Review of Thermal Performance: A Terrace House in Melaka, Malaysia

Abstract

A field study of residents’ thermal comfort in a naturally ventilated intermediate single storey terrace house was carried out at Merlimau, Melaka. An intermediate single storey terrace house was chosen as a case study and indoor thermal condition measurements were recorded for three days. The indoor ambient temperature, relative humidity and air speed were measured using on-site monitoring equipment to evaluate the thermal performance of this house. A questionnaire survey was also conducted involving all occupants to determine their thermal comfort perception of the same case study house. The aim of this study is to analyse the indoor thermal condition of an intermediate single storey terrace house in order to propose architectural features to climatically adapt to the local climate. In naturally ventilated condition, results showed that this house is thermally uncomfortable and the indoor thermal condition was between 2.7°C to 5.9°C higher than suggested temperatures stipulated in ASHRAE Standard 55. Consistently, five out of eight occupants or less than 80% of occupants voted the house as thermally acceptable according to ASHRAE Standard 55.