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Assessment of Thermal Comfort in Student Hostels

Abstract

Thermal comfort is an important aspect of indoor environmental quality, particularly in student hostels where occupants spend significant periods studying, sleeping, and carrying out daily activities. Poor thermal conditions can cause discomfort, reduce concentration, affect sleep quality, and influence the overall well-being of students. In warm climates, high indoor temperatures, humidity, inadequate air movement, and solar heat gain can create uncomfortable conditions and increase dependence on mechanical cooling systems. This study assesses thermal comfort conditions in student hostels by examining the environmental and building-related factors that influence occupants' comfort. Key parameters include indoor air temperature, relative humidity, air velocity, mean radiant temperature, and occupant perceptions. The assessment considers how these factors interact with hostel design, occupancy patterns, building orientation, room size, and ventilation conditions to determine the level of thermal comfort experienced by students. Natural ventilation is an important factor in maintaining acceptable thermal conditions within student hostels. Adequate window openings, cross-ventilation, building orientation, and effective airflow paths can improve indoor air movement and reduce heat accumulation. However, the effectiveness of natural ventilation may be affected by external temperatures, surrounding buildings, window design, and occupant behaviour. Appropriate solar shading can also reduce direct solar radiation and minimize indoor heat gain. The thermal performance of building materials and envelope components can further influence hostel comfort conditions. Roofs, walls, windows, and floor materials determine the extent to which heat is absorbed, stored, and transferred into occupied spaces. The use of thermal insulation, reflective roof surfaces, appropriate glazing, and materials with suitable thermal properties can help regulate indoor temperatures. Combining these measures with passive cooling strategies can improve comfort while reducing energy consumption. The study also considers the relationship between building characteristics and student perceptions of thermal comfort. Differences in room orientation, floor level, occupancy density, ventilation practices, clothing, and activity levels may result in varying comfort experiences among students. Understanding these differences is important for identifying practical improvements that can be applied to existing hostels as well as incorporated into the design of new student accommodation. This study aims to evaluate the thermal comfort performance of student hostels and identify design strategies that can improve indoor environmental conditions. The findings are expected to provide useful information for architects, building designers, facility managers, and educational institutions in developing more comfortable and energy-efficient student accommodation. Emphasis is placed on passive design approaches, effective ventilation, solar control, appropriate building materials, and climate-responsive design as means of improving thermal comfort and reducing cooling requirements.

Keywords: Thermal comfort, Student hostels, Indoor environmental quality, Thermal performance, Natural ventilation, Air temperature, Relative humidity, Air velocity, Passive cooling, Solar shading, Building materials, Energy efficiency, Occupant comfort, Climate-responsive design.