by Brianna Crandall — November 3, 2017 — The 2017 edition of global building technology society ASHRAE’s major thermal comfort standard has been published to incorporate seven published addenda to the 2013 edition.
ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 55-2017, Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy, simplifies the language of the 2013 standard and clarifies the three comfort calculation approaches in Section 5.3.3, “Elevated Air Speed.” The 2017 edition includes a new requirement to calculate the change in occupants’ thermal comfort from direct solar radiation.
Abhijeet Pande, chair of the Standard 55 committee, explained:
The updates to Standard 55-2017 are the result of a continuing series of modifications made based on new research, experience, and proposals from designers, manufacturers and users. Standard 55 has been rewritten with a renewed focus on application of the standard by practitioners and use of clear, enforceable language.
The three comfort calculations methods provided in the 2017 edition are:
- A graphic method for simple situations;
- An analytical method for more general cases; and
- A method that uses elevated air speed to provide comfort.
Other additions include:
- Simplification of Appendix A to a single procedure for calculating operative temperature;
- Clearly stated requirements and calculation procedures appearing sequentially;
- An update to the scope to ensure the standard is not used to override health and safety;
- Critical process requirements; and
- Removal of permissive language.
ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 55-2017, Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy, is available for purchase at $89 for ASHRAE members, or $105 for non-members) from the ASHRAE Bookstore.
