Dutch Wind Nuisance Standard NEN 8100
The Netherlands introduced NEN 8100 in 2006 as the world’s first official national wind comfort standard, supported by practice guideline NPR 6097.
It defines both comfort criteria (for ordinary conditions) and safety criteria (for strong winds), providing a consistent basis for assessment across cities and consultants.
A distinctive feature is its single discomfort threshold of 5 m/s (hourly mean) for all activities. Comfort categories A–E are determined solely by the probability of exceeding 5 m/s, while safety is assessed separately with a 15 m/s gust criterion.
NEN 8100 Comfort Classes
| Class | Wind Speed Threshold | Exceedance Probability | Typical Activity Suitability | Color |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | > 5 m/s | < 2.5% | Excellent – suitable even for long-term sitting | |
| B | > 5 m/s | 2.5–5% | Good – acceptable for strolling, short sitting | |
| C | > 5 m/s | 5–10% | Moderate – acceptable for walking, poor for sitting | |
| D | > 5 m/s | 10–20% | Poor – tolerable only for brief walking/transit | |
| E | > 5 m/s | ≥ 20% | Very poor – uncomfortable for virtually all use |
NEN 8100 Safety Criteria
| Safety Class | Wind Speed Threshold | Exceedance Probability | Effect | Color |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | > 15 m/s | < 0.05% (~4–5 hours/year) | No significant wind risk | |
| B | > 15 m/s | < 0.3% (~26 hours/year) | Limited risk, tolerable in less critical areas | |
| C | > 15 m/s | ≥ 0.3% | Dangerous – mitigation required |