UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SARAWAK

Faculty of Engineering

ASSIGNMENT 1

NAME MATRIC NO.

CHRISTINA UMPI 10031681
BELLGALMANO LOW 10031647
AZAHAR BUJANG 10031636
ALIFIA HAMZAH JOHARI 10031713
MD SYUKRI IMRAN 10031686

COURSE TITLE : THERMAL COMFORT AND IAQ

COURSE CODE : KNS 6523
LECTURER : DR SITI HALIPAH IBRAHIM
DATE : 14 JANUARY 2011

1
INTRODUCTION  ________________________________________________________  3 
WORKPLAN ____________________________________________________________  4 
METHODOLOGY ________________________________________________________  5 
PRELIMINARY FINDINGS  _________________________________________________  8 
SUMMARY  ___________________________________________________________  12 
APPENDIX ____________________________________________________________  13 
 

2
INTRODUCTION 

A thermal comfort study was conducted on Masjid Al Muttaqin Kota Samarahan

following request by administrator of the mosque to study its indoor environmental

quality. Main concern which has been pointed out was the excessive indoor heat gain

probably due to the mosque distinctive roof design and material. The roof is made of

PTFE coated glass fabric. (Refer appendix for material data sheet) The mosque

construction was completed on 2000 and officially opened to public on 24th Aug 2001.

The mosque can accommodates up to 2500 peoples at a time.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the hot environment of the mosque which is to

be expressed in Corrected Effective Temperature Index. Measuring equipment such as

the globe thermometer, sling thermometer, anemometer as well as the CET Nomogram

shall be used for this purpose. The internal surface temperature of the mosque with

emphasis on the roof membrane structure shall be measured with thermal imager (Flir

ThermaCAM P65). This is to determine how much heat gain is associated with the roof

as well as the confining walls and floor.

The result of the study shall be used to suggest an approariate solution to the

indoor heat problem. Engineering control to overcome the problem will integrate

appropriate design and retrofit solution in order to achieve acceptable thermal comfort

condition for Masjid Al Muttaqin.

3
WORKPLAN 

No  ACTIVITIES  WK1  WK2  WK3  WK4  WK5  WK6  WK7  WK8  WK9  WK10  WK11  WK12  WK13 
1  Site briefing                                         
2  Gather equipment and other preparation                                        
3  Visitation and data collection                                        
4  Analysis of data and presentation of initial findings                                        
5  Prepare progress report 1                                        
6  Further visits and data collection                                        
7  Propose design and retrofits   with material and cost estimate                                        
8  Prepare progress report 2                                        
9  Simulation with E plus on proposed design and impact on IAQ                                        
10  Finalize design proposal with material list and cost estimate                                        
11  Submission of final IAQ report and retrofit suggestion                                        

4
METHODOLOGY 

List of equipment used

1. Sling Thermometer 2. Anemometer

To measure Dry Bulb and Wet Bulb To measure air movement
Temperature as well as Relative
Humidity

3. Thermal Imager (Flir ThermaCAM 4. Globe thermometer

P65) To measure mean radiant
To measure surface IR temperature temperature (MRT)

5
Surrvey locattions (layoout not too scale)

Mossque kiblat orientation 292 Degreee from Nortth Clockwisse

Meaasure for DB
B,WB, RH,, air movem
ment and MRT
M

=Outdoor (ffacing sun seet)

Z1=
Z2=
=Outdoor (ffacing sun riise)
Z3=
=Indoor (Prraying hall for
f male)
Z4=
=Indoor (Praayer hall forr female)

Mossque kiblat orientation 292 Degreee from Nortth Clockwisse

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Measure for surface temperature (brick wall/ glazing /membrane roof/floor)

W1= Wall surface 1

W2= Wall surface 2
W3= Wall surface 3
W4= Wall surface 4

R1= Roof surface 1

R2= Roof surface 2
R3= Roof surface 3
R4= Roof surface 4
R5= Roof surface 5

F1= Floor surface at Z3

F2=Floor surface at Z4

7
PRELIMINARY FINDINGS (Initial visit)

Thermal Comfort Assessment for Tropics (Naturally Ventilated) 

PMV based on Fanger’s equation and the ASHRAE 
standard 55‐92 were found to be inapplicable in the study 
PMV/PPD equation 
of thermal comfort for the area of hot‐humid climate. 
(Wong,2002) 

Humpreys & Nicol equation 
Tc = 0.534To + 12.9 
where Tc is comfort temperature and To is mean outdoor  27.7 °C 
temperature 
To=27.8°C 
ASHRAE Std 55, Comfort Standard (ACS), 
Tcomf = 0.31Ta+ 17.8  26.4°C 
Ta=27.8°C 
Webb,  1949 (activity level and clothing value excluded) 
 28.86°C 
(ideal air velocity is 0.2 m/s with the relative humidity of 70% ) 
Mallick 1996 
(under still‐air condition and with the movement of air at 0.3 m/s as  24°C to 33°C  
well as adaptive bahaviour) 
Wong and Khoo, 2003  28.8°C 

Shafizal Maarof 2009 
RH 70% (Refer appendix for field PMV result conducted by Shafizal  < 30°C  
on two mosque in Putrajaya)  

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 24
29
34
39
44
49
54
59
6/1/2011 6:14 64

Remark:
6/1/2011 6:43
6/1/2011 7:12
6/1/2011 7:40
6/1/2011 8:09
6/1/2011 8:38
6/1/2011 9:07
6/1/2011 9:36
6/1/2011 10:04
6/1/2011 10:33
6/1/2011 11:02
6/1/2011 11:31
6/1/2011 12:00
6/1/2011 12:28
6/1/2011 12:57
Surface Temperature for membrane roof and glazing

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6/1/2011 13:26
W1,W2,W3&W4 temp represents glazing surface temperature
6/1/2011 13:55
6/1/2011 14:24
6/1/2011 14:52
6/1/2011 15:21
6/1/2011 15:50
6/1/2011 16:19
6/1/2011 16:48
6/1/2011 17:16
6/1/2011 17:45
6/1/2011 18:14
6/1/2011 18:43
r5
r4
r3
r2
r1
w4
w3
w2
w1

Outdoor temp
Measured indoor temperature and RH

102
92
82
72
62
52
DBT °C
42
Zone RH 1
32
22
6/1/2011 10:04
6/1/2011 10:33
6/1/2011 11:02
6/1/2011 11:31
6/1/2011 12:00
6/1/2011 12:28
6/1/2011 12:57
6/1/2011 13:26
6/1/2011 13:55
6/1/2011 14:24
6/1/2011 14:52
6/1/2011 15:21
6/1/2011 15:50
6/1/2011 16:19
6/1/2011 16:48
6/1/2011 17:16
6/1/2011 17:45
6/1/2011 18:14
6/1/2011 18:43
6/1/2011 6:14
6/1/2011 6:43
6/1/2011 7:12
6/1/2011 7:40
6/1/2011 8:09
6/1/2011 8:38
6/1/2011 9:07
6/1/2011 9:36

Discussion

1. Commonly used indicator of thermal comfort is air temperature, radiant

temperature, air velocity, humidity as well as personal factor like clothing
insulation and metabolic rate. However for this study, the thermal environment
will be expressed in Corrected Effective Temperature which considers the globe
temperature, wet bulb temperature and air velocity.

2. From the initial survey, it is found that the roof membrane temperature can reach
up to 60° C at midday. During midday prayer time about 12.50pm, the roof
temperature exceeds 45° C. The roof membrane is the only element separating the
indoor and outdoor environment. It is found that the roof membrane has a high U
value which is 5.6 W/m2K. However the solar reflectance of the roof material is
71%. The emissivity of roof material is yet to be determined. High surface
temperature suggests high radiant heat emitted from the roof to indoor.

3. The room temperature from midday to 4pm exceeds 32° C. The recommended
thermal comfort zone for naturally ventilated building should not exceed 30° C.
Refer  preceding  page  on  Thermal  Comfort  Assessment  for  Tropics  (Naturally 
Ventilated) 

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 4. The relative humidity exceeds 75% during midday and 85% after 4pm. No
significant air movement in the mosque was detected up to 7pm which suggest
poor ventilation even though the lower part of the mosque wall was built with
louver. High humidity compounded with low air movement in the mosque
contributes to unfavorable indoor thermal environment.

5. The glazing introduced was more than 60% of total area of wall. The thermal
properties of glazing as well as solid wall are yet to be determined. High glazing
coverage suggests increased heat gain of building.

6. Possible mechanical ventilation built into roof beam structure but yet to be
verified.

7. Bird intrusion into building which explain bird netting around the upper part of
wall and nesting around the dome structure.

8. Roof thermal transmittance value is 134 W/m2 which is not recommended for this
mosque should the building is air conditioned.

9. Translucency of roof is 12.5% which provide diffused day lighting for building.
This feature not really needed for the mosque since building wall is glazed more
than 60% and very low occupancy during daytime. Overall the building is
underutilized. This also increases the heat gain into building.

Restrictions

1. Raining season in this month January 2011 with many days raining. Impossible
to gather thermal data until weather is hot. Data collection put on hold until hot
weather return.

2. Anemometer not functioning. To be returned to technician for repair.

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SUMMARY 
1. The aim of this study is to evaluate the hot environment of Al Muttaqin mosque
which is to be expressed in Corrected Effective Temperature Index.

2. Roof membrane temperature can reach up to 60° C at midday. During midday

prayer time about 12.50pm, the roof temperature exceeds 45° C. The roof
membrane has a high U value which is 5.6 W/m2K. Solar reflectance of the roof
material is 71%.

3. The room temperature from midday to 4pm exceeds 32° C.

4. The relative humidity exceeds 75% during midday and 85% after 4pm. No
significant air movement in the mosque was detected up to 7pm which suggest
poor ventilation.

5. The glazing introduced was more than 60% of total area of wall.

6. Bird intrusion into building which explain bird netting around the upper part of
wall and nesting around the dome structure.

7. Roof thermal transmittance value is 134 W/m2 which is not recommended for this
mosque should the building is air conditioned.

8. Translucency of roof is 12.5% which provide diffused day lighting for building.
This feature not really needed for the mosque since building wall is glazed more
than 60% and very low occupancy during daytime.

Future Activities

1. Further survey on Mean Radiant Temperature, air movement, DBT,WBT,RH and

surface temperature during hot weather (time window period to cover zohor, asar,
magrib and ishak prayer time)

2. Acquire architectural drawing from client and building material thermal properties

3. Acquire mechanical drawing for any built in mechanical ventilation.

4. Create base model using Energy Plus to simulate existing thermal environment

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APPENDIX  
PHOTOS

1. Front view of Masjid Al Muttaqin Kota Samarahan

2. View of front entrance

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3. Inside view of mosque with bottom of dome visible

4. View of prayer hall facing the kiblat.

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5. View of wall structure

6. View of floor, wall and roof interface

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CHARTS

Pschrometric Chart

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CET Nomogram

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(Shafizal MAAROF, Smart and Sustainable Built Environment 2009 Conference Paper)

(Shafizal MAAROF, Smart and Sustainable Built Environment 2009 Conference Paper)

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(Shafizal MAAROF, Smart and Sustainable Built Environment 2009 Conference Paper)

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