Due to their properties and dimensions, courtyards regulate their microclimate, which, above all, mitigates extreme situations and reduces energy consumption. Mainly for increased energy saving, existing courtyards in temperate climates are often subsequently roofed transparently, converting them into atria. Due to various advantages roofs made of ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) foil cushions have been increasingly used over the last four decades as an alternative to traditional glass roofs. Although ETFE foil cushions have a higher transparency to long-wave radiation than glass roofs, they also create human thermal discomfort in the spaces below. To assess its extent, a 6-week field study was carried out in the summer of 2012 in an atrium roofed with ETFE foil cushions and in a comparable neighbouring courtyard located in Freiburg (southwest Germany). The results for air temperature (T_a), mean radiation temperature (T_mrt) and Physiologically Equivalent Temperature (PET) indicated a significantly higher human heat exposure in the atrium than in the courtyard, which averaged 5.6 K for T_a, 6.3 K for T_mrt and 7.1 K for PET. Primary drivers for the enhanced human heat exposure in the atrium were the reduced loss of radiant heat caused by the ETFE foil cushions and the reduced natural ventilation inside.

由于它们的特性和尺寸，庭院可以调节它们的小气候，最重要的是，它可以缓解极端情况并降低能源消耗。主要是为了节省能源，温带气候中的现有庭院通常随后被透明地覆盖，将它们转变为中庭。由于各种优势，由乙烯-四氟乙烯 (ETFE) 箔垫制成的屋顶在过去四年中越来越多地用作传统玻璃屋顶的替代品。尽管 ETFE 箔垫比玻璃屋顶对长波辐射具有更高的透明度，但它们也会在下面的空间中造成人体热不适。为了评估其程度，2012 年夏天，在 ETFE 箔垫顶的中庭和位于弗莱堡（德国西南部）的类似邻近庭院进行了为期 6 周的实地研究。空气温度的结果（T_a )、平均辐射温度 (T _mrt ) 和生理等效温度 (PET) 表明，中庭的人体热暴露显着高于庭院，平均 T _{a为 5.6 K，T mrt}为 6.3 K ，PET 为 7.1 K . 中庭人体热暴露增加的主要驱动因素是 ETFE 箔垫造成的辐射热损失减少以及内部自然通风减少。