Thermal Comfort and Occupant Behaviour in Naturally Ventilated Students’ Hostel Buildings: A Case of Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria

Abstract

The performance of a building goes a long way in affecting the productivity and heath of its occupants. Indoor thermal comfort of a building is one of the most important considerations. In warm humid tropical areas, natural ventilation has been observed to be ineffective in providing adequate thermal comfort. The study examined the thermal comfort of naturally ventilated students’ hostel buildings in Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria, during the hot season. The study identified and assessed the physical characteristics, examined the indoor environmental conditions relating to thermal comfort, identified and examined factors that affect the thermal comfort of occupants and observed their adaptive behaviors.The study involved a subjective assessment through questionnaires and physical measurements of the prevailing indoor environmental variables. The parameters measured were air temperature, air velocity and relative humidity. This was done using a Kestrel 4500 Pocket Weather Tracker. One hundred respondents participated in the survey. A statistical analysis of the measured environmental parameters and the student’s responses was carried out to determine the indoor environmental conditions and adaptive measures used. All the measured parameters fell below the comfort range prescribed by ASHRAE standard 55 and ISO 7730 standard. The study concludes that natural ventilation alone is insufficient to provide adequate thermal comfort levels for its occupants.