SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & DESIGN

Modern Architecture Studies in Southeast Asia (MASSA) Research Unit

Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Architecture)

BUILDING SCIENCE 1 [ARC 2412]

Project 1: Human Perception of Comfort Level










TEAM MEMBERS:

Astriyani 0311678
Feiven Chee 0312004
Lee Min 0308860
Mohammad Syarulnizam Mohd Nasir 0302549
Nadia Othman 0303423
Syed Zain Syed Azman 0304845











"


Summary 3
1.0 Introduction
1.01 Aims & Objectives 4
1.02 Human Perception of Thermal Comfort 5
1.1 Site Location 6
1.1.1 Site Plan 7
1.1.2 Orthographic Drawings 8 - 10
1.1.3 On-Site Photos
1.1.3.1 Outdoor Photos 11
1.1.3.2 Indoor Photos 12 - 13
1.4 Task and Project Procedures 14
1.4.1 Limitations 15
2.0 Methodology for Data Collection 15
2.1 Temperature and Relative Humidity 16
2.2 Wind Movement and Ventilation 17
2.3 Sun path 17
3.0 Results and Analysis 18
3.1 Temperature and Relative Humidity
3.1.1 Table 18 - 20
3.1.2 Graph 20 - 22
3.1.3 Bioclimatic Chart 23
3.2 Climatic Factors
3.2.1 Macro-climatic Factors 24
3.2.2 Micro-climatic Factors 25 - 26
3.3 Wind Movement
3.3.1 Windrose Diagram 27
3.3.2 Natural Ventilation 28 - 30
3.3.3 Stack Ventilation 31
3.4 Thermal Analysis 32 - 33
3.5 Solar Analysis
3.5.1 Solar Radiation 34
3.5.2 Stereographic Diagram 35
3.5.3 Sun Path Diagrams and Shading Patterns 36 - 38
3.5.4 Shading Device 39 - 40
3.6 Sun Ray Diagrams 41 - 42
3.7 Materials 43 - 44
4.0 Conclusion 45
5.0 References 46




CONTENTS



#

Summary



This project was tasked to investigate the factors that affect the thermal
comfort of occupants in a particular space in a residential building. Also, by
understanding the human perception of thermal comfort as well as the contributors of
thermal comfort, this will aid us in our investigation.

After selecting our site, we were to use Hygro-Thermometer to record the
temperature and relative humidity of our selected indoor space. Values of indoor
temperature and relative humidity are obtained and used to compare with the outdoor
values across a span of three days. We have obtained hourly values of indoor
temperature and relative humidity dating from 5
th
September 2013 to 8
th
September
2013. A relationship between the indoor and outdoor values as well as a relationship
between temperature and relative humidity were then established.

We were then to determine the comfort level of the room and thereafter,
understand the factors that contribute to the comfort level of the room such as the
type of building materials that are used for the structures of the buildings, the amount
of shading device that would intercept any direct sunlight that may enter the building
as well as fenestrations, sufficient ventilation and site context that would also affect
the thermal performance of the room itself.











$
1.0 Introduction
1.0.1 Aims and objectives

The aim of this project is to understand the principles of heat transfer, identify
environmental conditions related to factors such as site conditions and climate. We
are also required to establish a relationship between the solar effects of the sun on
the thermal performance of the residential structure which we have to proposed to
study. Also, factors such as ventilation, types of building materials used as well as air
movement are important to comprehend the thermal impacts on the structure.





Objectives
Identify and define principles of heat transfer in relation to the building
and its occupants
Understand the definition and factors that affect thermal comfort
Analyze impacts of thermal comfort factors on a space and in a said
space
Criticize design of the space in terms of thermal comfort with reference
to MSI 1525 and UBBL














%
1.0.2 Human Perception of Thermal Comfort

Thermal comfort is the condition of the mind that expresses satisfaction with the
thermal environment. There are six factors that affect the level of thermal comfort
consisting of both environment and personal factors. Personal factors are the
characteristic of the user and Environmental factor are conditions of thermal
environment.

The personal factors are clothing insulation and metabolic rate. Thermal comfort is
dependent on the insulating effect of clothing on a wearer. Clothing is both a potential
cause of thermal discomfort as well as a control for it as we adapt to the climate in
which we live. As for the metabolic rate, different people have different metabolic rate
that can vary due to the environment and activity level. The more physical work we
do, the more heat we produce. The more heat we produce, more heat is required to
be lost.

Environmental factors include air temperature, radiant temperature, air velocity
and humidity. Air temperature is the temperature surrounding the user with respect
to time and location. The human bodys primary response is towards the change in
temperature. Thermal radiation is heat that radiates from a warm object and also may
be present if there are heat sources in an environment. Air velocity is described as
the rate of air movement across the user. It is an important factor in thermal comfort
because people are sensitive to it. Humidity is dependent on the amount of water
vapour that is present in the atmosphere.

Thermal discomfort has been known to lead to sick building syndrome symptoms.
The combination of high temperature and high relative humidity serves to reduce
thermal comfort.

Through our observations and data analysis, factors affecting thermal comfort are
acknowledged with references from the standardized values in GBI MS 1525:2007
(Code of Practice on Energy Efficiency and Use of Renewable Energy for Non-
Residential Buildings)



&
1.1 Site Location



Petaling Jaya is made up of mostly residential areas and a fair amount of industrial
areas. Petaling Jaya is well linked with Kuala Lumpur and the rest of the country by
road. The main Kuala Lumpur-PJ link is the Federal Highway, which goes through the
middle of PJ and continues to Subang Jaya, Shah Alam, Klang and Port Klang.

Petaling Jaya is one of the wettest cities in Malaysia. It is warm with an average
maximum of 30 degrees C and receives heavy rainfall all year round, roughly more
than 3,300 mm (130 in) of average rainfall annually. Petaling Jaya has no particular
true dry season but June and July are the driest months. Mostly each month average
rainfall receives more than 200 mm (7.9 in) of rainfall. Thunderstorms and extreme
rainstorms are common in Petaling Jaya and it is one of the highest lightning strike
areas in Malaysia.






'
1.1.1 Site Plan



Address: No. 1, Jalan 6/28, 46000 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Building type: Single-storey bungalow house

Section 6 is a serene and peaceful residential area in the older part of Petaling Jaya.
This area is a matured neighbourhood with sufficient amenities and commercial areas
to cater to its residents.
The chosen site is surrounded by many other bungalows and terraces. Most houses
in that area have undergone renovations to alter the usage of materials that may have
been worn out over time. Trees and shrubs surround the compound of each house to
maintain environment cohesion and acts as a cooling effect to the surroundings.
Vehicles that travel around the area have their own peak time. As it is located near a
school, the road surrounding the house will generally be busy during peak hours
which around 12pm and 6pm.

A brick wall separates each house with a 3 metres wide area in between houses.




(
1.1.2 Orthographic Drawings



Ground Floor Plan

(Area marked in red is the area that is used for site study)




South Elevation


)


East Elevation






West Elevation







North Elevation






*+


Longitudinal Section








































**
1.1.3 On-site photos
1.1.3.1 Exterior Photos

Car Porch

Side Entrance

Elevation of side entrance with water feature to the right of the photo.


*"

1.1.3.2 Interior Photos

Living Area



Living area indicating the two openings where most sunlight streams into the
room as well as the indoor shading devices that are used.





*#


Living area facing the curved stairway to the attic.












*$


1.4 Task and Project Procedures

In order to identify and define the principles of heat relation to the building, the task of
this project is to analyze the factors that relate or affect the thermal comfort by finding
out the range of room temperature that is within the human perception of comfort
level.
The main factors that contribute to the changes of thermal comfort and the
identification methods used are shown in the table below.

A data logger was placed at the chosen space which then recorded the data of the
indoor temperature and relative humidity over a period of 72 hours. While, the data for
the outdoor temperature and outdoor humidity were determined from an online
database.
(link of the website)
A temperature versus humidity dual -axis chart is plotted based on the data collected
to indicate a better relation between temperature and relative humidity, for further
discussion and analysis. A bioclimatic chart which shows the relationship between air
speed, thermal energy, temperature and relative humidity is also created to depict the
human comfort region/zone.
From the information that illustrated in the sun path diagrams and wind rose diagram,
a more in depth analysis has been carried out in order to study the effects of the sun
and other relating factors such as thermal mass, thermal insulation, air movement etc.
on the thermal performance of the building
Factors relating to thermal comfort Method used to identify
Air temperature
-Indoor temperature
-Outdoor temperature

-Data logger
-Online database
Relative Humidity
-Indoor relative humidity
-Outdoor relative humidity

-Data logger
-Online database
Air Velocity Wind rose diagram

Radiant Temperature (solar) -Sun path diagram, sun shading pattern


*%

1.4.1 Limitations
The space chosen to carry out the whole study is limited to only one small part
of the building. Furthermore, data for the indoor temperature and relative humidity
was also only recorded over a period of 72 hours. Besides, data from a nearby
location had to be used due to the specific data concerning wind speed right at the
spot of the chosen space could not be determined. Therefore, the information might
not be an accurate representation of the thermal performance for the entire building.
Systematic errors due to the handling of the data logger or the malfunctioning of the
data logger itself could have affected the overall result as well.

2.0 Methodology for Data Collection


With a Hygro-thermometer, we were to measure the indoor temperature (in
Degrees Celsius) and indoor Relative Humidity (%). These readings were to take
place at regular intervals and we have set the hygro-thermometer to take readings at
every 3600s (1 hour) intervals. The readings were recorded by the data logger over a
period of 3 days and the data was then transferred from the SD card which it was


*&
stored in, onto an excel spreadsheet. These values are then used to plot a graph and
compared to outdoor temperature and relative humidity values.

2.1 Temperature and Relative Humidity
The thermo/hygrometer data logger that provided was used to obtain and to
record indoor temperature and relative humidity. First the data logger was set to
record temperature and relative humidity per hours in 72 hours period. Then it was
placed 1 m above the ground level in the chosen room that can be seen from the floor
plan below where the room would be at least disturbances by active cooling, human
interfere and heat or sun light. Human perceptions that cause some interfere in that
room also had been used to analyze the recorded data. While the outdoor
temperature and relative humidity data was obtain from the online weather reports.

From our observation on the site,
on sunny days the outdoor feels
strongly hot, especially most of the
exterior of the site covered by concrete
that can reflect back the heat.
Meanwhile in the indoor areas feel
cooler than outdoor with fan on and wall
and glass that shade us from direct
heat. Therefore we also record the
weather condition and human activity in
that 72 hours period to see how it
impacts the indoor temperature and
humidity.










*'

2.2 Wind Movement and Ventilation

A windrose diagram is a tool that is used to illustrate the frequency of wind,
wind speed and wind direction in a particular area. Data from all these factors are
acquired 3 days during which the data logger was placed in the area we are
conducting our observations. This data was gathered from online weather reports and
a windrose diagram was then drawn up to illustrate the average air velocity and
directions in which most of the wind was coming from towards our site.

By acknowledging the openings around the area in the house which we have
chosen to study, we are able to understand the efficiency of the placements of these
openings with response to that of the wind movements mentioned above. By
highlighting the openings such as doors and windows that are present within that area
of study as well as taking note of any obstrusive structures such as walls that may
hinder the movement of wind through the house will aid us in understanding the
amount of breeze that enters the house

2.3 Sun Path
Sun path refers to significant changes of the position of the sun as the Earth
rotates and orbits around the sun. The local latitude and the rising and setting position
of the sun which based on the time of the year have significant effects on the sun
paths, hence affects the lighting behaviors and heating characteristics of the sun.
A sun path diagram is a tool to illustrate the daily and annual changes in the
path of the sun for a location through the sky via a 2-dimensional diagram. It provides
the summary of solar position, at every time of the day and day of the year, by its
azimuth and altitude readings. Therefore, sun path diagrams are used to ascertain
solar access that architects and designers can refer to when considering shading
requirements and design options.







*(
3.0 Results and Analysis
3.1 Temperature and Relative Humidity
The data that was recorded and obtained from the data logger and online
weather report are used to generate a table to see the relationship between outdoor
and indoor temperatures, outdoor and indoor relative humidity and the relation
between temperature and relative humidity.
3.1.2 Table


Temperature

Relative
Humidity

Date Time Indoor Outdoor Indoor Outdoor
External
Condition
Human
Activity
Clothing
Value
9/3/13 13:24:43 28.3 29 66.2 70 Sunny SeaLed 0.37
9/3/13 16:24:42 28.3 30 66.3 70 Sunny SeaLed 0.37
9/3/13 17:24:42 28.2 30 67.3 70 Sunny SeaLed 0.37
9/3/13 18:24:42 28.2 29 67.1 74 Sunny SeaLed 0.37
9/3/13 19:24:42 28.2 28 68.4 79 Sunny Walklng AbouL 0.37
9/3/13 20:24:42 28.1 26 63.7 84 arLly Cloudy Walklng AbouL 0.37
9/3/13 21:24:42 27.8 23 63.7 89 arLly Cloudy Walklng AbouL 0.37
9/3/13 22:24:42 27.6 23 63 89 arLly Cloudy Walklng AbouL 0.37
9/3/13 23:24:42 27.4 23 69.1 89 arLly Cloudy Walklng AbouL 0.37
9/6/13 0:24:42 27.4 23 62.1 89 arLly Cloudy no AcLlvlLy 0.96
9/6/13 1:24:42 27.3 24 61.7 94 arLly Cloudy no AcLlvlLy 0.96
9/6/13 2:24:42 27.1 24 39.3 94 arLly Cloudy no AcLlvlLy 0.96
9/6/13 3:24:42 27 24 36.2 94 arLly Cloudy no AcLlvlLy 0.96
9/6/13 4:24:42 27 24 64.4 94 arLly Cloudy no AcLlvlLy 0.96
9/6/13 3:24:42 27 24 69.9 94 arLly Cloudy no AcLlvlLy 0.96
9/6/13 6:24:42 27 24 72.1 94 arLly Cloudy Walklng AbouL 0.96
9/6/13 7:24:42 27 24 74.6 94 arLly Cloudy Walklng AbouL 0.96
9/6/13 8:24:42 26.7 23 74.7 89 Sunny Swlplng/Moplng 0.96
9/6/13 9:24:42 26.7 23 72.4 89 Sunny Walklng AbouL 0.96
9/6/13 10:24:42 26.9 26 73.1 84 Sunny Walklng AbouL 0.37
9/6/13 11:24:42 27.3 27 73 79 Sunny Walklng AbouL 0.37
9/6/13 12:24:42 27.8 28 73 79 Sunny Walklng AbouL 0.37
9/6/13 13:24:42 28.1 28 71.3 74 Sunny Walklng AbouL 0.37
9/6/13 14:24:42 28.9 29 67.9 70 Sunny Walklng AbouL 0.37
9/6/13 13:24:42 28.7 30 70.4 70 Sunny SeaLed 0.37
9/6/13 16:24:42 29.3 30 67.3 70 Sunny SeaLed 0.37
9/6/13 17:24:42 29.4 30 67.2 70 Sunny SeaLed 0.37
9/6/13 18:24:42 28.8 29 69.9 74 Sunny SeaLed 0.37
9/6/13 19:24:42 28.8 28 69.6 79 Sunny SeaLed 0.37
9/6/13 20:24:42 28.7 27 68.3 84 arLly Cloudy SeaLed 0.37
9/6/13 21:24:42 28.6 27 71.1 84 arLly Cloudy SeaLed 0.37


*)
9/6/13 22:24:42 28.3 27 71.9 84 arLly Cloudy SeaLed 0.37
9/6/13 23:24:42 28.4 26 72 89 arLly Cloudy Walklng AbouL 0.37
9/7/13 0:24:42 28.2 26 70.3 89 arLly Cloudy Walklng AbouL 0.37
9/7/13 1:24:42 28.2 26 70 84 arLly Cloudy no AcLlvlLy 0.96
9/7/13 2:24:42 28.1 26 70.8 89 arLly Cloudy no AcLlvlLy 0.96
9/7/13 3:24:42 28 23 71.8 94 arLly Cloudy no AcLlvlLy 0.96
9/7/13 4:24:42 27.9 23 71.3 89 arLly Cloudy no AcLlvlLy 0.96
9/7/13 3:24:42 27.8 23 71.2 94 arLly Cloudy no AcLlvlLy 0.96
9/7/13 6:24:42 27.7 23 71.3 94 arLly Cloudy Walklng AbouL 0.96
9/7/13 7:24:42 27.4 23 72.9 89 arLly Cloudy Swlplng/Moplng 0.74
9/7/13 8:24:42 27.2 23 73.6 89 Sunny Walklng AbouL 0.74
9/7/13 9:24:42 27.3 27 73.3 94 Sunny Walklng AbouL 0.74
9/7/13 10:24:42 27.8 28 74.9 84 Sunny Walklng AbouL 0.74
9/7/13 11:24:42 28.3 30 70.9 79 Sunny acklng 0.74
9/7/13 12:24:42 28.9 31 67.8 66 Sunny acklng 0.74
9/7/13 13:24:42 29.2 31 62.7 66 Sunny acklng 0.37
9/7/13 14:24:42 29 31 62.4 62 Sunny acklng 0.37
9/7/13 13:24:42 29.4 31 62.1 66 Sunny acklng 0.37
9/7/13 16:24:42 29.8 27 64.8 79 Sunny acklng 0.37
9/7/13 17:24:42 28.9 27 70.4 79
1hundersLor
m Walklng AbouL 0.37
9/7/13 18:24:42 28.7 23 73.3 94
1hundersLor
m no AcLlvlLy 0.37
9/7/13 19:24:42 28.7 26 76.4 94
1hundersLor
m no AcLlvlLy 0.37
9/7/13 20:24:42 28.7 23 73.2 89 arLly Cloudy Walklng AbouL 0.37
9/7/13 21:24:42 28.3 23 77.1 89 arLly Cloudy Walklng AbouL 0.37
9/7/13 22:24:42 28.3 23 76 94 arLly Cloudy Walklng AbouL 0.37
9/7/13 23:24:42 28.4 23 76 94 arLly Cloudy Walklng AbouL 0.37
9/8/13 0:24:42 28 23 61.3 94 arLly Cloudy no AcLlvlLy 0.74
9/8/13 1:24:42 27.9 23 60.2 94 arLly Cloudy no AcLlvlLy 0.74
9/8/13 2:24:42 27.7 23 38.3 94 arLly Cloudy no AcLlvlLy 0.74
9/8/13 3:24:42 27.6 23 63.2 94 arLly Cloudy no AcLlvlLy 0.74
9/8/13 4:24:42 27.6 23 69.3 94 arLly Cloudy no AcLlvlLy 0.74
9/8/13 3:24:42 27.6 23 71.9 94 arLly Cloudy no AcLlvlLy 0.74
9/8/13 6:24:42 27.6 23 72.8 94 arLly Cloudy Walklng AbouL 0.74
9/8/13 7:24:42 27.3 23 73.6 94 arLly Cloudy Swlplng/Moplng 0.37
9/8/13 8:24:42 27.3 23 77.1 94 Sunny SeaLed 0.37
9/8/13 9:24:42 27.3 26 76.3 94 Sunny SeaLed 0.37
9/8/13 10:24:42 27.8 27 73 89 Sunny SeaLed 0.37
9/8/13 11:24:42 28.4 29 68.3 89 Sunny Walklng AbouL 0.37
9/8/13 12:24:42 29 30 64.3 74 Sunny Walklng AbouL 0.37
9/8/13 13:24:42 29.3 32 60.3 89 Sunny Walklng AbouL 0.37
9/8/13 14:24:42 29.7 29 61.1 74 Showers Walklng AbouL 0.37
9/8/13 13:24:42 29.1 28 67.6 89 Showers Walklng AbouL 0.37
!"# %&'( )% **'+ &,


"+


3.1.3 Graph



From the table and chart above, we are able to see that there is a difference of
1 to 3 degree celcius between outdoor and indoor temperatures where the highest
indoor temperature of 29.8 Degrees Celsius was recorded on 7
th
September and the
lowest temperature of 26.7 Degrees Celsius was recorded on 6
th
September.
Similarly, the highest outdoor temperature was 32 Celsius on 8
th
September and the
lowest indoor temperature of 24 Degrees Celsius was recorded on the same day.
Over the 3 days, the calculated average temperatures for indoor and outdoor
temperatures are 28 Degrees Celsius and 26 Degrees Celsius respectively with the
indoor temperature being more constant where there are lesser fluctuations when
compared to the outdoor temperature. As the outdoor temperature gets heated up due
to heat from the sunlight, the indoor temperatures also increases due to other
thermally dependable factors such as building orientation and properties of building
materials.


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Outdoor and indoor relative humidity bear a larger percentage difference of 4 to
40 percent when compared to the difference between outdoor and indoor temperature
that range from 1 to 3 degrees. The highest indoor Relative Humidity of 77.1% was
observed on the 8
th
of September and the lowest indoor relative humidity of 56.2%
was observed on 6
th
September. The highest and lowest relative humidity are 94%
and 62% respectively where the former occurs on the second and third day of
observation while the latter is observed on the 7
th
of September.
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In order to establish a relationship between Relative Humidity and
Temperature, both data have to be merged into one chart. From the illustration above
we can see that relative humidity and temperature are inversely co-related. When the
outdoor humidity level reaches its highest percentage of 94%, the outdoor
temperature drops to its lowest, 24 Degrees Celsius, on a partly cloudy day.
Meanwhile, on a sunny day in our last day of data observations, outdoor temperature
peaks at 32 Degrees Celsius while the outdoor relative humidity fluctuates drastically
which is most probably due to the change in weather condition from sunny to rainy.









"#

3.1.3 Bioclimatic Chart



























A bioclimatic chart is a graphical means of representing the human comfort
region. It illustrates the relationship between the air movement, dry-bulb temperature
and relative humidity
Data that is collected in a span of three days by the hygro-thermometer are set
up in a table and the average of the data collected was calculated. The average of the
dry bulb temperature taken is 29 degrees celcius while the average relative humidity
taken is 69 percent.
By plotting these two values on the bioclimatic chart, it indicates that the living
room (our site of observation) is not within the comfort zone. Therefore, to achieve a
thermal comfort, a wind speed of 0.4 m/s needs to be introduced to achieve comfort
level or stimulated ventilation has to be initiated to produce better air movement within
this particular area.




"$
3.2 Climatic Factors
3.2.2 Macro-climatic Factors

Macroclimate refers to the climate of a larger area such as the climate of a
particular region, which in this case, refers to the climate of Petaling Jaya. Most often,
structures or residential areas are constructed with knowledge of the macroclimate
system but design changes cannot alter the macro-climatic conditions of a site-
specific area.
From the online weather data for Petaling Jaya, we are able to extrapolate, the
general climatic conditions of the entire area of the site which we are investigating. As
such, from these data, we are able to understand the large-scale factors that affect
the thermal conditions of the building.

Unlike terrace-linked houses, the structure we are studying is a bungalow lot where
there is a significant amount of separation between each house and the next. Also,
given that this is a low density housing area, vehicle traffic within this area is rather
low except during peak hours. This thus, affects the thermal conditions of the site
which we are investigating.
The distance of the house from the main road also affects the thermal
conditions of the house. Since the house is located a fair distance away from the


"%
main road, the amount of heat generated from vehicular activity may not affect the
thermal conditions of the house.
Also, since wind travels from a high pressure to a low-pressure area, given the
low-density housing and low vehicular activity within the vicinity, winds are expected
to travel into this area from the mainly bustling main roads and commercial districts.

3.2.1 Micro-climatic Factors

Microclimate refers to the variations in localized climate around or within a
particular building, which is influenced by factors such as topography, urban form and
vegetation. The following are factors that affect the microclimate of a particular
building.

Outside Designers Control

Within Designers Control
Area and Local Climate Spacing and Orientation of building
Site surroundings Location of open spaces
Site Shape Form and Height of Buildings
Topographic Features Number of Openings
Surrounding Buildings Tree Cover
Ground Profiling
Wind Breaks
Surrounding Surfaces

This house which is located in a low-density residential area where one house
is situated a few metres away from any neighbouring house thus, providing better air
ventilation and circulation where the area of the house which we are investigating
faces the east, allows sunlight to penetrate easily into the living room. The luscious
greenery that surrounds the building helps to shade and cool the interior of the
building through evapotranspiration that can reduce temperatures by 3 to 6 Degrees
Celsius during daytime.

At noon when the sun is at its highest position, parts of the outdoor area that
are covered with tiles feel hotter because the tiles reflect heat. The placement of brick
walls and obstructions of wall structures to the western part of the house hinder most
of the wind which come from northwest direction from entering the building.


"&

The curved staircase at the center of the house provides an access to the attic
space while the gable roof allows passive ventilation to occur through the initiation of
air circulation by allowing the transmission of cold air and hot air into and out of the
building.

Also, the presence of a garden to the
east of the house acts as a heat absorber and
reduce ground reflected solar rays which would
otherwise be caused by paved or tiled ground.
The water feature located near the entrance
also aids in moderating the effects of high
temperatures on a hot day.














"'
3.3 Wind Movement
3.3.1 Wind Rose Diagram


Based on the illustration above, from the data we have obtained from the
online weather reports, it is observed that most of the wind is originating from the
North West direction while the building itself faces North. Thus, the walls of the house


"(
itself as well as the neighbouring houses obstruct these oblique winds and as such,
not much wind is able to pass through the interior section of the building. Despite that,
wind speeds of up to 11km/h were still observed coming from the North and this wind
could then be harnessed to passively cool the house.


3.3.2 Natural Ventilation

Natural ventilation is a type of wind intake and exhaust system that utilizes
existing thermodynamic forces within a building without the use of electrical
machinery to initiate the movement of air such as fans or air conditioning units. As the
temperature of air within a particular space such as in this case, the living room,
increases, this amount of air expands and as the difference in the column of warm air
and cool air is more apparent, the faster the warm air rises and gets exhausted from
the building.




The wind rose diagram illustrates the directions in which most of the wind is
coming from. As such, by establishing a section, we are able to observe how cold air
enters from the North side of the building and gets exhausted from the South side of
the building.


")



However, due to the placement of several wall structures, from the plan, we
are able to observe that the wall structures highlighted in red impede the natural flow
of the wind from the North end of the house. Thus, the inflow and outflow of air
movement in the house from the North side of the house cannot be established.
Hence, there is little to no passive cooling unless when wind originates from the North
East side of the house and enters the living room through the door located at the East
side of the house as illustrated above.









#+



The above diagrams illustrate the difference in wind movement during the day
and at night while acknowledging the context of neigbouring houses and surrounding
trees.

During the day, since outdoor temperatures are far higher than indoor
temperatures, and this sees the area outside the building as a lower pressure area
causing hot air to be exhausted from the building and less warm air enters the
building since the interior of the building is a high pressure area and that wind travels
from a high to low pressure area.

On the flipside, the contrast in air temperatures can get significantly high too
and this will see the outdoor temperature to be much lower than indoor temperature
and as such marking a high pressure area outdoors. This thus causes wind to travel
into the building which now represents a low pressure area. Thus, wind will eventually
enter the living room through fenestrations in the building.







#*
3.3.3 Stack Ventilation






Stack ventilation is a form of natural ventilation where vertical pressure
differences are developed by thermal buoyancy and since warm air inside is less
dense than the cooler air outside, this warm air will try to escape from higher parts of
the building where in this case through vents in the attic as well as the gable roof
where warm air is able to escape.
Since stack ventilation is more pronounced with a higher amount of stack, this
suggests that the height of stack is a crucial factor for the success of warm air being
exhausted through stack ventilation. While it is probable for stack ventilation to occur
for a scenario like this where the structure is a one-storey bungalow, the effects of
stack ventilation are rather minimal.











#"
3.4 Thermal Analysis

Thermal analysis is a form of investigation where the properties of materials are
studied with relation to changes in temperature. It is also a term used to study heat
transfer through structures.

The bricks walls around the house act as a temperature stabilizer. Bricks have
excellent thermal mass, which is able to retain heat when the house is subjected to a
temperature differential. The more external brick walls you have, the more heat loss
you will experience. So a detached house loses more heat than a mid-terrace one.
Also, some old houses with solid external walls may have extensions built with cavity
walls.


The typical Malaysian house receives most of its solar heat gain from the roof. The
typical roof receives from 50% to 85% of the total solar radiation. For an intermediate
single story terraced house where the roof makes up nearly 70% of the building
envelope exposed to the sun, roof insulation becomes all-important to keep the home
cool.



##




The pitched clay tile roof with insulation used in the design of the house
minimizes heat gain during the day. Clay tiles have superior reflectance of solar and
thermal energy of up to 86 percent. On a sunny day, the area at the attic traps
moisture. At night when the temperature outside cools down, the heat trapped inside
will be released from the walls and roof. This will help in regulating the interior
temperature of the house.











#$

3.5 Solar Analysis
3.5.1 Solar radiation

Solar radiation is a radiant energy that is emitted by the sun, particularly
electromagnetic energy, in many forms such as visible light, ultraviolet rays, X-rays
and infrared radiation. Solar radiation is high on clear, sunny day. Solar radiation can
affect the thermal performance of a building by transmitting heat directly to the
surface of certain materials or through openings, thus, it has been one of the key
elements that affects the design process.

Solar radiation through roofs
In a typical Malaysian terraced house, horizontal surface of the roof receives the
majority of the solar radiation delivered to a house. Therefore, reducing the solar heat
gain through the roof should be the first priority for keeping the home cool.
Weatherproofing materials or membranes are used to ensure that no solar radiation is
directly transmitted through the roof.

Solar radiation through windows
Transparency of windows allows the major portion of the solar radiation to penetrate
directly into the interior of the building where only a small portion is reflected back and
absorbed. Therefore, curtains, which act as internal shading devices, are usually
hung at the windows and sliding doors in order to block the direct sunlight. However,
the heat is transmitted to the curtain and trapped between the glass and the curtain
thus remitting heat into the buildings interiors.

Solar radiation through walls
Unlike fenestrations when solar radiation is incident on an opaque building wall, a part
of it is absorbed while the remaining part is reflected back. A fraction of the radiation
absorbed is then transferred to the interiors of the building.








#%



3.5.2 Stereographic Diagram

The openings in the living room faces the east where solar heat gain is more
apparent from dawn to noon. However, the trees planted in the east provide morning
shade and prevent solar heating from the direct sunlight. At exactly 12pm when the
sun is directly above the house, sunlight and heat will be directed onto the roof,
hence, causing the pitched roofs to absorb most of the heat. Without proper
insulation, heat that is trapped in the roof may be transferred into the main building
and cause thermal discomfort.







#&
3.5.3 Sun path diagrams and shading patterns

















6
th
of September, 09:30

At 0930 when the sun is
shining from the East, the
canopies of the trees help
shade the openings of the
living room from receiving any
direct sunlight or heat gain
from the roof.

6
th
of September, 12:30

The sun crosses the meridian
and is at its highest elevation in
the sky. More heat is gained due
to the direct sunlight from the
top.


#'

















6
th
of September, 15:30

During the late afternoon as
the sun travels further to the
west, the Western part of the
building receives most
sunlight and heat from the sun
and as such, shading devices
such as the roof eaves, help
protect our place of study
which is the living room from
the overbearing sunlight and
intense heat.

6
th
of September, 18:30

As the sun begins to set over
the horizon, this is when the
living room receives the least
amount of direct sunlight and
heat since the area is blocked
by most of the western section
of the building.



#(








The diagrams above show the sun shading patterns during equinoxes and solstices.
The sun is more towards the south during the winter solstice. Because of that, the
building will be more exposed to sunlight when compared to that in summer solstice
when trees and bushes to the East corner of the house can be utilized for shade.







Summer Solstice (21
st
June)
Winter Solstice (21
st
December)
12:30
Spring Equinox (21
st
March)
12:30
Autumn Equinox (21
st
September) 12:30


#)
3.5.4 Shading devices

Solar radiation absorbed on the building surfaces will cause an increase in room
temperature. Therefore, shading devices are important to prevent any ingression
of solar radiation that will cause thermal discomfort.

Exterior shading devices
External shading devices intercept the solar energy before entering the room which
would result in energy savings by reducing direct solar gain through windows. They
are incorporated in the buildings facade to limit internal heat gain resulting from
solar radiation.



Extruded window frame
Extruded window frame acts as an obstruction thus,
preventing direct sunlight penetration. It blocks the
sunlight to a certain degree from entering the internal
space through windows.





Roof eaves
The use of fixed overhangs that are found in the roof
eaves and balcony provides additional shade for the
windows and walls. This assists in cooling the house
by reducing the amount of solar radiation that enters
the building.






$+


Internal shading devices
Internal shading devices usually are adjustable and allow occupants to regulate the
amount of direct light entering the space, but is less efficient compared to external
shading devices.


Curtains
Curtains reduce the transfer of heat between the interior and exterior of a building
through the glass of the windows. Although it provides internal shading, it is not
efficient in blocking out solar radiation. It also eliminates views and impedes air
movement.









$*
3.6 Sun Ray Diagrams














The diagrams above illustrate the sun rays that are casted onto the main living
room area during the winter and summer solstice on the 21
st
of June and 21
st
of
December respectively at 0930. From these diagrams, we are able to deduce that
sunlight gets to penetrate through the building more during the summer solstice
compared to that during the winter solstice.



Summer solstice (21
st
June) 0930
Winter solstice (21
st
December) 0930


$"











The three diagrams above indicate the suns rays at 1230 during different
times of the year. Based on the direction of the sunrays, we can see that the east side
of the building receives more radiation from the sun during the summer solstice when
compared to that in the winter solstice. However, during the autumn equinox, the roof
of the building receives the most of the sun radiation since, the path of the sunrays
are almost directly perpendicular to the ground.

Summer solstice (21
st
June) 1230
Winter solstice (21
st
December) 1230
Autumn Equinox (21
st
September) 1230


$#
3.7 Materials
U value is a measure of heat loss in a building element such as a wall, floor or roof. It
can also measure how well parts of a building transfer heat. This means that the
higher the U value, the worse the thermal performance of the building envelope.


1. Brick buildings have excellent heat retaining properties. Brick walls can absorb and
store heat energy, releasing it slowly overtime. Hence, it is good in stabilizing
temperature especially to reduce the artificial heating and cooling usage in an area.
Brick is also good for acoustic performance as it reduces external sound. The best
brick wall is the double cavity wall, which fills the gap in between bricks, keeping the
warmth in to save energy. It can also help reduce condensation within the house.




















$$



2. Clay tiled roofs work as energy savers. Just like the brick wall, clay tiles help to
reduce energy dependency. It is able to reflect heat from the sun and has an ability to
insulate by keeping temperatures warm. Clay tiles can reduce the amount of energy
needed to keep a comfortable temperature in your home.

3. Marble flooring is an excellent conductor of heat when compared to other common
materials used for flooring. This is because the mass of marble is so great that it
takes considerably more heat to raise its temperature up to ambient temperature.
When marble is kept in the shade, it gets cooler even though the outside temperature
is high.

4. Gypsum plasterboard utilized for the ceiling has a low thermal conductivity.
Gypsum is able to store humidity when a space is humid and will release the humidity
when the air becomes too dry. The plasterboard also has the ability to store heat. As
temperature increases, heat will be absorbed and will then be re-radiated back out
when the temperature of the space decreases.




$%
4.0 Conclusion

From the data and observations which we have obtained, we conclude that
our area of study is not within the thermal comfort zone. Most of the thermal
discomfort is attributed to the poor passive cooling in the house. Wind that comes
from the North can barely be harnessed due to the poor placement of structural
walls. Also, given that the structure were investigating is a single storey building,
with no proper insulation between the roof and main building, heat trapped within
the roof may be transferred to the living room seamlessly thus, further causing
thermal discomfort.

Also, while the trees and bushes to the East of the bungalow can be utilized
for shade from the direct of sunlight and heat from the sun, the poor placement of
window in the living room which faces the East means that sunlight is still able to
penetrate into the living room between dawn to noon.

Also, for solar anomalies such as when the position of the sun is further
south during the same time on different months, this indicates that certain shading
devices may prove to be dysfunctional and thus, solar radiation may prove to be a
threat to thermal discomfort during these months.

As such, by weighing out the factors that contribute to the thermal discomfort
of the area, poor structural placements, building layout and openings are the main
contributors to the high levels of thermal energy in the house.












$&
5.0 References

American Institute of Architects. (2012). The Carbon Neutral Design Project:
REDUCE LOADS / DEMAND FIRST - Shading (Heat Avoidance). Retrieved
from http://tboake.com/carbon-aia/strategies1b.html
Architecture.com (2013). Natural ventilation - stack ventilation. [online] Retrieved
from: http://www.architecture.com/SustainabilityHub/Designstrategies/Air/1-2-1-
2-Naturalventilation-stackventilation.aspx [Accessed: 30 sep 2013]
Benefits of Clay Roof Tiles (2010), Retrieved September 26
th
, 2013, from
http://www.terreal.com.my/homeowner.php?id=18

Finely Crafted Shade Systems: Why Shade from the Exterior rather than the
Interior. Retrieved from http://abcsuncontrol.com/main/maintenance/why-
shade-from-the-exterior
rather-than-the-interior/

G. Kwok & S. Reynolds (2010). Mechanical and Electrical Equipment for Buildings:
Solar Geometry and Shading Devices. Thermal Comfort and Design
Strategies. United States of America.

Green Globes. (2012). Advanced Technologies and Practices: External Shading
Devices. Retrieved from
http://www.greenglobes.com/advancedbuildings/_frames/fr_t_lighting_ext_sha
ding_devices.htm

Gypsum Unique Properties, Retrieved September 26
th
, 2013, from
http://www.eurogypsum.org/properties
Malaysia Clay Brick (2011). Retrieved September 26
th
, 2013, from
http://www.myclaybrick.com/html/whybrick-claybrickadvantage.html

New-learn.info (2013). Thermal Comfort. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.new-
learn.info/packages/clear/thermal/index.html [Accessed: 30 Sep 2013]

Newport Corporation. (1996-2013). Introduction to Solar Radiation. Retrieved from
http://www.newport.com/Introduction-to-Solar
Radiation/411919/1033/content.aspx
abc Sun Control, LLC. (2011).

Rp5.ru (2013). Weather Diary in Subang (airport). [online] Retrieved from:
http://rp5.ru/Weather_Diary_in_Subang_(airport) [Accessed: 24 sep 2013]

Stack Ventilation. Retrieved from
http://www.architecture.com/SustainabilityHub/Designstrategies/Air/1-2-1-2
Naturalventilation-stackventilation.aspx

Thermal Mass (2013), Retrieved September 26
th
, 2013 from
http://greenpassivesolar.com/passive-solar/building-characteristics/thermal-
mass/