This study focused on the Malaysian Government classroom size of 68sqm with an average of 30 students. Government schools in Malaysia are mostly naturally ventilated with windows on both sides of the classrooms. Equipped with T8 LED lightings and ceiling fans, the classroom requires high consideration of efficient daylighting and ventilations to allow for a conducive learning environment.
Thus, the effective sizing of windows provided in classrooms are being studied for natural lighting levels, the ventilation levels and subsequently the thermal comfort. From which the studies considered the local building code requirement of 20% natural lighting and 10% natural ventilation to be provided to room used for conducting classes.
We adopted a mixed methodology of combining field measurements, and simulations. The field measurement was done in a single government school as a basis and a simulation with multiple changes to the façade, tested the level of daylights and airflow in a room. Taken into account were the type of windows, sizing of windows, operable window openings, window sills and location of shading devices allocated.
Data collected consisted of horizonal illuminance levels, Daylight Factors (DF) that is extracted from daylight simulations and airflow through computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The finding corroborated a moderate WWR of <35% provided effective balance between adequate daylight and efficient cross ventilation. The optimized airflow in a space contributed to overall thermal comfort and minimized dependency towards artificial lighting and mechanical ventilation.
Thus, this study contributed in providing a design reference for an optimal façade fenestrations for the learning environments in Malaysia.
Keywords: Window, Façade optimization, Classroom Ventilation, Classroom Daylighting, Thermal Comfort, Government School, Malaysia