Climate-based daylighting analysis in an open-plan office due to boundary conditions

Abstract

During the first stages of building design, issues like local climate or surrounding buildings are determinant. Also the configuration of every space depends on its orientation due to solar access, among others. The impact of these boundaries conditions on daylight illuminances in an open-plan office space is studied in terms of Daylight Factor (DF), Daylight Autonomy (DA) and Useful Daylight Illuminances (UDIs). Climate conditions in the location determine the characteristics of the daylight source, such as the ratio between diffuse lighting and global lighting, for a building located in a specific area. However, surrounding buildings and elements which may block daylight in the space hold more weight than the orientation of glazed façades, but are not always taken into consideration in daylighting studies.