Performance standards and thermal comfort in social housing

Comparative analysis in the bioclimatic zones of Minas Gerais, Brazil

Abstract

The evaluation of users' thermal comfort is essential for establishing minimum standards for thermal performance and energy efficiency in buildings. In this context, thermal performance standards, such as NBR 15220 (2005) and NBR 15575 (2021), aim to ensure minimum requirements for the building envelope. This article analyzes the compliance between the parameters established by these standards and the thermal comfort conditions in social housing through computational simulations. Three types of building envelope systems and five municipalities in the state of Minas Gerais, located in distinct bioclimatic zones according to the New Brazilian Bioclimatic Zoning, were defined. The simulations indicated that, despite comfort indices exceeding 50% in all scenarios, adjustments in the standards for each bioclimatic zone are necessary to enhance thermal comfort in different climatic contexts.