Developing Understanding of Appropriate Roofing Materials

Objective

To understand the Roof as building elements, its function and behaviour under  various conditions with respect to different materials.

Outcome

Students will be able to understand the importance of roofing material on thermal comfort of the house.

Requirements

A small scale enclosed space (either with tin or brick walls) with only wooden frames for putting different roofing material and gauge its functioning. This installation space need to be under the sun or on the terrace.

An Infrared thermometer

Steel Plate or sheets, concrete Paver block, tin sheets, asbestos cement sheets, a terracotta blocks, other roofing materials (include as much materials available as unused or discarded around), 

A Sunny day

Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of different roofing materials, knowledge on using the Infrared thermometer

Procedure

Step 1: Ask the students to procure different materials that are used as a quick fixes as roofing material (especially in Informal settlements and temporary dwelling spaces) from the scrap market. Students will also gain knowledge on the different types of materials available in the scrap markets. 

Some of the materials suggested to be procured are: Steel sheet, paver blocks, tin sheets, asbestos cement sheets, terracotta blocks, wooden waste, Plastic sheets, discarded flex banners, discarded blankets or fabrics, and other roofing materials that can be found.

Step 2: Ask students to take all the materials to the terrace and place each material for 20-30 minutes in the installation space under the peak summer sun.

Step 3: After 30 minutes, touch both the top and bottom of the roofing material to feel the temperature different. Measure the temperature at the bottom to determine the thermal conductivity. 

Step 4: Observe and Discuss which material has maximum and minimum temperatures. Reflect on the appropriateness of each material to be used as a roof. 

References

None

Source of Idea