Influence Of Condition Of Wall Elements On Occupant’s Thermal Sensation In Lecture Theatres In Owerri Capital Territory, Imo Sate Nigeria

Abstract

This study focused on assessing the impact of the condition of the wall elements on occupants' thermal sensation in lecture theatres in tertiary institutions in Owerri Capital Territory, Imo State, Nigeria. These institutions are Federal university of Technology Owerri (FUTO), Alvan Ikoku Federal university of Education (AIFUE), Imo State University, Owerri (IMSU) and Federal polytechnic Nekede (FEDPONEK). The study adopted the adaptive comfort theory and the operant conditioning theory, which emphasizes that a relationship exists between the occupants, and the built environment that builds on continuous changes to the environment and the occupants’ behaviours. The study employed a quantitative survey method, and data were collected using observational and questionnaire methods. The results from the lecture theatres studied showed that, 54.6% of the walls, 53.4% of the windows, 46.3% of the doors, and 54.3% of the wall finishes which were compressed as a composite variable (representing conditions of the wall elements) of the lecture were in poor conditions. A Biserial Correlation coefficient value of -0.161, and a significance probability value of 0.003 statistically showed that the condition of the wall elements truly had a correlation with thermal sensation of the users. The study recommends the use of appropriate building materials and regular appraisal of the facilities by facility condition assessors to ascertain the condition of the facilities in the institutions.