1. Climatic design
This workshop will look the importance of understanding how climate variations will impact on planning and design
Aceh, Indonesia, 2007

2. ! Objectives The key learning objectives of this workshop are:
1. Presentation: defining the five climatic zones and making appropriate choices in climatic design and NFI selection
2. Workshop: settlement, shelter and NFIs in each of the five climatic zones:
hot dry
hot wet
temperate
cold
locations at high altitude

3. The five climatic zones
Discussion
in groups
Each group has been allocated one of the five climatic zones, characterised as follows:
Group 1: hot dry - temperature will vary from high daytime temperatures to low night-time temperatures
Group 2: hot wet - temperature will remain constantly high throughout the year but precipitation levels will increase dramatically during the rainy seasons
Group 3: temperate - seasonal variations in temperature and precipitation, extreme temperatures are unusual
Group 4: cold - temperatures remain low throughout the year, or over winter only, often falling below zero
Group 5: locations at high altitude – temperatures are very low during winter but may rise considerably in summer

4. Workshop activities
Each group will have 10 minutes to prepare the following three deliverables
In your groups discuss and delegate the tasks below:
draw a climate graph that describes the diurnal (daily and nightly) temperature range of your climatic zone
produce a drawing that describes the main design considerations for a family shelter, specific to your designated climate zone
develop a list of suitable NFIs to be supplied to the affected population, specific to your designated climate zone
Each group agrees a key point
Key point

5. Group 1 key point: hot dry

6. Hot dry: diurnal temperature and shelter
Transitional Settlement: Displaced Populations
(Corsellis and Vitale, 2005)
Below is a summary of diurnal variation in temperature and several key design considerations for a family shelter.
Daytime
Temperature (°C)
Time (24 hours)
small windows to prevent high solar gain during the day and heat loss at night
insulating earth roofs provide thermal mass while thatched roofs insulate through the creation of an air chamber
thick walls will reduce heat gain during the day and increase heat storage at night
position doors and windows away from prevailing winds

7. Hot dry: settlement
Transitional Settlement: Displaced Populations
(Corsellis and Vitale, 2005)
Outdoor spaces are likely to be used for activities such as cooking and washing.
Planning of outside space should be given as much consideration as the design and planning of shelter
design and orientate external spaces to suit traditional use patterns, such as cooking
an enclosed settlement plan will help to provide shade and protect from prevailing winds
narrow street provide shade
high thermal mass will minimise heat gain
avoid removing trees and position buildings to provide shade from sun
position buildings to protect from prevailing wind and sand storms

8. Hot dry: NFIs and construction
In hot and dry climates:
Transitional Settlement: Displaced Populations
(Corsellis and Vitale, 2005)
consider the environmental impacts of harvesting construction materials such as timber and thatch
variations in day and night temperatures may increase the need for household NFIs such as blankets and mattresses to improve the occupants thermal comfort at night
NFIs may need protection from rodents and termites while in storage
material selection may be affected by the amount of water required for their use in construction
when using sheeting roofs, such as plastic or CGI, use a double skin with ventilation between to minimise heat radiation
high afternoon temperatures may influence working times

9. Group 2 key point: hot wet

10. Hot wet: diurnal temperature & shelter
Transitional Settlement: Displaced Populations
(Corsellis and Vitale, 2005)
Below is a summary of diurnal variation in temperature and several key design considerations for a family shelter.
Hot wet
Temperature (°C)
Time (1 year)
roof has sufficient pitch for water drainage
surface water drainage
roof overhang to protect walls
drains connect to reservoir to harvest rainwater
footing of walls protected with plaster or tiles
compacted plinth, with raised floors to protect from flooding
Add distribution notion accessibility

11. Hot wet: NFIs
Transitional Settlement: Displaced Populations
(Corsellis and Vitale, 2005)
Important to consider the effects of moisture on materials:
mud bricks will be difficult to produce if moisture levels are too high and will need protection from rain while drying
a protective coating must be applied to timber to prevent rotting, which should be detailed to not contact with the ground
select materials that maximise ventilation
shelter and household NFIs will need protection from moisture, pests and rodents during storage and transportation
heavy rain is likely to make the transportation of materials more difficult

12. Group 3 key point: temperate

13. Temperate: diurnal temperature & shelter
Transitional Settlement: Displaced Populations
(Corsellis and Vitale, 2005)
Below is a summary of diurnal variation in temperature and several key design considerations for a family shelter.
Temperature (°C)
Time (1 year)
protection from rain and flooding
insulation against hot and cold temperatures
shading from the sun
flooring and fly sheet
stove and fuel
personal insulation as well as blanket and mattress

14. Temperate: NFIs
Transitional Settlement: Displaced Populations
(Corsellis and Vitale, 2005)
Consider various climatic conditions including cold, hot and wet
shelter NFIs supported by household NFIs such as clothing, blankets and fuel to protect from cold temperatures
shelter and household NFIs will need protection from the cold and wet during storage and transportation
seasonal climatic variation must be considered when transporting materials, for example transportation will be more difficult in snow and ice
shelters should be designed, and household NFIs supplied to meet the worst likely weather conditions

15. Group 4 key point: cold
Key point

16. Cold: diurnal temperature & shelter
Transitional Settlement: Displaced Populations
(Corsellis and Vitale, 2005)
Below is a summary of diurnal variation in temperature and several key design considerations for a family shelter.
Temperature (°C)
0 °C
Time (1 year)
materials with high thermal mass and added insulation
strong roof to cope with heavy snow loads
seal openings to prevent draughts
small window will prevent thermal gain in high temperatures and heat loss in low temperatures
thermal buffer zone
dividing large rooms into several smaller rooms using plastic sheeting
warm room with stove

17. Cold: NFIs
Transitional Settlement: Displaced Populations
(Corsellis and Vitale, 2005)
Material planning should reflect priorities as temperatures drop
clothes
clothes
blankets
clothes
blankets
shelter
clothes
blankets
shelter
mattress
clothes
blankets
shelter
mattress
wind proofing
clothes
blankets
shelter
mattress
wind proofing
stove
clothes
blankets
shelter
mattress
wind proofing
stove
flooring
clothes
blankets
shelter
mattress
wind proofing
stove
flooring
insulation
the demand for shelter and household NFIs increases as temperature decreases
if heating or appropriate shelter NFIs are not available, increase the distribution household NFIs, such as clothing and blankets and mattresses

18. Cold: NFIs
Transitional Settlement: Displaced Populations
(Corsellis and Vitale, 2005)
Cold climates may cause problems in the production, transportation and storage of NFIs
shelter NFIs may need protecting against the affects of frost and damp during production
shelter and household NFIs will need protection from the cold during storage and transportation
heavy snow and ice is likely to make the transportation of materials more difficult

19. Group 5 key point: locations at altitude

20. Altitude: diurnal temperature & shelter
Air temperature in any of the climatic zones will drop in
accordance with increased altitude or wind strength
Temperature by altitude* Temperature by wind-chill*
Altitude
(metres)
Air temp
(Celsius)
Sea level 15
600 11
1200 7
1800 3
Wind speed
(km/hour)
Zero C
drops to
15 kph
- 3
30 kph
- 7
45 kph
- 8
60 kph
- 9
* The above data is approximate and may vary across zones

21. Altitude: NFIs
Altitude affects both which NFIs should be distributed and the methods of distribution:
seasonal accessibility
distribution of a wider range of NFIs and greater quantities of fuel, as more altitude requires more fuel
need to choose sheltering responses which are adequate to both very cold and hot climates

22. Bibliography ‘Handbook for Emergencies’ (UNHCR, 2007)
‘Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards for Disaster Response’ (The Sphere Project, 2004)
‘Transitional Settlement: Displaced Populations’ (Corsellis and Vitale, 2005)
‘Shelter Sector Items’ (IASC ESC, 2009 forthcoming)