Civil Engineering and Architecture Vol. 12(2), pp. 1027 - 1036
DOI: 10.13189/cea.2024.120226
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Field Assessment of Daylight Illumination in Lecture Halls with Heavily Tinted Glazing and Adjustable Blinds in Hot Arid Climates

Abdultawab M. Qahtan ^*
Architectural Engineering Department, College of Engineering, Najran University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

Effective lighting in educational buildings is crucial for occupant comfort, especially in hot arid climates where balancing daylighting with solar radiation control is challenging. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of using solar control glazing and indoor roller blinds in maintaining adequate daylight illumination under dynamic solar radiation. The investigation focused on a lecture hall at Najran University (NU) in Saudi Arabia, characterized by its large windows oriented towards the south-west and north-west, situated within the region's hot arid climate. The study assesses daylight illuminance penetration for heavily tinted glazing integrated with three roller-blind configurations: fully closed, 50% closed, and no roller blinds. The study shows that during the morning, none of the workplane areas meet the minimum illuminance requirement, but in the afternoon, approximately 30% of the workplane exceeds 2000 lux, necessitating the use of electrical lighting as a result of roller-blind closure. Hourly monitoring revealed that under the Blinds-50% setting, daylight levels failed to meet recommended classroom lighting standards, while in the Blinds-100% configuration, the lecture hall remained completely dark. This study highlights the challenges and solutions for achieving optimal lighting in educational buildings within hot arid climates, emphasizing the significance of avoiding static shading systems, such as heavily tinted glass.

KEYWORDS
Daylight Illumination, Workplane, Lecture Hall, Tinted Glazing, Roller Blinds, Hot Arid Climate

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Abdultawab M. Qahtan , "Field Assessment of Daylight Illumination in Lecture Halls with Heavily Tinted Glazing and Adjustable Blinds in Hot Arid Climates," Civil Engineering and Architecture, Vol. 12, No. 2, pp. 1027 - 1036, 2024. DOI: 10.13189/cea.2024.120226.

(b). APA Format:
Abdultawab M. Qahtan (2024). Field Assessment of Daylight Illumination in Lecture Halls with Heavily Tinted Glazing and Adjustable Blinds in Hot Arid Climates. Civil Engineering and Architecture, 12(2), 1027 - 1036. DOI: 10.13189/cea.2024.120226.