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THERMAL COMFORT IN HOT AND HUMID CLIMATE

Summary by Shah Amir Ezham bin Ismail 0911625

In this particular writing of summary is only focusing on the issues of thermal comfort in hot and humid

climate with the discussion of method of assessment the comfort level, the approaches to achieve thermal

comfort in this particular climate, some findings together with the conclusion.

Introduction

Thermal comfort is a term which is used to describe the optimum comfort level of human in a space or

outdoor whereby the body is able to function well without feeling any uncomfortable. It is somehow

differs according to climate. Unfortunately, this crucial aspect of living is frequently neglected by

architects nowadays, whereby the design of buildings was much focus on the aesthetical value rather than

the quality of the spaces inside. As the consequence, a lot of after-thought thinking and approaches were

applied to solve the uncomfortable feeling and quality of the spaces. As a Muslim architect, the quality of

the spaces, the function including the comfort level of the space must be the main consideration to design

a space. Aesthetical value comes later due to its function is just to please the eyes.

Issues

The issues started when many factors of gaining thermal comfort were neglected such as building

orientation, building materials and spatial organization. Type of activity in a space including the total

number of the users is also some of the great roles which should be considered in achieving thermal

comfort but seems to be neglected as well. Although some of the issues are the results from architectural

factors, it cant be denied that the climatic change (in this case, the increasing of the temperature due to

global warming) also affects the level of thermal comfort. The other issue which is also directly

connected to this topic is the solution to achieve thermal comfort, which some prefer to use mechanical

approaches only but some prefer to manipulate passive design together with minor helps of the

mechanical means.

Finding

Many researches were done to evaluate and to discuss the most relevant ideas in approaching thermal

comfort especially in hot and humid climate such as Malaysia. One of the examples is the thermal

comfort evaluation done by the Department of Mechanical Engineering of Universiti Tenaga Nasional

Malaysia. The method used to evaluate the level of thermal comfort in their study at Aminuddin Baki

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Secondary School is by using survey form. The school area is surrounded by heavy vegetations and big

trees. From the result, they came into conclusion that neutral temperature (not hot and not cold in case

of Sekolah Aminuddin Baki, the min temperature is 27.6c) is majorly accepted and with the existing

approach of passive design (heavy vegetation at surrounding), a slight mechanical means to cool down the

termperature such as ceiling fan is enough to satisfy the users.

On the second example, a research was done in urban space by the Department of Architecture and

Environmental Design, International Islamic University of Malaysia, where the plazas surrounded by tall

buildings at Kuala Lumpur were chosen as the designated area for the experiment. As expected, the

shadow of the adjacent building, together with the orientation plays great role in reducing excess heat

from the surrounding. The conclusion made was the most favorable orientation is the combined diagonal

position of Northwest-Southeast and Northeast-Southwest while the most favorable geometry is the plaza

underneath a building.

Discussion

From the empirical experimental proves which has been discussed earlier, it is proven that

although in a hot and humid climate, thermal comfort still can be achieved with a very minimal

mechanical approach. It also proves that by neglecting passive design elements will somehow

create uncomfortable feelings, and will lead to the usage of many mechanical means in order to

achieve thermal comfort, although the cost of applying them can be cut down by considering

passive design elements at the first place. On the other hand, the usage of mechanical approach

such as air conditioning can affect the environment and the moreover, it provides unhealthy air

for the users. Although some building has neglected passive design elements, but it still can be

improved a bit, for instance, by having more shading device for every opening that is exposed

to direct sunlight, planting more vegetations, and by adding a bit of mechanical means such as

suction fan to suck heat from the building and to gain cool wind from the outside.

Conclusion

Thermal comfort must be one of the main considerations in planning and designing.

Furthermore, passive design is the best approach of achieving thermal comfort. In the other

hand, mechanical means can be used to gain thermal comfort, but minimal use of it is the best

way. Quality space is the space which provides healthy and comfortable ambiance, without

neglecting its function and aesthetical value.