Predominant factors on Multi-housing overheating interior conditions and body temperature: a field study in Japan

Abstract

The concern of overheating in buildings usually focus on the energy, economic and environmental repercussions. However it also has a great impact on the discomfort and health issues of the user. Several medical conditions as heat stroke, are narrowly correlated with the indoor thermal environment. In this context, building characteristics and passive or active strategies are fundamental to reduce the risk of this condition. This study aims to determine the predominant factors on interior conditions in multi-housing residence, and their correlation with the user’s body temperature. In order to achieve this purpose, a measurement campaign and a field survey in several dwellings were carried out in summer 2015 in Tama- Japan. The standard new effective temperature (SET) has been used as a reference parameter to assess the repercus- sions of the analyzed variables. With the use of statistical analysis the whole variables were correlated with this parameter. According to the obtained results, the height over the street level of the apartment is the parameter with the major influence on SET, at both daytime and nigh-time. Furthermore, the body temperature increased 0.015°C and 0.007°C per 1°C increase in the day and night-time SET respectively.