Unheated rooms are those in which a permanent heating system is not installed. They are often used for various purposes, depending on the needs of users and the characteristics of the building.
Table of contents:
Types of unheated rooms
Although these rooms are not heated, they must be properly insulated to protect the contents from extreme weather conditions and moisture. In addition, in some cases, they can be equipped with ventilation systems to ensure adequate air circulation.
Different types of unheated rooms:
| Room Type | Description | Use | Construction Requirements and Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stores | They are used to store goods that do not require a constant temperature. They must be well insulated to protect against moisture and changing weather conditions. | Storage of building materials, equipment, goods less sensitive to temperature changes. | Adequate ventilation, sometimes humidity control, fire protection required. |
| Garages | Designed for vehicle storage. They are often not heated, unless they are specialized garages. | Storage of vehicles, including vintage vehicles in specialized cases. | Good ventilation is required, in the case of vintage vehicles – humidity and temperature control. |
| Workshops and Production Halls | In heavy industry, they are often not heated if the production processes do not require a constant temperature. | Heavy industry, workshops, production halls. | A solid structure, good ventilation, often reinforced floors and industrial installations are required. |
| Agricultural premises | Barns, greenhouses, etc., where heating is not necessary or is periodic. | Storage of crops, agricultural equipment, cultivation of plants in greenhouses. | Adequate ventilation is required, sometimes seasonal heating in greenhouses, and a solid structure adapted to outdoor conditions. |
| Technical rooms | Communication hubs, rooms with installations that do not require constant heating. | It includes electrical installations, water and sewage systems, communication systems. | Moisture protection, access to installation, fire protection and safety of use required. |
| Sports & Leisure Equipment Storage | Hangars for boats, caravans, ski equipment, etc. | Storage of sports equipment, boats, trailers, winter equipment. | Protection from external factors, sometimes humidity control, easy access and safety required. |
| Commercial Pavilions & Kiosks | Temporary or seasonal commercial structures, often without permanent heating. | Retail outlets, kiosks, seasonal stands. | Lightweight design, often portable, anti-burglary, adaptation to commercial needs. |
Technical requirements for roof access windows
Roof hatches in unheated rooms must meet a number of technical requirements to ensure safety, functionality and adequate insulation.
See the technical requirements for roof access windows in unheated rooms:
| Requirement | Description | Standards/Regulations |
|---|---|---|
| Thermal insulation | Hatches must have adequate insulation to prevent heat loss and condensation. | EN ISO 12567-1 (Heat Transfer Coefficient) |
| Air tightness | Ensuring tightness to avoid air leaks. | EN 12207 (Air Tightness Classification) |
| Weather Resistance | They should be resistant to external factors such as rain, snow, wind. | EN 12208 (Water Resistance), EN 12210 (Wind Load Resistance) |
| Safety of use | The construction of the access window must be safe to use, with appropriate protection. | EN 14351-1 (Safety in use) |
| Strength and Durability | The materials and design of the access window must be robust and corrosion-resistant. | EN 131-1, EN 131-2 (Strength and stability) |
| Accessibility & Ergonomics | They should be easy to use and accessible, in accordance with the principles of ergonomics. | EN 14122-3 (Safety of machinery – Fixed means of access to machinery) |
| Fire protection | In the case of fire protection requirements, the access windows must meet the appropriate standards. | EN 13501-1 (Fire classification of building materials) |
Technical requirements for skylights
Skylights in unheated rooms must meet specific technical requirements to ensure safety, durability and proper functionality.
See the technical requirements for skylights in unheated rooms:
| Requirement | Description | Standards/Regulations |
|---|---|---|
| Thermal insulation | Skylights must have adequate insulation to prevent heat loss and condensation. | EN ISO 12567-1 (Heat Transfer Coefficient) |
| Air and Water Tightness | Ensuring tightness to avoid air and water leakage. | EN 12207 (Air tightness), EN 12208 (Water resistance) |
| Weather Resistance | They should be resistant to external factors such as rain, snow, wind. | EN 12210 (Resistance to wind loads), EN 13049 (Resistance to snow loads) |
| Safety of use | The skylight structure must be safe to use, with appropriate protection. | EN 14351-1 (Safety in use), EN 12600 (Impact resistance) |
| Strength and Durability | The materials and construction of the skylight must be robust and corrosion-resistant. | EN 13830 (Facades), EN 131-1, EN 131-2 (Strength and stability) |
| Light transmission | They should provide the right amount of natural light. | EN 410 (Light and solar transmittance) |
| Fire protection | In the case of fire protection requirements, skylights must meet the appropriate standards. | EN 13501-1 (Fire classification of building materials) |
| Ergonomics & Accessibility | They should be easy to use and accessible, in accordance with the principles of ergonomics. | EN 14122-3 (Safety of machinery – Fixed means of access to machinery) |
PN–EN 12831 standard in the context of roof systems
The PN-EN 12831 standard, entitled “Method for calculating the design heat load”, refers to the methodology for calculating heat demand in buildings. Although this standard is directly related to heating systems, it also has an impact on the design and functionality of skylights and roof hatches, particularly in terms of their thermal insulation and impact on the overall heat balance of the building.
- Thermal insulation: EN 12831 requires that the calculation of the design heat load takes into account all aspects of the building that affect heat loss. Skylights and roof hatches, as structural elements, can be a significant source of heat loss, so their thermal insulation must be adapted to the requirements of the standard to minimize these losses, even in unheated rooms.
- Airtightness: The standard also emphasizes the importance of airtightness of the building in the context of reducing heat loss. Skylights and hatches must be designed to provide high air tightness, which translates into better energy efficiency of the building.
- Impact on the building’s heat balance: Skylights, while providing natural light, can also affect the building’s heat balance through solar heat gains. Therefore, the design of skylights should take into account their orientation, size and type of glazing used to optimize these gains, which is in line with the principles of energy efficiency described in the PN-EN 12831 standard.
- Condensation: The standard draws attention to the problem of condensation, which can occur as a result of temperature differences. Proper insulation and ventilation of skylights and hatches are crucial to prevent condensation, which can lead to moisture problems and damage.
To sum up, the PN-EN 12831 standard, although it focuses mainly on heating systems, has a significant impact on the design of skylights and roof hatches, especially in the context of their thermal insulation, tightness, impact on the thermal balance of the building and prevention of condensation.
Autor: Tomasz Matuszek; Dział Marketingu - Firma Gulajski