Resistive or Reflective?

Abstract

A design shift of houses from traditional to modern is not only driven by personal preferences about modern living and the need for new spaces, but also about the availability and durability of building materials. Changes in building materials, especially on the roof, will modify the thermal conditions in the interior of the building. This study compared the thermal performance of resistive and reflective building materials in tropical coastal areas. An empirical study was carried out to measure external and internal thermal conditions in two vernacular houses located in the coastal area of Central Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. The sample houses were traditional raised floor houses which present two different types of roofing material, namely sago thatch roof (resistive material) and corrugated zinc sheet roof (reflective material). The outcomes indicated that the resistive material has more advantages in controlling the internal conditions than the reflective material. This state is due to its porous material characteristics which can supply a low air temperature to the house and release air humidity to the external environment.