A Study of Thermal Comfort of Local Houses in Urban Areas: Ramdaeng Songkhla Province

Abstract

The article tries to demonstrate thermal comfort among local houses using natural ventilation. The study’s main objective is to study the physical architectural characteristics and to assess living comfort in local houses. The researchers explored two distinctive architectural dwellings in Ramdaeng Community, Singhanakorn District, Songkhla Province. According to its geography, the community is located in the South of Thailand. From the site survey, local knowledge and wisdom are applied and adapted according to local culture and environment. Building methods and building technology are transferred among local people in the Songkhla Lake Basin area. Furthermore, they tended to apply local materials in their local architecture. Questionnaire and field research were the main key processes. 200 samples were used in the questionnaire. It was found that Thai people’s thermal comfort relates to natural ventilation. In other words, thermal comfort is the operative temperature that people feel comfortable. The average temperature for the thermal comfort is 28.0–30.2 ^oC when comparing to operating temperature. The results from the study show that Thai people were comfortable with temperature calculated by ASHRAE 55. Moreover, thermal comfort for Thai people seems to be higher than standard by 2.0–4.2 ^oC. When comparing with Busch study, it stated that Thais are within the maximum range of comfort conditions using natural ventilation of Busch by 0.8 to 1 ^oC. Referring to the study, both local construction technology and materials affected temperature and the ventilation system in vernacular houses. Also, Thai people can adapt themselves with the temperature as well.