Evaluation and Comparison of Thermal Environment of Atria Enclosed with ETFE Foil Cushion Envelope

This paper presents results of on-site monitoring of foil surface temperatures and the thermal environment within two different atria covered with different compositions of ETFE foil cushion roof (one two-layer, the other three-layer) and differing ventilation regimes. Results of the study show strong vertical stratification in both atria. Foil surface temperatures respond rapidly to high solar radiation with the internal layer being hotter than both the external layer and the adjacent internal air. At night the surface temperature of external foil follows the ambient external temperature closely whilst the internal layer temperature follows approximately the mean of adjacent internal temperature in the atria and external temperature.