User satisfaction with the daylighting design at a Malaysian Public University Library
Library buildings can benefit from using daylight as primary light source which has been recognized as an important strategy to improve indoor environment quality to create a unique comfortable space for prolonged reading and study activity. However it is crucial for architects to design a buildi...
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Main Author: | |
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Format: | Thesis |
Language: | English |
Published: |
2015
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Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/85579/1/FRSB%202015%2011%20ir.pdf |
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Summary: | Library buildings can benefit from using daylight as primary light source which has
been recognized as an important strategy to improve indoor environment quality to
create a unique comfortable space for prolonged reading and study activity. However it
is crucial for architects to design a building which makes full use of daylight. which is
a dynamic light source. while responding to the occupant needs. Careful consideration
of occupant needs is essential to achieve the benefits of daylighting design in
supporting their comfort, health, and performance of building's occupants.
Debates continue about the best strategies of daylighting which conditions the visual
comfort in library. The issue of occupant's visual discomfort. particularly glare. is a
controversial subject especially in daylit public buildings. Far too little attention has
been paid in studies to the issue of glare problem and occupant vi ual comfort in a
daylit library without sun control shading devices. Lack of practical information about
daylighting quality assessment from occupants' perspective exists in Malaysia as a
limitation in library design.
This is a post-occupancy study of visual condition in a daylit library building of
University Putra Malaysia (UPM) and the focus is on the building occupants as to
examine the effectiveness of implementing daylighting system for a visually
comfortable environment based on their point of view. In other words. it would be
conducted to demonstrate that the visual comfort of occupants is highly affected by the
extent to how successful the daylight is admitted and controlled within the building's
interior.
In order to increase validity of results, the combination of methodologies ha been used
to produce a holistic picture of daylighting performance in the library. A multiple-tool
methodology was used which included occupants questionnaire survey, illuminance
measurements and daylighting performance simulation by using DA YSIM software as
well as documenting the spatial settings and daylighting system features. The new
dynamic daylight performance metrics have been applied to analysis the results obtain
from measurements and simulation parts.
Questionnaire results showed generally there is high satisfaction with daylit stud
environment especially where the direct sunlight exposure was properly controlled. Satisfaction with amount of daylight ranked higher with users who worked with paper
compared to users who worked using computers. The satisfaction level with outside
view ranked highly however it was found that users need to be protected from direct
sunlight exposure while having outside view. The glare and heat problems identified
more at tables located near windows without shading devices and also for computer
work activity. The field measurement and simulation results confirm the existence of
some problematic areas in terms of sunlight exposure
Tile identified visual comfort problems associated with direct sunlight exposure were
discussed with regards to results about occupants preferences for enhancing the'
effectiveness of daylighting systems and consequently improving tile quality of the
visual environment in the building of study. |
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