Thermal conditions in workspace centre and adjacent to inclined glazed façade of a green-certified office building in the tropics

Abstract

This paper aims to assess the effectiveness of incorporating inclined glazing with double low-emissivity (low-e) glazing, in glazed, green-certified office buildings in Malaysia. The study was conducted in an open workspace facing south and west. Comparisons were conducted between measurements made on weekdays when cooling systems were active and weekends when they were not in use. The analysis considered two different zones based on the proximity to the glazed facade: the adjacent zone and the central zone. The thermal performance of the glazed facade and the indoor thermal conditions were measured from July 25th to August 30th. The findings indicate that the building successfully maintains indoor air temperature within the recommended thermal range of 23 °C–26 °C, as specified by the Malaysia Standard. However, it was noted that the air velocity fell below the required level for optimal indoor air circulation. Measuring the globe temperature showed a remarkable difference, with the adjacent zone experiencing 4.1 °C higher temperatures due to radiant heat from the glazing. Additional research is suggested to assess the effectiveness of inclined and double low-e glazing in hot–arid climates like Saudi Arabia.

Keywords

• Inclined glazing
• Heat gain
• Thermal condition
• Globe temperature
• Green building
• Workspace