Published Article

ABSTRACT This study assessed building forms and ventilation as determinants of thermal comfort in hostel rooms in University of Port Harcourt. Two specific research objectives were formulated to guide the study. The researchers adopted a descriptive survey design. 3 hostels from Abuja campus of the University of Port Harcourt were randomly selected for the study. The instruments used in collecting data were Gun bellani, Max/min thermometer, Dry/wet bulb thermometer (hygrometer) and Anemometer. The findings made from the study revealed that there is significant relationship between ventilation of students hostel and occupants thermal comfort level. The result also proved that there is significant influence of building form (L – shape coupled with inverted L – shape as form 1, I - shape as form 2 and Rectangular shape as form 3) on the thermal comfort level of student hostels, meaning that the mean value (27.20) of the level of occupants’ thermal comfort derived from building forms of hostel 3 was significantly higher than that of hostel 1 (22.59) which was higher than that of hostel 2 (21.59). One of the recommendations was that architectural building form that incorporates double windows as found in the building of hostel number 3 being Rectangular shape of the case study should be adopted in all other student hostels and residential areas in order to enhance thermal comfort of the occupants. Key words: Building forms, ventilation, thermal comfort, hostel rooms, University of Port Harcourt