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General

When designing buildings importance should be given in the provision of thermal comfort for the occupants. Special attention should be paid to the design parameters (material choice, HVAC strategy, etc), since the building is more exposed to the outdoor climatic conditions. In order to ensure acceptable indoor environment, reduced energy use and durable constructions the design constraints should be considered at an early stage.

Design constraints are the ones that the designer should take into account in the early stage of the decision making process, in order to achieve a more overall approach and to be more accurate in his predictions avoiding unpleasant surprises that will increase the constructional or operating costs.

These are:

• Climate (solar radiation, outdoor temperature and humidity, wind driven rain, etc)
• Site and obstructions of the building (latitude, atmospheric conditions, exterior obstructions, ground reflectance, etc)
• Use of the building (operating hours, occupant’s tasks, etc)
• Building and Design regulations