[Bldg-sim] cold war, cold weather...

[Michael J Witte]

I haven't seen a reply yet to this, so here goes . . .

The oldest ASHRAE handbook on my shelf is a 1972 HOF (thanks Bob H.!). 
Chapter 33 is Weather Data and Design Conditions. The reference list 
includes these two primary sources:

Evaluated Weather Data For Cooling Equipment Design, Addendum No. 1, 
Summer and Winter Data (Fluor Products Company, Santa Rosa, Calif., 1964).
and
Engineering Weather Data (Army, Navy, and Air Force Manual TM 5-785, 1963).

You can buy a copy of the 1958 edition of Evaluated Weather Data on amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Evaluated-Weather-Cooling-Equipment-Design/dp/B000HDSNFY

I bet someone out there has a copy of the Engineering Weather Data 
manual on a shelf. Some quick searching leads to this later online version.
http://web.utk.edu/~archinfo/EcoDesign/escurriculum/weather_data/weather_data_summ.html
which says:

"The Engineering Weather Data (EWD) and other products were developed by 
the Air Force Combat Climatology Center (AFCCC). Data is provided for 
approximately 800 stations worldwide. Intended to support design and 
construction of DOD facilities, the format is slanted toward 
professional engineers, but could have numerous other uses. "

Searching AFCCC leads here to a fascinating history.
https://www.airweaassn.org/Library/afwa/history.html

"The mission of AFCCC is one of military applied climatology. We 
collect, maintain, and apply worldwide weather data, creating 
climatological products to strengthen the combat capability of America's 
warfighters. AFCCC's support to America's warfighters has a long history."

And a fitting excerpt on the 75th anniversary of D-Day:

"There was probably no WWII operation, major or minor, that did not 
include climatological input. The planning for every landing, mission, 
and offensive, including the D-Day invasion in 1944 and the atomic 
bombing of Japan, required extensive climatological preparation and 
analyses."

So, Chris, your impression appears correct. Weather data statistics were 
motivated by military requirements (for better or worse), and marketing 
cooling equipment.

Mike

p.s. The pages from the 1972 HOF are included in a digitized NBSLD 
manual (one of the great mother programs of building simulation), pdf p. 
287ff.
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GOVPUB-C13-9bcc6856169c63cf2c5ab81af189bd75/pdf/GOVPUB-C13-9bcc6856169c63cf2c5ab81af189bd75.pdf



On 5/20/2019 4:16 AM, Chris Yates via Bldg-sim wrote:
> Hi All
>
> Does anybody have any interesting background on the sources of (and 
> motivations for calculating) the outdoor design conditions now 
> available in ASHRAE HOF?
>
> My impression is that it was possibly derived for the purposes of 
> keeping B52's and allied v-bombers ready for action at a moment's notice.
>
> Cheers
>
> Chris
>
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