Status (updated 7/18/2007): Complete
Funding sources: CBE Industry Consortium, ASHRAE
Project Objective
Develop an ASHRAE Design Guide on Underfloor Air Distribution (UFAD) Systems. This research was conducted in collaboration with the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) as defined in the ASHRAE Research Project 1064-RP.
Significance to Industry
UFAD technology is currently experiencing rapid growth in North America because of the broad range of benefits that it offers over conventional ceiling-based air distribution. Although in recent years there have been an increased number of publications on this technology, designers of UFAD systems previously had largely developed guidelines of their own. A comprehensive design guide that is accessible to the design and engineering community was needed to support the continued development and growth of this promising technology.
This project developed the first ASHRAE Design Guide on UFAD and TAC technology and made it available to the professional design and engineering community at large.
Research Approach
This project involves the evaluation and synthesis of an extensive body of knowledge that has been developed by UC Berkeley and affiliated research organizations over a period of close to 15 years. The development of the Design Guide was reviewed by CBE industry members and overseen by ASHRAE's technical committee responsible for the project. Extensive comments and suggestions from industry were incorporated into the final version.
The Design Guide's comprehensive contents includes chapters on air distribution, thermal comfort, underfloor plenums, controls, operation, maintenance, energy use, construction, commissioning, costs, perimeter systems, standards, codes, design methodology, and the LEED Rating System. The Guide also includes information on and Task/Ambient Conditioning (TAC) systems.
The Design Guide was published by ASHRAE in December 2003 and is now available from the ASHRAE bookstore at http://resourcecenter.ashrae.org/store/ashrae/.
An ASHRAE Professional Development Seminar (PDS) on UFAD Design based on the Guide has also been developed and is offered periodically at ASHRAE meetings.
