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Assessment of Thermal Comfort Differences Between Ground and Upper Floors

Abstract

Thermal comfort is an important component of indoor environmental quality, and its conditions can vary considerably between different floors of a multi-storey building. Ground and upper floors are exposed to different environmental conditions due to variations in solar radiation, roof exposure, surrounding surfaces, air movement, shading, and heat transfer through building elements. These differences can influence indoor temperature, humidity, air movement, and occupants' thermal perceptions. Assessing these variations is therefore important for developing building designs that provide consistent thermal comfort across different floor levels. This study assesses differences in thermal comfort between ground and upper floors of multi-storey buildings. It examines key environmental factors such as indoor air temperature, relative humidity, air velocity, mean radiant temperature, and occupants' thermal sensations. The study compares environmental conditions across selected floor levels and considers how differences in building exposure and configuration influence the thermal conditions experienced by occupants. Occupant feedback is also considered to complement measured environmental conditions and provide a broader understanding of thermal comfort. Ground floors may experience different thermal conditions due to their proximity to the ground, surrounding landscape, adjacent buildings, and shaded external areas. These factors can influence heat transfer and the availability of natural ventilation around the building. Upper floors, on the other hand, may experience greater exposure to solar radiation, wind, and heat from roof surfaces, particularly where roof insulation and shading are inadequate. Such differences can create variations in indoor temperature and thermal sensation between floor levels. Building orientation, window configuration, façade materials, shading devices, floor-to-floor height, and building envelope characteristics can further influence thermal conditions at different levels. Upper floors with greater exposure to direct sunlight may experience increased heat gain, while lower floors may benefit from surrounding vegetation or adjacent structures that provide shading. Internal heat gains, occupancy patterns, ventilation behaviour, and the use of air-conditioning systems may also contribute to differences in thermal comfort between floors. The study further considers how occupants adapt to variations in thermal conditions through behavioural and environmental adjustments. Occupants may respond by opening windows, adjusting curtains or blinds, changing clothing, using fans, or modifying air-conditioning settings. These adaptive responses may vary according to floor level, time of day, season, building orientation, and individual preferences. Understanding these interactions is important for identifying passive and operational strategies that can improve thermal comfort across multi-storey buildings. The study aims to evaluate the differences in thermal comfort between ground and upper floors and identify the architectural and environmental factors responsible for these variations. It is expected to contribute to improved understanding of floor-level thermal performance and support the development of more responsive building designs. The findings can provide useful guidance for architects, building designers, facility managers, and developers in selecting appropriate orientation, envelope treatments, shading, ventilation, and thermal control strategies to achieve more consistent indoor comfort across multi-storey buildings.

Keywords: Thermal comfort, Ground floor, Upper floors, Multi-storey buildings, Indoor temperature, Relative humidity, Air movement, Solar heat gain, Building envelope, Floor-level variation, Passive cooling, Occupant comfort, Environmental performance, Thermal performance.