Impact of Shading Devices for Faculty Office Buildings in Tropical Regions—A Case Study in Malaysia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11113/ijbes.v13.n3.1684Keywords:
Shading devices, Faculty office building, Tropical region, Indoor environmental per-formance, Building orientationsAbstract
External shading devices play a crucial role in reducing solar radiation entering buildings and are an important strategy for lowering cooling loads in tropical regions with high temperatures, high humidity and intense solar radiation. This study used a combination of field measurements and software simulations to explore the appropriate ratio of overhang shading devices for a faculty office at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). By applying the appropriate ratio of shading device, the compliance rate of indoor air temperature (IAT) in the test room can be brought into compliance with the requirement. Building on this, the study simulated the data of IAT and daylight factor (DF) for four common types of external shading devices across 16 building orientations to identify the appropriate shading device for each orientation. This study found that the most suitable shading device for the -45° building orientation (North-west) is the egg crate shading device. Applying it at an appropriate ratio increased compliance rate of IAT of the test room by 20.7%. This study can provide data and theoretical support for the design and practice of shading devices for buildings in tropical regions such as Malaysia.
References
Abdelwahab, S., & Sobh, H. (2022). Visual Discomfort Analysis as a Tool to Support Façade Shading Design: A Case Study in the Architectural Design Studio. Journal of Architectural Engineering, 28(2): 05022003. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)AE.1943-5568.0000533
Abdul Rahim, S. N., Zakaria, M. A., Yasin, M. N., & Hanipah, M. H. (2024). Thermal comfort of student in classroom with elevated set point air-conditioner temperature: Objective and subjective measurement. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 1347(1): 012035. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1347/1/012035
Abuelnuor, A. A. A., Mohammedali, A. A. M., Omara, A. A. M., Wedaa, S. A. M., Mohammed, M. O. A., Ahmed, A.-H. F. A. A.-H., & Mohamed, E.-M. E. E. (2021). Evaluation of Thermal Comfort in Academic Buildings at Khartoum Locality: A Case Study. 2020 International Conference on Computer, Control, Electrical, and Electronics Engineering (ICCCEEE), 1–5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/ICCCEEE49695.2021.9429574
Alajmi, A., Aba-alkhail, F., & ALAnzi, A. (2021a). Determining the optimum fixed solar-shading device for minimizing the energy consumption of a side-lit office building in a scorching climate. Journal of Engineering Research, 9(2): 2. DOI: https://doi.org/10.36909/jer.v9i2.10773
Alajmi, A., Aba-alkhail, F., & ALAnzi, A. (2021b). Determining the optimum fixed solar-shading device for minimizing the energy consumption of a side-lit office building in a scorching climate. Journal of Engineering Research, 9(2): 2. DOI: https://doi.org/10.36909/jer.v9i2.10773
Alsukkar, M., Hu, M., Alkhater, M., & Su, Y. (2023). Daylighting performance assessment of a split louver with parametrically incremental slat angles: Effect of slat shapes and PV glass transmittance. Solar Energy, 264: 112069. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2023.112069
Alwetaishi, M., Al-Khatri, H., Benjeddou, O., Shamseldin, A., Alsehli, M., Alghamdi, S., & Shrahily, R. (2021). An investigation of shading devices in a hot region: A case study in a school building. Ain Shams Engineering Journal, 12(3): 3229–3239. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asej.2021.02.008
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers [ASHRAE]. (2013). Thermal environmental conditions for human occupancy (ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 55-2013). Atlanta, GA: Author.
Aw, S. B., Leng, P. C., & Ling, G. H. T. (2023). Facilitation of visual adaptation to glare control for daytime fire evacuation from an office building in Malaysia. Journal of Engineering Research. 12(2): 1-10. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jer.2023.10.010
Baghoolizadeh, M., Rostamzadeh-Renani, M., Rostamzadeh-Renani, R., & Toghraie, D. (2023). Multi-objective optimization of Venetian blinds in office buildings to reduce electricity consumption and improve visual and thermal comfort by NSGA-II. Energy and Buildings, 278: 112639. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2022.112639
C, C., Sasidhar, K., & Madhumathi, A. (2023). Energy-efficient retrofitting with exterior shading device in hot and humid climate – case studies from fully glazed multi-storied office buildings in Chennai, India. Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering, 22(4): 2209–2223. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13467581.2022.2145208
Chai, K., Yu, J., Tian, Y., Zhao, A., Gao, J., & Nie, J. (2020). Comprehensive Evaluation Method of Office Building Energy Consumption Based on Improved Multi-index. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 790(1): 012047. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/790/1/012047
Dev, G., & Saifudeen, A. (2023). Dynamic facade control systems for optimal daylighting, a case of Kerala. Sustainability Analytics and Modeling, 3: 100018. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.samod.2023.100018
Do, C. T., & Chan, Y.-C. (2021). Daylighting performance analysis of a facade combining daylight-redirecting window film and automated roller shade. Building and Environment, 191: 107596. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2021.107596
Eltaweel, A., Su, Y., Mandour, M. A., & Elrawy, O. O. (2021). A novel automated louver with parametrically-angled reflective slats; design evaluation for better practicality and daylighting uniformity. Journal of Building Engineering, 42: 102438. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2021.102438
Gamero-Salinas, J. C., Monge-Barrio, A., & Sánchez-Ostiz, A. (2020). Overheating risk assessment of different dwellings during the hottest season of a warm tropical climate. Building and Environment, 171: 106664. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2020.106664
Huo, H., Xu, W., Li, A., Cui, G., Wu, Y., & Liu, C. (2020). Field comparison test study of external shading effect on thermal-optical performance of ultralow-energy buildings in cold regions of China. Building and Environment, 180: 106926. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2020.106926
Koç, S. G., & Maçka Kalfa, S. (2021). The effects of shading devices on office building energy performance in Mediterranean climate regions. Journal of Building Engineering, 44: 102653. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2021.102653
Kunwar, N., Cetin, K. S., & Passe, U. (2021). Calibration of energy simulation using optimization for buildings with dynamic shading systems. Energy and Buildings, 236: 110787. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2021.110787
Lau, A. K. K., Salleh, E., Lim, C. H., & Sulaiman, M. Y. (2016). Potential of shading devices and glazing configurations on cooling energy savings for high-rise office buildings in hot-humid climates: The case of Malaysia. International Journal of Sustainable Built Environment, 5(2): 387–399. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsbe.2016.04.004
Mangkuto, R. A., Koerniawan, M. D., Apriliyanthi, S. R., Lubis, I. H., Atthaillah, Hensen, J. L. M., & Paramita, B. (2022). Design Optimisation of Fixed and Adaptive Shading Devices on Four Façade Orientations of a High-Rise Office Building in the Tropics. Buildings, 12(1): Article 1. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12010025
Mohammed, A., Tariq, M. A. U. R., Ng, A. W. M., Zaheer, Z., Sadeq, S., Mohammed, M., & Mehdizadeh-Rad, H. (2022). Reducing the Cooling Loads of Buildings Using Shading Devices: A Case Study in Darwin. Sustainability, 14(7): Article 7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su14073775
Mustapa, M. S., Zaki, S. A., Rijal, H. B., Hagishima, A., & Ali, M. S. M. (2016). Thermal comfort and occupant adaptive behaviour in Japanese university buildings with free running and cooling mode offices during summer. Building and Environment, 105: 332–342. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2016.06.014
Oleiwi, M. Q., & Mohamed, M. F. (2022). The Impacts of Passive Design Strategies on Building Indoor Temperature in Tropical Climate. Pertanika Journal of Science and Technology, 31(1): 83–108. DOI: https://doi.org/10.47836/pjst.31.1.06
Rana, Md. J., Hasan, Md. R., & Sobuz, Md. H. R. (2021). An investigation on the impact of shading devices on energy consumption of commercial buildings in the contexts of subtropical climate. Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, 11(3): 661–691. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/SASBE-09-2020-0131
Rana, Md. J., Hasan, Md. R., & Sobuz, Md. H. R. (2022a). An investigation on the impact of shading devices on energy consumption of commercial buildings in the contexts of subtropical climate. Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, 11(3): 661–691. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/sasbe-09-2020-0131
Rana, Md. J., Hasan, Md. R., & Sobuz, Md. H. R. (2022b). An investigation on the impact of shading devices on energy consumption of commercial buildings in the contexts of subtropical climate. Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, 11(3): 661–691. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/SASBE-09-2020-0131
Rijal, H. B., Humphreys, M. A., & Nicol, J. F. (2017). Towards an adaptive model for thermal comfort in Japanese offices. Building Research & Information, 45(7): 717–729. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09613218.2017.1288450
Settino, J., Carpino, C., Perrella, S., & Arcuri, N. (2020). Multi-Objective Analysis of a Fixed Solar Shading System in Different Climatic Areas. Energies, 13(12): Article 12. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/en13123249
Shaaban, A. K., Khudhayer, W. A., & Sukor, N. S. A. (2017). Total shading system approach at Sultan Qaboos University Eco-House project. AIP Conference Proceedings, 1892(1): 160011. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5005778
Su, M. A., Ngarambe, J., Santamouris, M., & Yun, G. Y. (2021). Empirical evidence on the impact of urban overheating on building cooling and heating energy consumption. iScience, 24(5): 102495. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2021.102495
Tayag, C. R. C., & Conejos, S. (2025). Passive cooling in tropical residential buildings using thermal and energy performance analysis. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 1500(1): 012060. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1500/1/012060
Tong, S., Wen, J., Wong, N. H., & Tan, E. (2021). Impact of façade design on indoor air temperatures and cooling loads in residential buildings in the tropical climate. Energy and Buildings, 243: 110972. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2021.110972
Valitabar, M., GhaffarianHoseini, Ali, GhaffarianHoseini, Amirhosein, & Attia, S. (2022). Advanced control strategy to maximize view and control discomforting glare: A complex adaptive façade. Architectural Engineering and Design Management, 18(6): 829–849. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17452007.2022.2032576
Wang, Y., Yang, W., & Wang, Q. (2022). Multi-objective parametric optimization of the composite external shading for the classroom based on lighting, energy consumption, and visual comfort. Energy and Buildings, 275: 112441. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2022.112441
Yao, B., Salehi, A., Baghoolizadeh, M., Khairy, Y., & Baghaei, Sh. (2024). Multi-objective optimization of office egg shadings using NSGA-II to save energy consumption and enhance thermal and visual comfort. International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer, 157: 107697. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icheatmasstransfer.2024.107697
Zheng, Y., Wu, J., Zhang, H., Lin, C., Li, Y., Cui, X., & Shen, P. (2025). A novel sun-shading design for indoor visual comfort and energy saving in typical office space in Shenzhen. Energy and Buildings, 328: 115083. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2024.115083
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 International Journal of Built Environment and Sustainability

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Copyright of articles that appear in International Journal of Built Environment and Sustainability belongs exclusively to Penerbit Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (Penerbit UTM Press). This copyright covers the rights to reproduce the article, including reprints, electronic reproductions or any other reproductions of similar nature.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- This Journal applies Creative Commons Licenses of CC-BY-NC-SA
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
















