Post Occupancy Findings of Some Factors of Thermal Comfort in Residential High-Rise Buildings in Dhaka City of Bangladesh

Abstract

In March 2002, Temperature and Humidity, two of the three essential factors for thermal comfort in buildings were measured in as many as 128 rooms of 27 high-rise apartments in 7 buildings at various locations in Dhaka city. In addition to instrumental measurements, the users' responses about climate were also collected. The jobs were done as part of M. Arch. thesis of this author in Architecture Department, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh. This one was the first Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE) on climate ever done in buildings in Bangladesh. On analysis, the results were found to show considerable deviations from what one might arrive at from common sense. It revealed, many users found considerable deviations in climates inside rooms from what they expected by studying the drawings. The reasons for these deviations were investigated in all possible cases. The findings helped to formulate some rules, which may improve the internal climates of high-rise apartments in the congested areas of Dhaka city. The findings of the above has been presented in the paper, along with suggestions prepared on the basis of experiences gained by instrumental measurement, users' responses and field investigations.