Thermal comfort is defined as “the condition of mind

that expresses satisfaction with the thermal

environment”.

A building must provide a satisfactory thermal environment for its

occupants as well as for the mechanical systems it accommodates by
means of passive and active is known as thermal comfort or thermal
comfort zone
Thermal comfortable zone is an area, which has temperature between 20 0C
to 300C, relative humidity is 30% to 65% with an air movement of 0.1m/s
to 1m/s.
Thermal comfort is influenced by effective temperature, relative humidity and air
movement.

The fabric of clothing and of a building perform similar functions by maintaining

temperature control through passive means which regulate natural flows of heat,
air, and moisture vapour.

Then the man made world (building) was started creating un-comfortable living
conditions due to sun heat or solar radiation based on seasonal variations like
summer (heat-gain), winter (heat-loss etc by selection of the poor constructional
materials, selection of areas, due to poor architectural design.
The amount of heat loss (heat-loss from
inside building to out-side) in the building
happen through various building
components during the cold season, so it
needs room heating devices like room
heater that meant it needs energy to make
warm the room by spending money.

The amount of heat-gain (heat-gain

from out-side to inside the building)
in the building happen through
various building components during
the hot season, so it needs room
cooling devices like room air
conditioning that meant it needs
energy to make warm the room by
spending money.
 These both problems (heat-loss and heat gain) can be solved by the bio-climatic
architecture such as climate-n-climate design concepts or thermal comfort design
concepts inside as well as outside to the man-made world to the better comfortable
living to the humans. For achieving the thermal comfort in the building includes
three-things;
Human thermal balance & Comfort;
Thermal behavior of building;
Combination of both.
Human Thermal Balance & Comfort: Human body continuously
produces heat by its metabolic process. The heat out-put of an average body
is 100W by various human activities. This heat must be dissipated/released to
environment; otherwise the body temperature will increase. The body thermal
balance can be expressed by the equation:
M±Rd±Cv±Cd-Ev = ∆S

Where; M = metabolic heat production, Rd = net radiation exchange,

Cv = convection, Cd = conduction
∆S = change in heat
Thermal Behavior of Building: A building can be considered as a thermal system,
with a series of heat input and output like human body. The whole thermal heat
flow process of the building can be calculated by;
∆S = Qi+Qc+Qs+Qv+Qe
Where;
∆S = Change in heat (heat-loss or heat-gain)
Qi = Internal heat gain
Qc = Heat gain or loss by conduction
Qs = Solar heat gain
Qv = Heat gain or loss by ventilation
Qe = Heat loss by evaporation
Building Fabric (Combination of Both): The building fabric is a critical component,
since it both protects the building and building occupants plays a major role in
regulating the indoor environment.

Not only this, it includes other elements like electrical, electronics and other
mechanical equipments plays major role regulating the indoor environment.
Consisting of the building's roof, floor slabs, walls, windows, and doors, the fabric
controls the flow of energy between the interior and exterior of the building.
Building Fabric Elements: The building fabric consists of various elements
of structural materials and finishes that enclose space, separating inside from
outside. The elements of building fabric includes;
Floors: It plays role in heat-gain or heat-loss in the building fabric according the
seasonal changes based on its type such as floor on ground and floor on
elevated for the ground. The amount of heat-gain or heat-loss through it is less in
case of the ground floor.

Walls: Walls plays an important role in heat-gain or heat-loss in building fabric

due to seasonal changes. The amount of heat gain or heat loss depends up on the
their location (external/internal), facing/orientation, thickness, wall type
(traditional/modern) etc.

Openings (doors, windows): Openings are the most critical elements in the
building fabric. They can allow/pass 100% heat-gain and heat loss based on their
position (opening & closing), paneling type (wooden or glazing), facing, shading over
them etc.

Roof: It play major role in the process of heat-gain and heat-loss in the building
fabric, we can say more percentage of heat-gain or heat-loss happen in the
building by roof. It is the major source to created un-thermal comfortable
conditions to the occupants as well as the system of building and also it can
increases expenditure to instal room coolers or room heater.
Building Fabric Thermal Balance: The achievement of thermal balance in the
building fabric includes;
The thermal balance system of building fabric can be depicted by the combination
of both equations of body thermal balance and building heat-flow process such as;

1. ∆S = M±Rd±Cv±Cd-Ev –(equation of body thermal balance)

2. ∆S = Qi+Qc+Qs+Qv+Qe ---(equation of building heat flow process)

An optimal (desirable/favorable) design of the building fabric may provide significant
reductions in heating and cooling loads-which in turn can allow downsizing of mechanical
equipment.

When the right strategies are integrated through good design, the extra cost for a high-
performance fabric may be paid for through savings achieved by installing HVAC
equipment.

In keeping with the whole building approach, the entire design team must integrate design
of the fabric with other design elements including material selection; day-lighting and other
passive solar design strategies; heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) and
electrical strategies; and project performance goals.
One of the most important factors affecting fabric design is climate. Hot/dry,
hot/humid, temperate, or cold climates will suggest different design strategies.
Specific designs and materials can take advantage of or provide solutions for the
given climate.

A second important factor in fabric design is what occurs inside the building. If
the activity and equipment inside the building generate a significant amount of heat,
the thermal loads may be primarily internal (from people and equipment) rather
than external (from the sun). This affects the rate at which a building gains or losses
heat.

Building Configuration also has significant impacts upon the efficiency and
requirements of the building fabric. Careful study is required to arrive at a building
footprint and orientation that work with the building fabric to maximize energy
benefit.