Thermal Comfort Survey of Buildings at the Faculty of Sciences, Yobe State University, Damaturu, Nigeria

Abstract

Three buildings within the Yobe State University (Lecture Hall building, Classroom building and Laboratory building) were assessed on their relationship in being bioclimatic responsive. Bioclimatic design checks building orientations, shading devices, thermal massing, correct number and sizes of openings etc. The buildings were selected according to applying the principles and also to their repeated usage by students and lecturers. The objective is to analyse occupants’ subjective feelings about prevailing indoor conditions, a philosophy for which the study needed to be established. The researcher begins by correlating the various conditions that could be manipulated to tame the penetrating influence of thermal discomfort effects to the indoor conditions in hot and dry regions (indoor air temperature, air relative humidity and indoor air velocity). Moreover, the researcher is convinced that truth is not dependent on belief alone but on statements that can be verified through examination and observation of external occurrences. Based on the records of about 40% highest use of adequately applied principles (AAP) in design of the three field study buildings, the indoor thermal discomfort in the area were such. It was clearly indicated that the comfort votes was not up to the 80% standard required to be observed in the indoor conditions of all the buildings over the three consecutive days of the survey. Discomfort levels was therefore related to the percentage of missing adequately applied principles (AAP) in design of the three field study buildings.