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to respond flexibly to needs, while being independently controlled
with a view to optimising occupants’ thermal comfort and limit-
ing energy consumption. Ventilation in each zone is subject to a
programmed schedule.
Air renewal rates are in line with the IDA 3 requirements set down
by the norm NBN EN 13779 4 recommended by the Building En-
ergy Performance (BEP) decree 5 of the Walloon Region.
HEATING
The building’s heating system compensates for the thermal losses
through both the building’s envelope and its ventilation and filter
systems as well as providing hot water for WCs and showers.
These needs have been kept to a minimum during the design and
execution phase:
– Optimisation of the thermal performance of the building’s enve-
lope (cf. Chapter 6);
– Limitation of uncontrolled seepages of air into the “office”
energy zone through the careful work of the company in charge
of structural work on the joints between the various construction
elements;
Details of the technical rooms located on the roof.
– Systematic recovery of heat from extracted air during the heating
period;
– Limitation of distribution losses through rationalising and well-
insulating all piping;
– Use of solar panels covering 20% of annual heating needs for
producing hot water for WCs and showers;
– Use of a gas-fired CHP unit to cover hot water needs in winter
months as well as an absorption machine to produce cooling for
16 hours a day in July and August.
The level of thermal insulation of the walls 6 together with the per-
manent occupation of most rooms limits the power reserve of the
heat generators necessary to keep the building heated.
Hot water for heating is produced in the basement central heating
unit mainly via two 320kW gas-fired condensing boilers combined
with a 30kWth gas-fired CHP unit.
Hot water for WCs and showers is produced on demand by a row
of four plate heat exchangers connected up to two 2,000 litre water
storage tanks. Production is supported by 45m² of solar panels on
the roof of the gym and connected up to the storage tanks.