NIGERIAN HOMES NEEDS INSULATION

¹Arc. Boyce A. Odoko²Olokpo Morgan I.

¹Department of Architecture, National Institute of Construction Technology, Uromi, Edo State

²Department of Building Technology, National Institute of Construction Technology, Uromi, Edo State

Email: odokoarch@yahoo.com                                    

ABSTRACT

Nigeria has a tropical climate because of its close proximity to the equator and the Atlantic Ocean. Generally, Nigeria has high temperatures. Nigeria has two main seasons, the rainy season and dry season. The coastal Southern region of the country is characterized by rainfall and humidity, and it is hot as well. While, the Northern region of Nigeria is characterized by very hot and dry weather, it is a desert climate. The desert climate in Northern Nigeria, is typically hot during the day and cold in the night. Therefore, Nigeria has hot temperature. Because of the hot temperature in Nigeria, and in view of the common building construction materials, which are the concrete masonry units, the zinc and the long span aluminum roofing sheet. Nigeria houses needs to be insulated against the hot climate. Nigeria is located in the hot tropical region, from sun rise to sun set, the radiation from the sun will be heating right on top of the roofs of Nigerian buildings. The roofs of the buildings are of zinc roofing sheets or long span aluminum sheets. These roofing sheets are heat conductors, hence, they permeate hot air down into the living spaces of the houses creating uncomfortable environment for the occupants. Therefore, the roof interior of these houses needs to be insulated to combat the intense sun heat radiation. The exterior walls of these buildings are constructed with concrete masonry units. Concrete blocks absorbs heat, it permeates heat transfer. Again, from sun rise to sun set, the exterior concrete masonry unit walls of these houses are exposed to the sun heat radiation. As the solar radiation hits the concrete block wall, the concrete block wall keeps on absorbing the hot solar radiation throughout the day. The concrete masonry wall keeps on transferring the heat until it penetrates into the living spaces of the house, thereby, creating uncomfortable environment for the occupants. This happens because concrete masonry unit is a heat conductor and therefore, it needs to be insulated against the heat radiation from penetrating into the building living spaces.

Keywords: Insulation, Material, Thermal Insulation, Solar Radiation, Hot Climate, Dry Climate, Winter, Summer, Desert, Temperature, Comfort,  Cooling, Heating, Attic, Ventilation.