FORM AND PLANNING IN WARM AND HUMID CLIMATE

ABSTRACT
For most of the tropics, traditional housing is rural housing. The traditional
building forms of the rural tropics often include sound solutions of climatic
problems. Given technological limitations and the always overriding
considerations of safety, some of these solutions must be considered ingenious
and there can be no doubt that they deserve careful study.
This paper deals with the planning of a structure with respect to climate. Form,
orientation, materials and design guidelines for a warm humid climate and
discussed here. It also deals with the psychology of elderly people and the
need for climate responsive design for old age homes.

Keywords: Climate, Warm and humid, Climate responsive, Old Age homes,
Psychology
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I gratefully acknowledge the help support and cooperation of the following

persons without whom this report would not have been successful.

I would like to express my gratitude to our Director Ar. Nishanth Manapure for
letting choose our own dissertation topics and guiding me through the
research process.

This research would not have been possible without my guide Ar.Charline
Stella. I would like to express my deep felt gratitude to her.

I would like to thank my parents and friends who have supported me

throughout the research process.
Chapter One: INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................4
1.1 Aim...................................................................................................................................4
1.2 objectives..........................................................................................................................4
1.3 Research questions:..........................................................................................................4

Figure 1:Ways of thermal exchange by the human body...........................................................7

CONTENTS

I. INTRODUCTION
I.1 AIM, OBJECTIVES, RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1.2 IMPORTANCE OF CLIMATE RESPONSIVE
DESIGN
1.3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

II. LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1. INTRODUCTION TO CLIMATE RESPONSIVE
DESIGN
2.2. CLIMATE AND IT’S IMPACT ON MAN
2.3. IMPACT OF CLIMATE ON AGED PEOPLE
2.4. GENERAL DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR A
CLIMATE RESPONSIVE DESIGN
2.5. GUIDELINES FOR DESIGNING A
PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY
COMFORTABLE SPACE.

III. CASE STUDY ANALYSIS

IV. INFERENCES AND CONCLUSION
Chapter One: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Aim
Broad Topic: Climate responsive design
Narrow Topic: Form and planning in warm and humid climate.

Aim: To study the form and planning and building materials suitable for warm
and humid climate for a design of old age home.

1.2 objectives
Research Statement: Climate responsive design for old age homes help in
improving both physical and psychological comfort.

1.3 Research questions:

1. What do we mean by climate responsive design?
2. What is the impact of climatic on humans?
3. How do aged people respond to climatic changes
4. How to increase the comfort level of a space with respect to climate.
Research objectives:
• To study warm and humid climate
• To understand how design a climate responsive space
• Study on materials that are locally available in the region
• Study on psychology of aged people and their response to climate.

Relevance: By designing climate responsive buildings we can take

Advantage of the positive climate attributes of a particular location, while
minimizing the effects of attributes that may impair comfort or increase energy
requirements. This will prove to be a great advantage in a old age home mainly
for two reasons: (1) It enhances the physical comfort within the building which
is very necessary for the mental comfort of aged people. When they are
comfortable in that space they feel less stressed out. (2) Climate responsive
designs result in a building that utilizes less energy and provides a high quality
and comfortable environment for the occupants.

1.2 IMPORTANCE OF CLIMATE RESPONSIVE DESIGN

Climate-responsive design seeks to create inherently comfortable buildings

that require minimum energy input. Such buildings take advantage of regional
climatic characteristics that can help with comfort and efficiency, while
minimizing the impact of any characteristics that may impair performance.
Climate-responsive design may be thought of as the ultimate expression of
building efficiency—achieving what we desire (a comfortable building) with the
lowest possible energy input

Though there are a great number of nuances and details associated with
designing a truly climate-responsive building, architects and engineers involved
in new construction may reap some of its benefits by considering the following
five basic concepts:

1. Understand climate zones and microclimates

2. Understand the basic physiology of human thermal comfort
3. Control the sun to reduce loads and enhance visual comfort
4. Use thermal mass to improve comfort and efficiency
5. Select space-conditioning strategies that are climate responsive

1.3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Extensive literature research was done to acquire information about climate
and its impact on our design. Understanding the various methods to do so and
arrive at guidelines for design was a major part of the research. After referring
to various books, journals, online websites and standards a set of inferences
was drawn.
.

2 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 INTRODUCTION TO CLIMATE RESPONSIVE DESIGN

2.2 IMPACT OF CLIMATE ON MAN

One of the main functions of buildings is to protect the inhabitants from outdoor
climatic conditions which are often harsh and hostile. The building must provide
an environment that does not harm the health of the inhabitants. Moreover, it
should provide living and working conditions which are comfortable.

To achieve this, the physiological functions of the human body are to be

considered. It is also necessary to know under which thermal conditions human
beings feel comfortable.

Human physiology

Physiological factors are of primary importance with regard to comfort. The

internal temperature of the human body must always be kept within narrow limits
at around 37°C. Any fluctuation from this value is a sign of illness, and a rise of
5°C or a drop of 2°C from this value can lead to death.

The body has the ability to balance its temperature by various means.

This thermal balance is determined, on the one hand, by the "internal heat load"
and on the other, by the energy flow (thermal exchange) between the body and the
environment.

The thermal exchange between the body and the environment takes place in four
different ways: conduction, convection, radiation and evaporation (perspiration and
respiration).
 Figure 1:Ways of thermal exchange by the human body

Conduction
The contribution that conduction makes to the heat exchange process depends on
the thermal conductivity of the materials in immediate contact with the skin.
Conduction usually accounts for only a small part of the whole heat exchange. It is
limited to local cooling of particular parts of the body when they come in contact
with materials which are good conductors. This is of practical importance in the
choice of flooring materials, especially where people usually sit on the floor.

Convection
Heat exchange by convection depends primarily on the temperature difference
between the skin and the air and on air movement. It can, to a certain extent, be
controlled by adequate clothing.

The insulation effect of clothing can be expressed by a clothing-value ("clo-

value").
Insulation values of different kind of clothing (1 clo = 0.155 m²K/W).

Radiation
Radiation takes place between the human body and the surrounding surfaces such
as walls and windows; and, in the open air, the sky and sun. In this process
temperature, humidity and air movement have practically no influence on the
amount of heat transmitted. This amount of heat depends mainly on the difference
in temperature between the person's skin and the surrounding or enclosing surface.

The body may gain or lose heat by above described processes depending on
whether the environment is colder or warmer than the body surface. When the
surrounding temperature (air and surfaces) is above 25°C, the clothed human body
cannot get rid of enough heat by conduction, convection or radiation.

Evaporation (perspiration and respiration)

In this case the sole compensatory mechanism is evaporation by the loss of
perspiration, together with, to a certain extent, respiration. During evaporation
water absorbs heat, and as humans normally lose about one litre of water a day in
perspiration, a fair amount of heat is taken from the body to evaporate it. The lower
the vapour pressure (dry air) and the greater the air movement, the greater is the
evaporation potential.1

This explains why extreme temperatures in humid climates are less bearable
compared to the same temperatures in dry climates.

Internal heat load

The "internal heat load" of a body depends on its metabolic activity and varies
greatly (see table below).

1
Climate responsive architecture
 Metabolic rate of different activities (1 met = 58 W/m²)

Thermal comfort zone

Definition
The optimum thermal condition can be defined as the situation in which the least
extra effort is required to maintain the human body's thermal balance. The greater
the effort that is required, the less comfortable the climate is felt to be.

The maximum comfort condition can usually not be achieved. However, it is the
aim of the designer to build houses that provide an indoor climate close to an
optimum, within a certain range in which thermal comfort is still experienced. 2

This range is called the comfort zone. It differs somewhat with individuals. It
depends also on the clothing worn, the physical activity, age and health condition.
Although ethnic differences are not of importance, the geographical location plays
a role because of habit and of the acclimatization capacity of individuals.

Four main factors, beside of many other psychological and physiological factors,
determine the comfort zone:

 air temperature
 temperature of the surrounding surfaces (radiant heat)
 relative humidity
 air velocity

2
 Physical factors of climatic comfort

The relation of these four factors is well illustrated in the bioclimatic chart.

Bioclimatic chart

The chart indicates the zone where comfort is felt in moderate climate zones,
wearing indoor clothing and doing light work. It also assumes that not only the air
temperature, but also the temperature of surrounding surfaces lie within this range.

The sol-air temperature

Radiation and temperature act together to produce the heat experienced by a body
or surface.
This is expressed as the sol-air temperature and is composed of three temperatures:

a) outdoor air temperature

b) solar radiation absorbed by the body or surface

c) long-wave radiant heat exchange with the environment

Air- and surface temperatures often differ. This is especially the case where there
are great differences between day and night temperatures and also where building
components receive strong solar radiation. To a certain extent, high air
temperatures can be compensated by low surface temperatures or vice versa, as is
shown in the graph below.

Comfort zone in differing air and surface temperatures

The temperature difference between air and surfaces, however, should not exceed
10 - 15°C if comfort is still to be maintained. As research has shown, this fact is
less valid for walls, but especially important for ceilings.

The graph shows how people react to different surfaces which have a temperature
differing from the temperature of the other surfaces.
 Percentage of dissatisfied persons in relation to uneven surface temperatures

The design of the roof is therefore of the utmost importance.

The fact that the roof receives the greatest amount of solar radiation and re-radiates
most at night is a further reason for the importance of roof design. A typical
example of the effect of the roof design on inside temperatures is the plain concrete
roof slab under a tropical sun which can result in an unbearable indoor climate in
the evening, with inside surface temperatures of up to 50 or 60°C.

Humidity
The humidity level affects the amount that a person perspires. It also influences,
therefore, how temperatures are felt. High humidity reduces the comfortable
maximum temperature; low humidity allows a tolerance for higher temperature. At
the lower limit of the comfort level humidity has little influence.

Range of comfort in relation to humidity, with light summer clothes or 1 blanket at

night

Humidity % Day temp °C Night temp °C

0-30 22-30 20-27
30-50 22-29 20-26
50-70 22-28 20-26
70-100 22-27 20-25
Humidity alone does not have a very significant influence on the comfortable
temperature range, but in combination with air circulation it gains much
importance.

Wind speed
As the figures below shows, air circulation influences the temperature felt. The
cooling effect of wind increases with lower te

mperatures and higher wind speed.

This increased cooling effect of enhanced wind speed has another important
consequence: the higher the air temperature, the higher the wind speed which is
still felt to be comfortable .

Acclimatization and seasonal changes

To a certain extent human beings have the ability to become acclimatized.
Therefore the resident population feels less stressed by a harsh climate than a
passing traveler coming from another type of climate would. Analogously this can
also be said for seasonal climatic changes, to which people can become adjusted. A
certain temperature may be felt to be too cool in summer but too hot in winter.

The table below shows an example of the seasonal changes in the comfort zone as
observed in Dhahran.

Changes between indoor and outdoor climate

Drastic changes which can occur, especially in air-conditioned buildings, may give
discomfort (stress situation) and may also be negative for health.

Clo-value and met-value, tolerance

As mentioned above, clothing and metabolic activity have a great effect on the
comfort zone. Moreover, they also influence the acceptable temperature range
(tolerance). A physically highly active person can bear quite wide temperature
differences, whereas a sleeping person is more sensitive to differences.

The figure below illustrates this relationship. The temperatures are valid for
middle-European conditions.
 Optimum room temperature in relation to activity and clothing

Source: ISO 7730 (1984): Moderate environment, Determination of the PMV and
PPD indices and specifications for thermal comfort, and element 29, Zurich, 1990

The white and shaded areas indicate an incidence of less than 10% of persons
dissatisfied (PPD). This illustrates that the higher the clo value or the activity level
of a person, the greater his tolerance for differences in temperature will be.

Example: 
For a seated person wearing a suit (clo = 1.0; met = 1.2) the ideal room
temperature is 21.5°C with a tolerance of +-2°C.

Other factors
Factors other than climatic ones influence also the well being of the inhabitants, for
example, psycho-social condition, age and health condition, air quality and
acoustical and optical influences. Although these factors cannot be improved by
climatically adapted construction, they should not be forgotten, because they may
considerably reduce the tolerance. For example, ill people lying in a hospital or
people under extreme noise stress are much more sensitive to climate than people
enjoying a garden restaurant.

Conclusions
Due to the many factors described above which determine the comfort zone, it is
not possible to describe it accurately in a single figure or chart. Summarizing, the
bioclimatic diagram (Fig 2/23) may be applied considering the following
parameters:

 Air and surface temperature may not differ more than 10 - 15°C.
 The temperature of the ceiling should not be much higher than the room
temperature.
 At the upper limit of comfort, the temperature should be lower with increasing
humidity.
 With increased air temperature, air circulation should be enhanced.
 The temperature that is felt to be comfortable changes with the seasons.
 The temperature that is felt to be comfortable also depends on the degree of
acclimatization.
 The temperature that is felt to be comfortable is affected by the clothing worn
and the physical activity level.
 With additional clothing and increased activity, the tolerable temperature range
extends.
 Drastic temperature changes, as may be the case in air-conditioned buildings,
should be avoided.
 Factors other than climatic ones (e.g. psycho-sozial factors) may decrease the
tolerable temperature range.

Requirements for buildings according to their functions

Comfort conditions as described are not usually found outdoors and clothing alone
is often not sufficient to compensate. An important function of buildings is to
provide the necessary protection against the outdoor climate. However, not all
types of buildings and not all rooms in a building have to fulfill the same
requirements.

While designing a building and working out the thermal concept, the following
functional parameters should be analyzed and considered:

 What type of activities and functions will be carried out in the building ?
 When do these activities take place during the course of the day ?
 Where and in which room do these activities take place ?
 What are the anticipated seasonal changes for these functions ?

Working space
Such areas are usually used in daytime only. As a consequence the design should
be optimized such as to provide favourable conditions in daytime. The
performance at night is of little importance. In areas where hard physical labour is
carried out, the temperature should be generally lower than in areas, where sitting
activities are predominate.
Residential space
Structures for residential purposes are generally occupied throughout day and
night. They should therefore be designed for an optimization over the whole
period. Special attention should be paid to sleeping areas and their nighttime
conditions, as the body is more sensitive to discomfort when at rest.

Seasonal differences
Similarly, requirements for buildings and rooms may differ throughout the seasons.
A house which is used mainly in summer would certainly differ from a house used
mainly in winter.

The daily routine of the inhabitants may also vary with the seasons. For example,
in the hot season, people may start work early, thus benefiting from favourable
temperatures. During the hottest hours a break may be taken. At this time the
indoor temperature should still be at a comfortable level to allow relaxation. The
late afternoon and evening hours may be spent outdoors when the temperature is
past its peak. In the cold season the customs may be different: activities are started
later in the morning, a great part of the day is spent outdoors and the evening is
spent inside.
Arvind, 1980. Climate responsive. New Delhi: Oxford.