Thermal Performance of Single-Story Air-Welled Terraced House in Malaysia: A Field Measurement Approach

Pau Chung Leng,Weng Howe Chan,Eeydzah Aminudin,Gabriel Hoh Teck Ling,Dilshan Remaz Ossen,Mohd Hamdan Ahmad,Dg Normaswanna Tawasil

doi:10.3390/su13010201

Pau Chung Leng, Weng Howe Chan + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su13010201

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Abstract

The provision requirement of 10% openings of the total floor area stated in the Uniform Building By-Law 1984 Malaysia is essential for natural lighting and ventilation purposes. However, focusing on natural ventilation, the effectiveness of thermal performance in landed residential buildings has never been empirically measured and proven, as most of the research emphasized simulation modeling lacking sufficient empirical validation. Therefore, this paper drawing on field measurement investigates natural ventilation performance in terraced housing with an air-well system. The key concern as to what extent the current air-well system serving as a ventilator is effective to provide better thermal performance is to be addressed. By adopting an existing single-story air-welled terrace house, indoor environmental conditions and thermal performance were monitored and measured using HOBO U12 air temperature and humidity, the HOBO U12 anemometer, and the Delta Ohm HD32.3 Wet Bulb Globe Temperature meter for a six-month duration. The results show that the air temperature of the air well ranged from 27.48 °C to 30.92 °C, with a mean relative humidity of 72.67% to 79.25%. The mean air temperature for a test room (single-sided ventilation room) ranged from 28.04 °C to 30.92 °C, with a relative humidity of 70.16% to 76.00%. These empirical findings are of importance, offering novel policy insights and suggestions. Since the minimum provision of 10% openings has been revealed to be less effective to provide desirable thermal performance and comfort, mandatory compliance with and the necessity of the bylaw requirement should be revisited.

Highlights

Natural ventilation occurs when pressure differences generated by wind or buoyancy forces undertake at single or multiple openings in the building envelope
The findings show that the air velocity of 140 m3 /h to 330 m3 /h was induced by the solar radiation of 200 W/m2 and 1000 W/m2, respectively, with 2.25 m2 solar collector areas in the solar chimney
Poor thermal performance of a building increases the tendency of the occupants to use

Summary

Introduction

Natural ventilation occurs when pressure differences generated by wind or buoyancy forces undertake at single or multiple openings in the building envelope. It is an important and significant sustainable building design strategy for human being as one of the basic living environment criteria [1,2,3,4,5]. A similar requirement has been stated in the Building and Construction Act of Singapore as well as in other countries such as Australia and some other Commonwealth countries. It is plausible that natural ventilation is important and necessary to be included as a habitable building design strategy under circumstances when a mechanical ventilation system is unavailable.

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