ADEQUABILIDADE DOS MÉTODOS DE AVALIAÇÃO DE CONFORTO TÉRMICO PROPOSTOS NA REVISÃO DA NBR 16.401-2 A PARTIR DE DADOS DA BASE BRASILEIRA DE CONFORTO TÉRMICO

Abstract

Currently, thermal comfort evaluation in Brazil is associated to both Regulatory Standard NR17 (published in 1990), which refers to working environments, and NBR 16.401-2, last updated in 2008, which covers artificially conditioned environments. Recently, the second part of NBR 16.401 was reviewed, and the new version approved by the CB 055 committee of Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (ABNT). The proposed document is aligned with the last version of ASHRAE Standard 55 and should be available for public review soon. In this context, the present study aims to evaluate the adequacy of thermal comfort methods described at new NBR 16.401-2 proposal, using data from Brazilian Thermal Comfort Database. Data from air-conditioned (AC), naturally ventilated (NV) and mixed-mode operated buildings (MM) was analyzed regarding the thermal comfort zone from both Analytical Comfort Zone method and the method applicable for Occupant-Controlled Naturally Conditioned Spaces. The results validate NBR 16.401-2 proposed review, highlighting the importance of the standard’s update for Brazilian context, in comparison to the current version. However, results also suggest that new reviews might be needed in order to adapt the proposed methods to both Brazilian cultural context and thermal expectations observed in buildings usually found across the country.