ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

U VALUE
THERMAL COMFORT

PRATIKSHA .R . SHUKLA
5TH YR , SSCOA
U VALUE
U-Value basically is a measure of how well the building components such as a roof,
windows, walls etc. transfer heat. The importance of knowing the U-Value of the
different components of the building in the design phase can help us conserve
energy. A low U-Value means that the building element has good insulation, and it
will prevent less heat from escaping. For example, a window with a low U-Value will
prevent heat from escaping. In order to know the U-Value for any element of the
building, two factors are of prime importance:
The thickness of the element of the structure
Conductivity of the material of the element, k.

Definition of U-Value:
It is measured as the amount of heat lost through a one square meter of the
material for every degree difference in temperature either side of the material. It is
indicated in units of Watts per Meter Squared per Degree Kelvin or/2
(Center)
The U value of an element such as a window is basically the inverse of its

resistance. The resistance of a material can be calculated as = , where k is

the conductivity and d is the thickness of the material.
The U value for the whole envelope of the building is the sum of the inverse of all
the resistances of the materials that form the part of the envelope.
 Estidamas take on U-Value:
In the section of Resourceful Energy, there is a prerequisite condition RE-1
Minimum Energy Performance which has a table for all the different elements of a
building along with the U-Values they should in order to have a high performance
building envelope. A similar table is also present in RE-2 Cool Building Strategies.
Summary and Conclusion:
In hot climatic conditions, it is important to keep the heat from outside into
entering the building. So this why a low U-Value is preferred.
In cold climatic conditions, it is essential to keep the heat maintained within the
building with the help of heaters from escaping outside. Therefore, a low U-Value is
important even for cold climatic conditions.
Roof
Materials Thickness R
M W/mK mK/W
Ri 0.1
Concrete 0.08 1.630 0.05

Concrete 0.05 1.630 0.03

Re 0.04
R= 0.22 mK/W
U= 4.45 W/mK
5. Formula to calculate of the Heat Losses
Heat losses
H 1 = U i A i33
U i Envelope thermal conductivity, W/m2K A i Envelope area, m2
H 2 =i li
i thermal bridge conductivity, W/mK li thermal bridge length, m
H 3= Vinf c
qi air change, m3/s
H 4= L c (1- f) L Air change, m3/s
C Air specific heat, 1005 J/kg K Air density, 1, 2 kg/m3
f Heat recovery efficiency (0, 6 or 0, 7)

6. Formula to calculate of the Heating

energy consumption
HL = HS2410-334
HL Heating energy usage, kWh/a
H Building specific heat conductivity, W/K S Degree-days, C d
24 Day, h
net - Net energy need kWh/m2*a H= H 1+ H 2+ H 3+ H 4
(W/K)
H 1 Building envelopes specific heat conductivity
 CALCULATION OF U VALUE

The U-value is calculated by following five steps.32

1. Calculate Upper resistance limit(Ri)

2. Calculate Lower resistance limit (Re)
3. Calculate Total thermal resistance (RT) =Ri + Re
4. Calculate corrections / adjustments for
a) Air gaps penetrating the insulation (Ug)
b) Mechanical fixings penetrating the insulation (Uf)
U = ( 1 / RT ) + Ug + Uf
Note: Ug and Uf can be omitted, if taken together, if they amount to less than 3% of the U-value
found from U =1 / RT

Table 7: Calculation of u-value for External walls

External wall
Materials Thickness R
M W/mK mK/W
Ri 0.15
Concrete 0.02 1.700 0.02

Concrete 0.05 1.700 0.05

Re 0.07 0.04
Total R= 0.26 mK/W
U= 3.85 W/mK
Floor
Materials Thickness (m) (W/mK) R
(mK/W)
M W/mK mK/W
Ri 0.17
Concrete 0.1 1.630 0.06

0.001 2.000 0.00

Re 0.101 0.17
R= 0.40 mK/W
Uf= 2.49 W/mK
THERMAL COMFORT
Thermal comfort is defined as "That of mind which expresses
satisfaction with the thermal environment". However, the comfort
zone is defined as the range of climatic conditions within which the
majority of people would not feel thermal discomfort, either of heat
or cold.
The main criteria for thermal comfort for the human body as a whole
can be divided into environmental variables: air temperature, mean
radiant temperature, humidity, air velocity and personal variables:
clothing and metabolic rate (activity). In addition there are other
environmental parameters that can cause local thermal discomfort
such as draught, a high vertical temperature difference between head
and feet, radiant temperature asymmetry and warm or cold floors .
THERMAL EFFECTS OF BUILDING MATERIALS
The envelope of a building is not only a separator from the external environment but also is a
prevention for climatic elements to affect the building directly. Three types of building materials
can be used to build this envelop which are: opaque, transparent and translucent. The heat may
enter the buildings firstly, through transparent and translucent materials and open windows
secondly, through the modifying influence of the rest of the building materials.

The internal thermal comfort conditions than may be affected both directly and dependent on the
properties of the materials by the external temperature and humidity. When the indoor thermal
conditions are not controlled by mechanical means, the materials affect the temperatures of both
the indoor air and surfaces and thus have a very pronounced effect on the occupant comfort. Even
when control is used, in the form of heating or air-conditioning for instance, the thermophysical
properties of the materials used determine the amount of heating or cooling which is provided and
also the temperature of the internal surfaces (radiant temperature). Therefore, even in these
circumstances, the materials have an effect on the comfort of the occupants, as well as on the
economical efficiency of the control systems .
HEAT TRANSMISSION OF MATERIALS

Various heat exchange processes are possible between a building and the external
environment. Heat flows by conduction through various building elements such as walls,
roof, ceiling, floor, etc. Heat transfer also takes place from different surfaces by
convection and radiation. Besides, solar radiation is transmitted through transparent
windows and is absorbed by the internal surfaces of the building. There may be
evaporation of water resulting in a cooling effect. Heat is also added to the space due to
the presence of human occupants and the use of lights and equipments.

Heat transfer process occurring in a wall:

THE INFLUENCE OF BUILDING ENVELOPE DESIGN
TOWARDS INTERNAL HEAT GAIN, THERMAL COMFORT.

The room thermal comfort can be realized through building envelope design related
to tropical architecture and/or green building design concepts. The design concept
aims to reduce the heat gain and minimize the cooling load for the mechanical air
conditioning; it is one of the primary focuses in the building energy policy
nowadays. This paper discusses the use of air conditioning system on the 8th & 9th
floor of a building which used as an Auditorium. The study was aimed to find the
relationship between (1) the influences of building envelope design towards internal
heat gain, internal thermal comfort of the occupants and (2) the efficiency of air
conditioning system. The research steps were: (1) Measuring the internal
temperature and its humidity, (2) Administering data of the existing building
envelope (orientation of the opening and building materials), room volume,
occupants activities and the micro climate analysis using archipac software to find
out the internal heat gain, the profile of temperature and humidity in the coolest
and hottest month every day of the year (3) Mapping the internal and the average
thermal comfort of the occupants. The result of the study shows that there is a
different profiles of temperature in the building which affecting the efficiency of
the mechanical air conditioning. In the coolest month, the daily period of comfort
could merely covers the building for two hours long while in the hottest month, 90
to almost 100 % of the building is overheated.

The righ and left elevation The section of building

 CONCLUSION

The comfort condition is constantly decreased from morning until afternoon.

The different positions can provide different comfort of the occupants sensation.
This condition is caused by the unbalanced air cool distribution of AC system in the
room. The starting of high radiation at daytime is not followed by appropriate
indoor temperature of AC system. The different comfort zones at every position in
the auditorium is caused by external heat gain of the building materials at west side,
and heat ventilation from the opening entrance. In addition, formal clothes
required to be wear at the stage area contribute uncomfortable sensation to the
occupants because of the lack of air cool distribution from the AC system. To
minimize the heat condition and to use the energy efficiently in the auditorium, it is
advisable to install additional AC system by balancing and arranging the distribution of
air cool each time of the day accordingly.
The highest temperature in the building is caused by heat sun radiation through
glass wall at west/east sides, heat conduction of building envelope material and
internal heat gain (occupant, equipment and lighting). The indoor temperature in
the coolest month has two hours of comfort while at the hottest month there is no
comfort period. This situation represents that there is 90-100% overheating when
the auditorium is being occupied. The maximum indoor temperature at 14.00-
15.00, therefore, the temperature of AC system can be reduced accordingly in order
to reach thermal comfortable or the load of AC system need to be increased.
THERMAL COMFORT IN DETAIL WITH AN
EXAMPLE .(AZUMA HOUSE ,JAPAN )
Buildings Detailed Description and
Analysis

Azuma house is built on a plot of 57.3 m. The total floor area of 64.7 m is divided
into three equal sections: two floors and a patio yet the concrete box occupy the
entire site. On the ground floor, we have living room, kitchen & bathroom separated
by the central outside courtyard and the staircase that leads to the upper floor, where
the two bedrooms are joined by a walkway. The central uncovered area is the only
source of natural light throughout the house.

On ground floor, courtyard separates the living room located at one end of the
ground floor from the kitchen-dining room and bathroom on the other end. On the
top floor, the children's rooms on one side face the master bedroom on the other
side of the central courtyard, which is reached by a bridge. The building shows a blind
or solid facade to the street.

Centralizing the building around courtyard makes it an integral part of circulation

and the focus of everyday life and there is no way to cross to either side of the house
without passing through open air courtyard. By this way, occupants experience the
nature every single day even if they stay within the home all day.

The building envelope of the Azuma Row House is simple and uniform, a. Apart
from its inward facing glass walls and minimal wood finish, the majority of the
envelope is cast concrete, which has a very high specific heat capacity (0.880 J/(gK)),
and therefore capable of absorbing a lot of heat energy. This trait affects the heating
and cooling of the interior and courtyard in various ways.12

Constantly exposed to the sun, the concrete and stone slabs receive heat energy
from the suns direct radiation, diffused sky radiation, and any rays reflected off of
surrounding buildings. They cannot easily conduct or release this energy and stores it
throughout the day, gradually increasing in temperature. The ground can retain a large
amount of heat for hours, which can make standing in that space uncomfortable.
Also since hot air molecules rise, the air will be overheated and uncomfortable as well.
This is a greater concern in the summer time when exposure and temperatures are
high. Furthermore, by placing the exterior space at the centre of the row house the
building envelopes surface area almost doubles, which can be a crucial matter for
envelope dominated structures.
THERMAL FLOW STUDY OF AZUMA HOUSE,JAPAN

In each room there are four surfaces of exposed concrete. Although the floors on top floor are covered
with wood slats providing insulation between the foot and slab, there is still conduction of heat energy
through the walls. Moreover wooden tiles floor luxury is only for top floor and ground
floor is tiled with Black Slate tiles means considerable heat losses are through it. Bearing in mind the
houses small scale, there is likely considerable contact with the building envelope which prompts
measurable heat loss from the human body which would be comfortable during warm seasons but
frustrating during cold.14

The sixth surface of every room is a floor-to-ceiling plane of glass with a glass door. Although certain
types of glass have relatively high heat capacities, the metal frame that support the panes are highly
conductive which ensures presence of thermal bridges. A significant temperature difference across this
barrier will cause a convection current that will easily circulate warm air into a cooler courtyard, and vice
versa, causing fluctuations in the rooms temperature.15