The Manchester urban heat island and adjustments for The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineer calculations

Abstract

Extensive measurements of the urban heat island (UHI), where the urban areas stay warmer than rural areas, have been made for Manchester, over a year. From these adjustment factors have been derived for the new CIBSE Guide A, A2 External design data. The paper briefly outlines the theory behind the UHI and the details of the measurements. It then outlines the method of adjustment for CIBSE calculations for thermal response and plant sizing calculations. Some interesting features of the data are discussed such as the Manchester UHI being comparable to that of London and that it is increasing.

Practical applications : Most buildings that building services engineers and other building designers are involved with are in urban or city centres. However, the weather data for their designs are based on near-rural weather data which does not include the urban heat island effect. This paper describes the urban heat island effects that a designer needs to consider and the adjustments that can be made, related to Manchester.