Natural ventilation design attributes application effect on, indoor natural ventilation performance of a double storey, single unit residential building

• Main Authors: Abd. Wahab, Izudinshah, Ismail, Lokman Hakim, Abdullah, Abd Halid, Rahmat, Muhamad Hanafi, Abd Salam, Nur Nasuha
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Penerbit UTHM 2018
• Subjects: T Technology (General); TH Building construction; TH7005-7699 Heating and ventilation. Air conditioning
• Online Access: http://eprints.uthm.edu.my/5459/1/AJ%202018%20%28193%29.pdf; http://eprints.uthm.edu.my/5459/

In establishing a good indoor thermal condition, air movement is one of the important parameter to be considered to provide indoor fresh air for occupants. Due to the public awareness on environment impact, people has been increasingly attentive to passive design in achieving good condition of indoor building ventilation. Throughout case studies, significant building attributes were found giving effect on building indoor natural ventilation performance. The studies were categorized under vernacular houses, contemporary houses with vernacular element and contemporary houses. The indoor air movement of every each spaces in the houses were compared with the outdoor air movement surrounding the houses to indicate the space’s indoor natural ventilation performance. Analysis found the wind catcher element appears to be the most significant attribute to contribute most to indoor natural ventilation. Wide opening was also found to be significant especially those with louvers. Whereas it is also interesting to find indoor layout design is also significantly giving impact on the performance. The finding indicates that a good indoor natural ventilation is not only dictated by having proper openings at proper location of a building, but also on how the incoming air movement is managed throughout the interior spaces by proper layout. Understanding on the air pressure distribution caused by indoor windward and leeward side is important in directing the air flow to desired spaces in producing an overall good indoor natural ventilation performance.