Chapter

9 Atrium Ventilation
Strategies
Building Energy Efficiency Technical Guideline for Passive Design (Draft 1)

CKTang
Foreword
This document is produced as part of Component 4, Building Sector Energy Efficiency Program
(BSEEP)byCKTang(ck@gbeet.com)andNicChin(nc.environmentology@gmail.com).

Theviewsexpressedinthisdocument,whichhasbeenproducedwithoutformalediting,arethose
of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of neither JKR nor UNDP. Comments and
opinions from readers are encouraged and please email it to either ck@gbeet.com or
nc.environmentology@gmail.comorcommentatourFacebookpage:www.facebook.com/bseepc4

CKTang
August23,2012

Page2of13

Table of Contents
9 AtriumVentilationStrategies.........................................................................................................4
9.1 Introduction............................................................................................................................4
9.2 KeyRecommendations...........................................................................................................4
9.3 Comfort...................................................................................................................................5
9.4 NaturalVentilation..................................................................................................................5
9.5 Simulationmodel....................................................................................................................7
9.6 AirConditionedAtriumStrategies..........................................................................................8
9.7 NaturalVentilationStrategies...............................................................................................10

Page3of13

9 Atrium Ventilation Strategies

9.1 Introduction
Itiscommonlyconsideredthatnaturalventilationinatriumspacesisanenergyefficientfeaturein
buildings.However,iftheatriumspaceissurroundedbyairconditionedspaces,theexposureofthe
atrium space to outdoorair will introduce more surface area of the building to be in contact with
outdoorairtemperatureandhumidity.Thistypeofexposureincreasestheriskofconductionheat
andairleakagesintotheairconditionedspace.

Therefore,thereisaneedtoprovideaclearguidelineonconditionswhereanatriumisbettertobe
naturallyventilated,whenitshouldnotbenaturallyventilatedorpartiallynaturallyventilated.

ResultsfromsimulationstudiestestingtheseconditionswillbepresentedinthisChapter.

9.2 Key Recommendations

In terms of comfort at atrium ground floor level it is most comfortable for the space to be air
conditioned. Even the best case of natural ventilation tested for this chapter, it was not able to
provide 100% of the occupancy hours at a thermally comfortable environment. At best, a hybrid
naturalventilationcanmaintainthermallycomfortableconditionfor66%ofthebuildingoccupancy
hours,mostlyinthemorninghours.Intheafternoon,discomforthoursareapproximately3.4hours
perworkingday.

Ahybridnaturalventilationstrategyisasystemwherenaturalventilationispromotedwheneverthe
outdoorairtemperatureislowerthantheatriumairtemperatureandkeptairtight,wheneverthe
outdoor air temperature is higher than the atrium air temperature. This strategy may be
implementedusingasetoftemperaturecontrolledmotorizedlouversinstallatthegroundfloorof
the atrium space or manually by the building security/maintenance staff that open the doors for
naturalventilationatafixedtimeeveryeveningandcloseditatafixedtimeeverymorning.

Ittermsofenergyefficiency,thebestcaseofhybridnaturalventilationstrategyreduces(basedon
thiscasestudymodel)totalbuildingenergybyasignificant3.3%.Combiningairconditioningsystem
withnaturalventilationstrategy(naturalventilationduringweekendandnighttime)reducestotal
building energy by 0.6% as opposed to the base case of airconditioned scenario with the atrium
spacekeptairtightallthetime.

Insummary,ifanaveragediscomfortlevelof~3hourseverydayisacceptableattheatriumspace,it
will be most energy efficient to provide hybrid natural ventilation strategy. However, if it is not
acceptable to have any discomfort hours at all for the atrium space, airconditioning an airtight
atriumspaceisthesimplestsolution.Anenergyefficiencyreductionof0.6%

Finally,thesestudiesweremadewiththeassumptionthatdaylightharvestingwasoptimizedforthe
atriumspaceandverylowsmallpowerisusedintheatriumspace.I.e.DaylightFactorislessthan
6%attheatriumgroundfloorlevelandamaximumof1computerisused.

Page4of13

9.3 Comfort
Inthetestreferencebuildingscenario,itwasfoundthatthemostcomfortablestrategyistoprovide
airconditioning to the atrium floor level. This strategy will ensure that comfort conditions are
providedduringtheentirebuildingoccupancyhoursof8amto6pm.

Atestwasalsoconductedwiththetopoftheatriumspaceopentoventilation(i.e.toallowhotair
toescapeoutofthetopofbuilding)whilekeepingthegroundfloorlevelairconditioned.Theresult
of this test showed a total building energy consumption increase of 1.8%. This increase in energy
consumption of the building is largely caused by a higher infiltration rate at the airconditioned
ground floor level when doors are opened for people to walk in and out of the building. This
conditioncouldbesolvedbytheinstallationofarevolvingdoorsystematthegroundfloor(however
this situation was not tested due to the limited time available). In short, it was found in these
simulationstudiesthatkeepingtheatriumroofairtightreducestheinfiltrationrateattheground
floorlevelwhendoorsareopenedandclosedforoccupantassess.Therefore,itisbettertokeepthe
atriumroofairtighttoreducebuildingtotalenergyconsumptionasopposetohavingaventilated
atriumroofspacetoexhausthotairout.Itisalsopossibletoimproveenergyefficiencyfurtherby
providinghighUvaluematerialsattheatriumrooftopleveltoallowheattobeeasilyconductedout
ofthebuildingwhilekeepingtheatriumspaceairtightbecausethesimulationshowedthatthetop
oftheatriumspacehasaconsistentlyhighertemperaturethanoutdoorairtemperature.

It was also simulated that it is possible to improve tested building energy consumption by 0.6% if
natural ventilation strategy is employed whenever the outdoor air temperature is colder than the
atriumairtemperatureevenwhenthegroundflooratriumspaceisairconditioned.

However,ifalowercomfortlevelisacceptablefortheatriumspace,itispossibletosavemorethan
3% of total building energy with the application of optimized natural ventilation strategy for the
atriumspace.

9.4 Natural Ventilation

Afterafewattemptstooptimizenaturalventilationinatriumspace,itwasfoundthattheoptimum
scenario of natural ventilation tested for this chapter would provide 66% of building occupancy
hours of 9am to 5pm, within comfort conditions, i.e. operative temperature below 29C (refer to
Chapter1onthermal comfortofnaturallyventilatedspaces). Thisstudyalsoshowedthaton the
hottest day scenario, where the outdoor temperature exceeds 35C, the atrium ground floor
operative temperature was able to maintain 4C lower than the outdoor air temperature. In
addition, a total building energy reduction of 3.3% was achieved using the optimum natural
ventilationtestedforthischapter.

The optimum natural ventilation strategy tested for this chapter is a type of hybrid ventilation
systemthatopentheatriumspacetonaturalventilationwhenindoorairtemperatureishigherthan
the outdoor air temperature and closed the atrium space natural ventilation ability when the
outdoorairtemperatureishigherthantheindoorairtemperature.Thisrequirescontrolsoverthe
openingsattheatriumgroundfloorlevel.Thishybridventilationstrategyisasfollows:

1. GroundFloorspaceshouldbeairtightfromthehoursof7amto4pmandopenfornatural
(stack) ventilation effect from 4pm to 7am daily. The opening hours of 4pm to 7am daily
allowed the cooler outdoor air to cool the atrium space down during night time to early
morninghours.Theclosingofthegroundflooratriumspacefrom7amto4pm,willkeepthe
Page5of13

 atriumspacecoolerforlongerhoursbecauseitpreventthehotoutdoorairfromheatingthe
atriumspaceduringdaytime.Inaddition,theleakedcoolingfromtheofficesisretainedby
theclosedatriumspace.
2. Theatriumroofspaceisrecommendedtoremainpermanentlyopenfornaturalventilation.
Whenthegroundfloorspacearekeptairtight(i.e.duringdaytime),itisdifficultforoutdoor
airtoinfiltrateintotheatriumspace.However,whenthegroundfloorspaceareopenfor
ventilation during night hours, it will promote natural ventilation (due to stack ventilation
effect), where the hot air rise up to exit the atrium space at the roof level and colder
outdoorairwillentertheatriumspacefromthegroundflooropeningsbelow.
3. Further improvement can be obtained from having an automatic system that open the
groundfloorandrooftonaturalventilationwheneverthemeasuredindoorairtemperature
is higher than the outdoor air temperature. However, the advantage achieved from such
automaticsystemisnotsignificantenoughtoinsistonsuchrecommendations.

Itwasalsofoundinthesestudiesthatnaturalventilationusingpermanentlyfixedopeningsarenot
aseffectiveasthosestrategiesthatallowedtheopeningsatthegroundfloorleveltobeopenedand
closedaccordingtothemeasuredtemperatureortimed.Thefollowingpermanentlyfixedstrategies
willcausetheatriumspacetohavemorethan50%oftheoccupiedhoursabovecomfortconditions:
1. PermanentlyClosedGroundFloorLevelandClosedRoof(38%comforthours).
2. PermanentlyClosedGroundFloorLevelandOpenRoof(40%comforthours).
3. PermanentlyOpenGroundFloorLevelandOpenRoof(48%comforthours).

SummaryofsimulationresultsarepresentedinTable9.4.1below:

TotalBuilding ComfortHours/Yearat Comfort

EnergySaved AtriumFloorLevel, Hours/Year
Cases (%) (8amto6pm,MonFri) (%)
Base:AirConditionedGroundFloor.
AtriumPermanentlyClosedatBottom 0.0% 2,600 100%
andTop
Case1:NaturalVentilation.
AtriumPermanentlyOpenatBottom 1.0% 1,235 48%
andTop
Case2:NaturalVentilation.
2.3% 977 38%
PermanentlyClosedatBottomandTop
Case3:NaturalVentilation.
PermanentlyClosedatBottomand 2.3% 1,040 40%
OpenatTop.
Case4:NaturalVentilation.
TemperatureControlledVentilationat 3.3% 1,713 66%
BottomandTop.
Case5:NaturalVentilation.
TimeControlledVentilationatBottom 3.0% 1,666 64%
andTop.
Case6:NaturalVentilation.
TimeControlledVentilationatBottom 3.0% 1,669 64%
andPermanentlyOpenTop.
Case7:NaturalVentilation.
TemperatureControlledVentilationat 3.3% 1,713 66%
BottomandPermanentlyOpenTop.
Page6of13

 Case8:AirConditionedGroundFloor.
0.9% 2,600 100%
AtriumPermanentlyOpenattheTop.
Case9:AirConditionedGroundFloor.
AtriumTemperatureControlledatthe 0.4% 2,600 100%
Top
Case10:AirConditionedGroundFloor.
AtriumTemperatureControlledatboth 0.6% 2,600 100%
TopandBottom.
Table9.4.1:Summaryresultsof11simulatedcasestestedforChapter9.

9.5 Simulation model

Aneight(8)floorofficebuildingwasmodeledforthisstudywiththeatriumlocatedinthecenterof
the building, surrounded by airconditioned office space from 1st floor level to 8th floor level. The
entiregroundfloorismodeledaspartoftheatriumspaceandwillbeairconditionedornaturally
ventilateddependingonthecasestudies.Therestoftheatriumspaceswerenotairconditionedfor
allcases.Inaddition,thesimulationmodelforChapter9hastakenthesefactorsintoconsiderations:

1. Internalwallsfacingtheatriumspacehasawindowtowallratioof70%.Theseinternalwalls
separatetheairconditionedofficesfromtheatriumspace.Theinternalglazingwasassigned
assingleglazingclearglass.Inaddition,1%oftheinternalglazingareawasassumedtobe
permanently open to model air leakages between the office and the atrium space. This
assumptionwillbevalidformostbuildingwheretheinternalwindowsareallkeptclosedto
theatriumspace.The1%openingassumptionmadeinthisstudywillrepresenttheleakages
duetothecracksbetweenthewindowframeandthewall.
2. Atriumrooftopismodeledtobehigherthanthehighestofficefloorlevel.Thehigherroof
heightofatriumspacesistypicallydesignedforaestheticalreasonbutinthiscaseitisalso
tocreateaspaceforstorageofheatbytheairforittobeconductedorventilatedoutofthe
building.
3. 30%oftheatriumroofwasmodeledasaskylighttoallownaturaldaylightintotheatrium
space.

Page7of13

Figure:CrossSectionViewofAtriumSimulationModel.

9.6 Air Conditioned Atrium Strategies

BaseCase:AirConditioned,PermanentlyClosedAtriumSpace.

38

36

34

32
Temperature (C)

30

28

26

24

22

20
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu
Date: Sun 05/Mar to Wed 08/Mar

Dry resultant temperature: Offices 0 (base_closedacbtm_door.aps)

Dry-bulb temperature: SubangTRY.fwt (SubangTRY.fwt)

Intypicalbuildingscenario,theclosedatriumspacewillremaincloseddayandnight.Notethatthe
temperatureintheatriumspaceissignificantlywarmerthanoutdoorairtemperatureduringnight
hoursandweekends.

Page8of13

Case8:AirConditionedGroundFloor.AtriumPermanentlyOpenattheTop.
38

36

34

32
Temperature (C)

30

28

26

24

22

20
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu
Date: Sun 05/Mar to Wed 08/Mar

Dry resultant temperature: Offices 0 (c8_ac_opentop.aps) Dry-bulb temperature: SubangTRY.fwt (SubangTRY.fwt)

TheIdea:Sincecoldanddryairconditionedairisheavierthanhotandhumidair,thisstrategywill
attempttoallowhotandhumidairtoriseintheatriumspaceandallowsittoescapeatthetopof
thebuildingspace.

TheReality:Havingthetopoftheatriumspaceopenedtoventilationincreasestheinfiltrationrate
significantlyatthegroundfloorlevelwhendoorsareopenedandclosedforoccupantaccess.This
increase in infiltration rate increases both the sensible and latent load for the airconditioning
system at the ground floor level. The total building energy consumption was increased by 0.9% in
this test case scenario compared to the Base Case scenario. The atrium ground floor doors were
modeledtobeopen10%ofthebuildingairconditioninghours.

Case9:AirConditionedGroundFloor.TemperatureControlledOpeningsattheTop.
38

36

34

32
Temperature (C)

30

28

26

24

22

20
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu
Date: Sun 05/Mar to Wed 08/Mar

Dry resultant temperature: Offices 0 (c9_ac_autotop.aps) Dry-bulb temperature: SubangTRY.fwt (SubangTRY.fwt)

TheIdea:Insteadofkeepingthetopoftheatriumroofpermanentlyopentonaturalventilation,an
attempt is made to have the roof ventilation open to exhaust hot air out of the atrium space
whenever the measured indoor air temperature at the roof space is warmer than the outdoor air
temperature.Otherwisetheatriumspaceiskeptairtight.

TheReality:ThesimulationresultwassimilartoCase8wherethetopoftheatriumspacewaskept
permanently open.Totalbuildingenergyconsumptionincreased by0.4%inthistestcasescenario

Page9of13

comparedtotheBaseCasescenariowheretheatriumspacewaskeptairtight.Again,itwasfound
that having the top of the atrium space opened to ventilation increases the infiltration rate
significantlyatthegroundfloorlevelwhendoorsareopenedandclosedforoccupantaccess.This
increase in infiltration rate increases both the sensible and latent load for the airconditioning
systematthegroundfloorlevel.Theatriumgroundfloordoorsweremodeledtobeopen10%of
thebuildingairconditioninghours.

Case10:AirConditionedGroundFloor.TemperatureControlledOpeningsattheTopandBottom.
36

34

32
Temperature (C)

30

28

26

24

22

20
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu
Date: Sun 05/Mar to Wed 08/Mar

Dry resultant temperature: Offices 0 (c11_ac_nvnite.aps) Dry-bulb temperature: SubangTRY.fwt (SubangTRY.fwt)

TheIdea:Itwasobservedthatthegroundflooratriumspaceairtempissignificantlyhigherthanthe
outdoor air temperature whenever the airconditioning system is switched off. In this case study,
oncetheairconditioningsystemisswitchedoff

TheReality:ThesimulationresultwassimilartoCase8wherethetopoftheatriumspacewaskept
permanently open.Totalbuildingenergyconsumptionincreased by0.4%inthistestcasescenario
comparedtotheBaseCasescenariowheretheatriumspacewaskeptairtight.Again,itwasfound
that having the top of the atrium space opened to ventilation increases the infiltration rate
significantlyatthegroundfloorlevelwhendoorsareopenedandclosedforoccupantaccess.This
increase in infiltration rate increases both the sensible and latent load for the airconditioning
systematthegroundfloorlevel.Theatriumgroundfloordoorsweremodeledtobeopen10%of
thebuildingairconditioninghours.

9.7 Natural Ventilation Strategies

Case1:PermanentlyOpenTopandBottom.

36

34

32
Temperature (C)

30

28

26

24

22

20
Mon Tue Wed Thu
Date: Mon 06/Mar to Wed 08/Mar

Dry resultant temperature: Offices 0 (c1_opentopbtm.aps) Dry-bulb temperature: SubangTRY.fwt (SubangTRY.fwt)

Page10of13

TheIdea:Toallownaturalstackventilationtocooltheatriumspacetheentireday.

The Reality: The operating hours of office building coincides with the hottest temperature of the
day.Allowingsuchnaturalventilationstrategyallowedhotoutdoorairtemperaturetoheatupthe
groundfloorspaceduringdaytime.However,duringnighttime,thecolderoutdoorairtemperature
dohelpstocoolthespacedown.

Case2:PermanentlyClosedTopandBottom.

38

36

34

32
Temperature (C)

30

28

26

24

22

20
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu
Date: Sun 05/Mar to Wed 08/Mar

Dry resultant temperature: Offices 0 (c2_closedtopbtm.aps) Dry-bulb temperature: SubangTRY.fwt (SubangTRY.fwt)

TheIdea:Letstrytocaptureallthecoolingthatisconductedandinfiltratedfromtheofficesinto
theatriumspace.

TheReality:Keepingtheatriumsealedairtightturnthisspaceintoagreenhouse,especiallyduring
theweekends,withouttheairconditioningsystemrunningintheoffices,theatriumspacebecome
hotter than outdoor air temperature. During weekdays, with the airconditioning running in the
offices, the conduction and infiltration leakages into the atrium space reduces its daily peak
operativetemperaturebutnotenoughtokeepitatcomfortablelevel.

Case3:PermanentlyClosedBottomandOpenTop.

38

36

34

32
Temperature (C)

30

28

26

24

22

20
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu
Date: Sun 05/Mar to Wed 08/Mar

Dry resultant temperature: Offices 0 (c3_closebtm_opentop.aps)

Dry-bulb temperature: SubangTRY.fwt (SubangTRY.fwt)

TheIdea:Thiscasestudyattemptstocaptureallthecoolingthatisconductedandinfiltratedfrom
theofficesintotheatriumspace,whileallowingthehotairtoescapeviathetopoftheatriumroof.

The Reality: Although it worked as planned, the amount of hot air escaping from the top of the
atriumspaceisnotsignificantenoughtoreducetheoperativetemperatureofthegroundfloorlevel
much.

Page11of13

Case4:TemperatureControlledVentilationatBottomandTop.

36

34

32
Temperature (C)

30

28

26

24

22

20
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu
Date: Sun 05/Mar to Wed 08/Mar

Dry-bulb temperature: SubangTRY.fwt (SubangTRY.fwt) Dry resultant temperature: Offices 0 (c4_autobtmtop.aps)

TheIdea:Openthegroundfloorandrooftopfornaturalventilationwhenever,theairtemperature
oftheindooratriumspaceishigherthantheoutdoorairtemperature.Closethenaturalventilation
whenever,theoutdoorairtemperatureishigherthantheindooratriumspaceairtemperature.This
willallowscolderoutdoorairtocooltheatriumspacedownwhenthetimeisrightandwhenthe
outdoorairishot,keeptheatriumspaceairtighttopreventitfromheatingupthespace.

TheReality:Duetothecapturedcoolingthatwasconductedandinfiltratedfromtheofficestothe
atriumspace,thepeakoperativetemperatureofthegroundflooratriumspaceisapproximately4C
lowerthanthepeakoutdoorairtemperature.Inshort,thisstrategyworkedasplannedandprovides
thebestcombinationofcomfortandenergyreductionscenario.Unfortunately,wearestillunable
to achieve comfort condition at all time for the atrium space. In this best case scenario it was
simulated that the operative temperature will be higher than 29C (80% of the thermal adaptive
comfortlimit)for887hoursayear,oranaverageof3.4hoursperworkingday.

Case5:TimeControlledVentilationatBottomandTop.

36

34

32
Temperature (C)

30

28

26

24

22

20
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu
Date: Sun 05/Mar to Wed 08/Mar

Dry-bulb temperature: SubangTRY.fwt (SubangTRY.fwt) Dry resultant temperature: Offices 0 (c5_timebtmtop.aps)

TheIdea:SincetheairtemperatureinMalaysiaisfairlyconsistentdaily,whatwouldbetheimpact
of using a time controller instead of differential temperature controller? In this case study, the

Page12of13

atriumopeningsarekeptopenfromthehoursof7amto4pmandclosedfromthehoursof4pmto
7am.

The Reality: It increases the discomfort hours by 2% as compared to Case 4. It can be concluded
herewiththatthetimecontrollerisalmostaseffectiveasusingdifferentialtemperaturecontroller.

Case6:TimeControlledVentilationattheBottomandPermanentlyOpenattheTop.

36

34

32
Temperature (C)

30

28

26

24

22

20
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu
Date: Sun 05/Mar to Wed 08/Mar

Dry-bulb temperature: SubangTRY.fwt (SubangTRY.fwt)

Dry resultant temperature: Offices 0 (c6_timebtm_opentop.aps)

The Idea: Instead of having controls at both top and bottom of the atrium space for natural
ventilation, this simulation case study will test the option of leaving the top of the atrium space
withoutanycontrolstoallowhotairtoescapeout.Inthemeantime,thebottomoftheatriumspace
may be manually or automatically controlled to keep hot outdoor air out of the building during
daytimeandallowingnaturalventilationduringnighttimewhentheoutdoorairiscolderthanthe
atriumairtemperatures.

TheReality:Itincreasesthediscomforthoursby2%ascomparedtoCase4andmatchedtheresult
forCase5.Itcanbeconcludedherewiththatitisnotrequiredtoplaceanycontrolsonthetopfloor
ofatriumspacewhentheatriumisnaturallyventilated.Controlsisonlyrequiredatthegroundfloor
leveltoincreasecomfortlevelinthebuilding.

________________________________EndofChapter9____________________________________

Page13of13