What is building thermal modelling?

This course will give you a brief overview of thermal comfort modelling. Building thermal modelling - also known as thermal comfort modelling or overheating assessment - is a form of analysis designed to assess the thermal comfort of buildings and mitigate any overheating risks. There are two standardised approaches: CIBSE TM52 for non-residential buildings, and TM59 for residential buildings (TM simply means ‘Technical Memorandum’).

Modern construction techniques generally deliver buildings with high levels of thermal insulation and good airtightness. However, summer overheating can be a significant risk - and will become more so as we deal with the consequences of a warming climate. Thermal comfort models will therefore only become more important in order to ensure buildings are healthy and safe places to be.

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• Understand the common pitfalls of overheating and the increased energy use
• Explain the Importance of a thermal comfort model