Development of behavioural algorithms for thermal simulation of buildings- evaluating constraints on the operation of windows and fans

Realistic knowledge of window-opening andfans use behaviour is needed, for the thermalsimulation of naturally ventilated buildings. Ifcontrols such us windows and fans wereefective and easy to use, thermal discomfortcould be largely avoided. In practice theremay be constraints that hinder the use of suchcontrols. In uny thermul simulation theseconstraints need numerical values. In thispaper, we explore the nature and extent ofsome of the constraints operating on the use ofwindows and fans, making numericalestimates of their magnitudes from extensivefield databases.