BS EN 16798-1-2019 PDF

Full title and description

BS EN 16798-1:2019 — Energy performance of buildings. Ventilation for buildings — Part 1: Indoor environmental input parameters for design and assessment of energy performance of buildings addressing indoor air quality, thermal environment, lighting and acoustics (Module M1‑6). Defines the input criteria and default values used when sizing HVAC and lighting systems and when performing energy performance calculations for buildings where human occupancy determines indoor-environment requirements.

Abstract

This European standard specifies indoor-environment input parameters for the thermal environment, indoor air quality (ventilation), humidity, lighting and acoustics to be used in building system design and energy performance assessment. It provides categories for comfort and air quality, recommended design ventilation methods and rates, guidance on local thermal discomfort, default occupancy and usage schedules, and recommended input values for routine energy calculations. EN 16798-1:2019 replaces EN 15251:2007 and forms Module M1‑6 in the EPB (Energy Performance of Buildings) modular structure.

General information

• Status: Current / Published (adopted as a national standard in multiple countries).
• Publication date: May 2019 (Edition 1).
• Publisher: CEN (origin) — published nationally under bodies such as BSI (BS EN 16798-1:2019).
• ICS / categories: 91.140.01 (installations in buildings in general); 91.120.10 (thermal insulation of buildings); 91.140.30 (ventilation and air-conditioning systems) — (typical ICS codes used).
• Edition / version: 1st edition, 2019.
• Number of pages: Approximately 82 pages (varies by national publication).

Scope

Specifies indoor-environment input parameters for use in the design and assessment of building energy performance: thermal environment, indoor air quality (ventilation), humidity, lighting and acoustic criteria. Applicable to buildings and spaces where human occupancy governs requirements (residential and non‑residential); not intended for spaces dominated by industrial or process emissions. The document provides parameters and default values for energy calculations and system sizing, but does not prescribe detailed design methods.

Key topics and requirements

• Definition of thermal environment categories for mechanically heated/cooled and naturally conditioned buildings; criteria for operative temperature, adaptive methods and local thermal discomfort (draught, radiant asymmetry, vertical temperature differences, floor temperature).
• Methods to determine design ventilation rates: perceived air‑quality approach, concentration‑limit approach and predefined flow‑rate methods; separate guidance for residential and non‑residential buildings.
• Requirements and guidance for filtration, air cleaning and ventilation strategies during unoccupied periods.
• Humidity criteria and guidance for humidification/dehumidification sizing.
• Recommended input illuminance levels and occupancy-related lighting parameters for energy calculations.
• Indoor system noise / acoustic criteria for different space categories.
• Default occupancy, activity profiles and schedules for routine energy performance calculations.
• Annexes with national recommended criteria, default criteria and occupant schedules to support harmonised application across member states.
• Clarification of interactions with other EPB modules and related EN standards for ventilation and HVAC energy calculations.

Typical use and users

Used by building energy assessors, HVAC engineers, architects, building services designers, consultants, regulatory authorities and laboratories. Typical applications include selecting input parameters for simulation and compliance calculations, sizing heating/cooling/ventilation/light systems, preparing design briefs and performance specifications, and aligning design goals with national EPB/regulatory requirements.

Related standards

Supersedes EN 15251:2007. Closely linked with other parts of the EN 16798 series and supporting documents such as CEN/TR 16798-2 (interpretation/technical report), EN 16798-3 (performance requirements for non-residential ventilation/room-conditioning systems), and EN 16798-5 parts (calculation methods for ventilation and HVAC energy requirements). Also interfaces with EN 13779 and numerous national implementation documents for EPBD compliance.

Keywords

Indoor environmental input parameters; thermal comfort; indoor air quality; ventilation rates; energy performance of buildings; EPBD; HVAC sizing; lighting levels; acoustics; occupancy schedules; EN 16798; BS EN 16798-1:2019; Module M1‑6.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: EN 16798-1:2019 is a European standard (published nationally under designations such as BS EN 16798-1:2019) that defines indoor-environment input parameters for design and energy performance assessment of buildings, covering thermal environment, IAQ, lighting and acoustics.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It provides categories, criteria and default input values for thermal comfort, ventilation/indoor air quality, humidity control, recommended lighting levels and acoustic/noise criteria, plus occupancy and usage schedules for energy calculations and system sizing. It specifies parameters rather than step-by-step design methods.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: HVAC and building-services engineers, energy modelers, architects, consultants, building authorities and assessors use it to set inputs for simulations, to size systems and to establish indoor-environment targets for design and regulation compliance.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: EN 16798-1:2019 is the current European standard that supersedes EN 15251:2007 for indoor-environment input parameters (published in 2019). National adoptions (e.g., BS EN 16798-1:2019) are in force in many countries; check the relevant national standards body for adoption status and any national annexes.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is Part 1 (Module M1‑6) of the EN 16798 series on ventilation and energy performance of buildings; complementary parts and technical reports (e.g., CEN/TR 16798-2, EN 16798-3, EN 16798-5) cover interpretation, system performance requirements and calculation methods.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Thermal comfort, indoor air quality (IAQ), ventilation rates, energy performance, lighting levels, acoustics, occupancy schedules, HVAC sizing, EPBD, Module M1‑6.