3.4.2 Occupants | COMNET

Number of Occupants
Applicability	All projects
Definition	The number of persons in a space. The number of persons is modified by an hourly schedule (see below), which approaches but does not exceed 1.0. Therefore, the number of persons specified by the building descriptor is similar to design conditions as opposed to average occupancy.
Units	The number of persons may be specified in an absolute number, ft²/person, or persons/1000 ft².
Input Restrictions	Defaults are provided in Appendix B, but other values may be used if they better represent the design conditions.
Baseline Rules	The number of occupants must be identical for both the proposed design and baseline building.

Occupant Heat Rate
Applicability	All projects
Definition	The sensible and latent heat produced by each occupant in an hour. This depends on the activity level of the occupants and other factors. Heat produced by occupants must be removed by the air conditioning system as well as the outside air ventilation rate and can have a significant impact on energy consumption.
Units	Btu/h specified separately for sensible and latent gains
Input Restrictions	Defaults are provided in Appendix B, but other values may be used if they better represent the design conditions.
Baseline Rules	The occupant heat rate for the baseline building shall be the same as the proposed design.

Occupancy Schedule
Applicability	All projects
Definition	The occupancy schedule modifies the number of occupants to account for expected operational patterns in the building. The schedule adjusts the heat contribution from occupants to the space on an hourly basis to reflect time-dependent usage patterns. The occupancy schedule can also affect other factors such as outside air ventilation, depending on the control mechanisms specified.
Units	Data structure: schedule, fractional.
Input Restrictions	Defaults are provided in Appendix B and C, but other values should be used when they are available and better represent the design conditions.
Baseline Rules	Occupancy schedules are identical for proposed and baseline building designs

90.1-2019

COMNET Appendix B (COMNET 2017) provides space level information on occupancy, lighting, and plug load schedules, as well as occupant density, allowed LPD, and occupant heat gain.

Number of Occupants
Applicability	All projects
Definition	The number of persons in a space. The number of persons is modified by an hourly schedule (see below), which approaches but does not exceed 1.0. Therefore, the number of persons specified by the building descriptor is similar to design conditions as opposed to average occupancy
Units	The number of persons may be specified in an absolute number, ft²/person, or persons/1000 ft².
Input Restrictions	The design occupancy is to be used when known. For cases where the design occupancy is not known, the number of occupants given by space function in COMNET Appendix B (COMNET 2017) can be used.
Baseline Building	Same as proposed

Occupant Heat Rate
Applicability	All projects
Definition	The sensible and latent heat produced by each occupant in an hour. This depends on the activity level of the occupants and other factors. Heat produced by occupants must be removed by the air conditioning system as well as the outside air ventilation rate and can have a significant impact on energy consumption.
Units	Btu/h specified separately for sensible and latent gains
Input Restrictions	The occupant heat rate is determined by the user and, if unknown, can use the values in COMNET Appendix B (COMNET 2017)
Baseline Building	Same as proposed

Occupancy Schedule
Applicability	All projects
Definition	The occupancy schedule modifies the number of occupants to account for expected operational patterns in the building. The schedule adjusts the heat contribution from occupants to the space hourly to reflect time-dependent usage patterns. The occupancy schedule can also affect other factors such as outside air ventilation, depending on the control mechanisms specified.
Units	Data structure: schedule, fractional.
Input Restrictions	The actual occupancy schedule is to be used when known. When actual schedules are not known, default values specified in COMNET Appendix C (COMNET 2017) may be used.
Baseline Building	Same as proposed