designers of new and existing dwellings.