Perforated solar screens to optimize daylighting and maintain privacy in girls' schools in hot arid areas: The case of Saudi Arabia: Investigating parameters of perforated solar screens

Kotbi, Ahmad 2019. Perforated solar screens to optimize daylighting and maintain privacy in girls' schools in hot arid areas: The case of Saudi Arabia: Investigating parameters of perforated solar screens. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University. Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

This study investigates the special case of girls’ schools in Saudi Arabia, where there are strict privacy requirements due to sociocultural and religious factors. In the last few decades prototype buildings were introduced in this country to cover for the demand for school buildings in Saudi Arabia following the rapid economic growth since the discovery of oil. Prototypes were used for boys’ and girls’ schools without due consideration of the privacy requirements applicable to girls’ schools. In the girls’ schools most windows are blocked with dark opaque films or solid boards to maintain privacy. Such window treatments make electrical lighting a necessity at all times. Consequently, girls’ schools have become one of the biggest energy consumers in the country when taking into consideration the number of schools and the peak time operational hours Moreover, the quality of life for the occupants of the buildings has been affected, as the lack of daylight is known to have negative effects on health, well-being and productivity. This study will be examining the use of perforated solar screens on existing windows to resolve the problem, The aim of the research is to ascertain the configurations for the parameters of the proposed perforated solar screen, in order to provide acceptable daylight performance alongside maintaining privacy for occupants. The investigated parameters are: perforation rate, depth ratio, aspect ratio, cell size and tilting angle. Different values of each parameter are tested using lighting simulation and a qualitative study was designed and applied in order to investigate the privacy aspects. The results of these investigations have identified the recommended configu- ration for the parameters of perforated screens for each one of the main orientations: north, east, south and west, to achieve acceptable interior daylight conditions and provide privacy.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Date Type:	Completion
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Architecture
Uncontrolled Keywords:	perforated, screens, daylighting, privacy, girl's schools, arid areas
Funders:	King Saud University
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	24 June 2019
Last Modified:	21 Feb 2020 02:20
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/123606

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