EFFECT OF LOW COST ROOF INSULATING MATERIALS ON INDOOR TEMPERATURE OF BUILDINGS IN LAHORE

Abstract

The aim of this research work was to investigate temperature effect of different materials on conventional concrete roofs for the buildings. Each material tested consists of a combination of materials that can reduce net heat load or temperatures inside the buildings. In Hot climates, the building having Reinforced Cement Concrete (R.C.C) roofs exhibit unfavorable thermal conditions resulting in uncomfortable indoor temperatures. In the absence of passive cooling techniques it also leads to increased cooling loads thereby increased electricity consumption. This study work reports for comparative analysis of different materials locally available for the roofing insulation. Therefore, small rooms already built at different orientations have been tested for studying the passive cooling effect of roofs. Three different materials were applied for the comparison of temperature effects. The analysis of results marked the minimum indoor temperatures for thermal comfort and also the respective insulation- mixture.