Achieving health and comfort in high-rise residential buildings by using dynamic-hybrid air permeable ceiling (DHAPC)

Air pollution has become a threat to the vast amount of population in many developing countries around the world. This life-threatening issue is worsening every year, in South-East Asia in particular. Despite the severity of the problem, ongoing major building programs of high-rise residential buildings in urban areas are not addressing it in full. This research explores the use of a ‘Dynamic-Hybrid Air Permeable Ceiling’ (DHAPC) as a strategy to reduce the amount of airborne particles penetrating internal spaces. This system is also designed to ensure the required constant airflow rate in indoor spaces as well as to control air temperature and humidity. Fieldwork with direct measurements in social housing in Kuala Lumpur was used to establish the exact extent of the problem. The system has been tested carrying out two experiments on physical models using synthetic recycled insulation materials and higher airflow rate. The test has achieved a healthier and more comfortable indoor environment with substantial improvements, including a 98 percent reduction of PM2.5 and PM10 particles, and a 16 percent reduction of air temperature and humidity. This experiment has proven that the DHAPC concept using recycled materials and hybrid ventilation could be the solution to poor indoor quality and indoor discomfort in high-rise residential buildings in urban areas.