Shelter for warm-humid climates

Nature of climate
Hot,sticky conditions and the continual presence of dampness. Temperature moderately high. Btw 21 and 32 degree c with little variation btw day and night. Humidity is high during all seasons. Favourable to the growth of vegetation Winds of low speed.

Form and planning

As movement of air is the only available relief from climatic stress,therefore vital to indoor comfort,the building will have to be opened up to breezes and orientated to catch whatever air movement there is. Failure to do this would produce indoor conditions always warmer than a shaded external space which is open to air movement.

 Buildings tend to have open elongated plan shapes. Door and window openings should be large as possible. Group of buildings also tend to be spread out. Openness and shadings will be the dominant part of building.

 From the point of view of solar gain,the best arrangement would be to orientate buildings with the long axes in east west direction.this may often conflict with the orientation of wind. Skilful use of elements built outside eg screen walls or even the projecting wing of a building can change the direction of air movement.

 With low rise buildings ,where the walls would not get much radiation,orientation for wind is more advisable. With the high rise building the opposite is true ,and avoidance of sun should be the decisive factor.

External spaces
Shading and free passage for air movement are the two basic requirements. Pergolas and light framing to be covered by climbing plants can be provided cheaply and they can be very effective. Open spaces left under buildings elevated on stilts can also be put to use as shaded outdoor spaces.

 For providing privacy as well as for the passage of air various systems of paling fences and screen walls can be used. Most of this consists of louvred timber boards or some overlapping arrangements of boads or planks.

Roofs and walls

Principle of thermal storage cannot relied on this climate.so it is advisable to construct buildings of low thermal capacity materials,using light weight construction. If well designed ,it can prevent the indoor temperature increasing above the outdoor air temperature and keep the ceiling temp around the same level as other surfaces.

 This will be achieved by reflective upper surface, a double roof construction,with roof space ventilated ,a ceiling with its upper surface highly reflective and having a good resistive insulation. Both the ceiling and roof should be of low thermal capacity. Because of rainfall, a pitched roof will most often used. Covered by corrugated iron,asbestos cement or bright aluminium

 The ceiling temperature should not exceed the air temperature by more than 4 deg C. This is achieved by a ceiling of some kind of insulation board.but it si expensive. For solid vertical walls insulation is not necessary if they are shaded. If the walls are exposed to solar radiation,good insulation will prevent elevation of inner surface temp above the air temp.reflective qualities on the outer surface of such unshaded walls will allso be helpful.

Air flow and openings

Openings should be large Permit natural air flow through the internal spaces at body level. Ie in the living zone (up to 2m). Flow of air can be influenced by topographical features. Openings should be free from the effect of outside obstructions. The air flow should not pass over the hot surfaces before reaching the building.

ventilation
Exchange of air Ventilation of the roof space can cause a ceiling temp to drop 2 deg C. Care must be taken to avoid air which has passed through a roof space reaching the living zone as this will be much hotter than the normal out-door air.

Mechanical controls
Greatest need for air conditioning. Air is both hot and humid, and it often remains warm overnight. Ample air movement is achieved by designing a building as open and transparent for wind as possible. If air conditioned the building should be closed and cooled below the out door temp,thus the walls need to be well insulated.

Thermal insulation
Roofs receive far more solar energy than walls. Walls would normally be shaded.thus the only element be insulated is the roof.