Thermal analysis of façades through infrared thermography for the identification of variables associated with surface temperature differences in buildings located in warm climates

Abstract

The thermal behavior of architectural envelopes directly influences comfort conditions and energy consumption in buildings located in warm climates. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to analyze the thermal behavior of façades through infrared thermography for the identification of surface temperature differences and, in this way, evaluate the thermal impact of architectural design variables on thermal comfort in buildings located on the campus of the Francisco de Paula Santander University, in San José de Cúcuta, Colombia. The methodology is quantitative with an experimental approach based on in situ measurements using specialized technology for data collection. Three representative case studies were selected for the comparative analysis of variables such as orientation, materiality, and surroundings. The results indicate that southeast and southwest orientations present the highest surface temperatures, exceeding 40°C. Furthermore, materials such as grooved concrete and concrete slabs are identified as materials associated with higher surface temperatures, while elements such as openings and vegetation contribute to heat dissipation, even in orientations with greater solar incidence. In addition, the ambient temperature exceeds the local thermal comfort range (23.5 °C and 28.5 °C), which demonstrates unfavorable climatic conditions in all case studies. In conclusion, the thermal behavior of buildings depends on the interaction between orientation, materiality, and surrounding variables, as well as on the implementation of passive strategies such as ventilation, light-colored materials, and vegetation in warm climate contexts.