Thermal Stability of a Building

the ability of a building to maintain the air inside the rooms at a relatively constant temperature despite periodic fluctuations in the air temperature outside and the heat flow through the shell of the building. High thermal stability provides for the maintenance of comfortable room temperatures regardless of uneven heat transfer from the heating system, the effects of solar radiation, or other climatic factors. The thermal stability of a building depends on both the thermal stability of the building’s shell and the heat capacity of the internal structures and equipment. The thermal stability of the shell is calculated by a method used to solve differential equations for heat exchange under nonsteady-state conditions. Buildings with large window areas and light shells have the lowest degree of thermal stability.