1. Proposing a New Method for Fenestration Shading Design in Prefabricated Modular Buildings

Use of prefabricated construction in developing countries has been increased lately; (for several purposes i.e. educational, industrial, recreational, commercial, etc. as well as temporary homes in post-disaster situations) while the minimum consideration regarding energy efficiency and bioclimatic design strategies are paid attention in this regard. Typically, these buildings are constructed based on industrial production systems and are installed through a modular design process. Subsequently, their fenestration design mainly follows the modularity of envelope panels -in size and geometry- and impacts of environmental factors as solar gain, natural ventilation, and heat transmission are neglected in design decisions even though they play an important role in building energy consumption scales. This study aims to analyze windows and their shading systems in a mid-range altitude and temperate-humid climate in Iran. According to the comfort zone suggested by ASHRAE, the time intervals of the year which necessitate shadows on the windows surfaces are determined. On the condition that shading is provided for the interior spaces, comfort condition is guaranteed needless of any auxiliary solutions. On the basis of the attained sun/shadow calendar, the matrix of fenestration design alternatives is studied in Ecotect software. Parameters as windows geometrical ratio, shading type (vertical, horizontal, mixed), and proportional shading size are studied in each geographical directions and the optimized solutions are proposed in order to provide shadows in the required time periods. This architect-friendly method tried to equip designers with non-numerical algorithmic programs and assist them in energy efficient modular fenestration design. The obtained prototypes are utilizable in prefabricated modular buildings meanwhile the decision-making procedure could also be applied in other altitudes and climatic regions to gain similar models.