The Test Room for Comfort Studies (TR4CS) is located on the main campus of the Federal University of Santa Catarina in Florianópolis, Brazil. Under the coordination of the Laboratory of Energy Efficiency in Buildings (LabEEE), the TR4CS is a controlled environment designed for multidomain assessment of human comfort, encompassing thermal, visual, acoustic, and indoor air quality domains in an interdisciplinary manner, considering physiological and psychological aspects.
The test room has an area of 9.72 m² and a volume of 60 m³, designed to accommodate up to three workstations. Therefore, to enable the study of different furniture arrangements and occupants, the furniture is not fixed inside. It has a 1 m² window aligned with the openings of the anteroom, providing a view to the outside. The environment features a lighting system that integrates natural lighting with electric lighting, allowing control of illuminance levels and correlated color temperature as needed.
Regarding the air conditioning system, the chamber is equipped with a cassette-type air conditioner. The ducts of this system are directed to the ends of the environment, allowing for precise airflow control. Additionally, the TR4CS is equipped with an air renewal and filtration system to ensure suitable conditions during experiments. The environment also includes an air purifier with Streamer technology, particulate matter and odor sensors, and a HEPA electrostatic filter.
The TR4CS has a data acquisition and control system to monitor internal conditions during experiments. Monitored variables include temperature, relative humidity, and air velocity (at four heights: 10 cm, 60 cm, 110 cm, and 170 cm), globe temperature (at two heights: 110 cm and 170 cm), aiming to calculate thermal comfort indicators for both seated and standing occupants. Additionally, continuous data can be collected on illuminance (on the table and at eye level of occupants), CO2 concentration, and radiant asymmetry between two parallel surfaces. A complete set for acoustic monitoring (sound level meter, amplifier, dodecahedral source, and analysis software), a spectroradiometer, and a high-resolution thermal camera are also available for experiments.
The infrastructure of TR4CS includes sensors to evaluate physiological signals of occupants, aiming to increase the reliability of experiments conducted. Among them, small-sized sensors (iButton ® type) are used to measure occupants' skin temperature, along with pulse and chest heart rate monitors.
In addition to the main air conditioning system, TR4CS experimentation possibilities encompass different customized environmental control systems. These include portable evaporative cooling equipment, desk fans, foot heaters, and chairs with integrated heating systems in the backrests. The use of customized systems allows for less conservative setpoints, leaving the control of the environment surrounding the user conditioned to their preferences. As a result, adequate comfort levels for occupants can be ensured without compromising energy efficiency levels of the spaces.
For additional information, feel free to contact us at tr4cs.labeee@gmail.com.
Learn more about TR4CS on social media: https://www.instagram.com/tr4cs.labeee/
Projects:
(2023) - Initial characterization of the operation of systems installed in TR4CS (Completed);
(2023) - Round Robin Test Rooms (Annex 79 "Occupant-Centric Building Design and Operation") - Summer (Completed);
(2023) - Round Robin Test Rooms (Annex 79 "Occupant-Centric Building Design and Operation") - Winter (Completed);
(2023-2024) - Creation of a framework for multidomain simulation of environmental quality in buildings (In progress).
Published articles:
GAPSKI, N. H.; GARLET, L.; LOESER, B. C.; BAVARESCO, M.; MELO, A. P.; LAMBERTS, R. ANALYSIS OF THE STABILIZATION TIME OF THE THERMAL ENVIRONMENT OF A CLIMATIC CHAMBER IN FLORIANÓPOLIS/SC THROUGH COMPUTATIONAL SIMULATION. In: IBPSA LATAM, 2023, Florianópolis. Proceedings of the VII Latin American Building Simulation Congress. Florianópolis: Imaginar o Brasil Editora, 2023. v. 1.
LOESER, B. C.; GARLET, L.; GAPSKI, N. H.; BAVARESCO, M.; MELO, A. P.; LAMBERTS, R. INFLUENCE OF THE DIRECTIONAL AND ANGULAR CONFIGURATION OF THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM ON AIR TEMPERATURE AND VELOCITY. In: IBPSA LATAM, 2023, Florianópolis. Proceedings of the VII Latin American Building Simulation Congress. Florianópolis: Imaginar o Brasil Editora, 2023. v. 1.
The construction of TR4CS was made possible thanks to our partners:
Researchers:
- Roberto Lamberts - Curriculum Lattes
- Ana Paula Melo - Curriculum Lattes
- Mateus Vinícius Bavaresco - Curriculum Lattes
- Natasha Hansen Gapski Pereira - Curriculum Lattes
- Liége Garlet - Curriculum Lattes
- Brenda da Costa Loeser - Curriculum Lattes