This Update describes results of research on several types of window shading devices and their potential to reduce heating and cooling energy consumption and improve conditions that affect occupant comfort. The information provides guidance in the selection of shading devices for particular housing types and energy cost situations. Full story
This Update explains how an emphasis on system performance can achieve good sound insulation in multi-family buildings in a cost-effective manner. It reviews the concepts and terminology used to describe sound insulation for the complete building system, and presents research results that illustrate how typical wood-frame construction details can determine the sound insulation actually achieved. Full story
Providing good indoor air quality (IAQ) and thermal comfort is important for employee satisfaction, well-being and performance. This Update provides guidance on key issues for achieving adequate indoor air quality and thermal comfort in open-plan offices, based on current standards and research conducted by NRC’s Institute for Research in Construction and others. Full story
This Update discusses how to achieve acceptable acoustical privacy in open-plan offices. The information is derived from current best practice and the results of research carried out by NRC’s Institute for Research in Construction. Full story
Well-designed workstations in an open-plan office will assure a comfortable, satisfying working environment for occupants. This Update reviews some of the key design issues and provides guidance for achieving a successful outcome, based on research conducted at NRC’s Institute for Research in Construction and elsewhere. Full story
Good office lighting is a key element in assuring worker satisfaction and performance. This Update provides guidance on lighting design for open-plan offices based on current best practice and the results of research conducted by NRC’s Institute for Research in Construction. Full story
This Update provides guidance on the design of open-plan offices to ensure a more satisfactory workplace environment. It is based on the results of a major consortium research project. Full story
This Update explains the acoustical requirements conducive to relaxed and accurate speech communication in rooms and gives design criteria for a wide range of room sizes. Some special issues for particular types of rooms and special groups of listeners are discussed. Full story
This Update discusses the quantities that should be specified to ensure successful acoustics for complete rooms in buildings.
Successful building design depends as much on acoustical performance as it does on lighting and ventilation. Rooms where occupants cannot hear conversation because there is too much background noise or too much reverberation are failures. So too are rooms where occupants are distracted by intrusive sound from elsewhere. Full story
This Update presents results of research carried out by the Institute for Research in Construction to determine whether differences in supply-air diffuser layout affect the performance of workstation ventilation. Full story
