Climatic design data for use in thermal calculations for buildings—Estimated clear sky solar radiation versus measured solar radiation

A project was undertaken to determine sequences of climatic data of a few days which can be used as design data for determining extreme indoor temperature, or alternatively the plant capacity necessary for heating or cooling a building to maintain a desired indoor temperature profile. A response factor computer program has been used with actual climatic data to estimate indoor temperatures continuously over a period of six years in Melbourne, to determine such sequences of days for design purposes. The number of days of design data necessary varies with the type of building. Of the various climatic elements required for such an exercise at other locations, solar radiation at say hourly or three-hourly intervals is one parameter that may not be available. A comparison is made of the results obtained with estimated clear sky solar radiation and actual measured solar radiation, and the relationship between the two explored.