Conforto térmico em salas de aula: avaliação do conforto térmico de uma edificação escolar no município de Macaíba/RN e proposição de cartilha com estratégias passivas de condicionamento térmico

Abstract

Thermal comfort in school environments is an essential requirement for environmental comfort, cognitive performance, and the quality of the teaching–learning process, especially in hot and humid climate regions. In this context, this research aims to evaluate the thermal performance of classrooms at the Alfredo Mesquita Filho State School, located in the municipality of Macaíba, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, in order to identify the actual comfort conditions experienced by users and, based on this diagnosis, propose passive retrofit strategies applicable to existing school buildings. These strategies are organized into an educational and illustrative handbook focused on thermal comfort and performance in school buildings. The adopted methodology integrates a literature review, document analysis, environmental measurements—air temperature, mean radiant temperature, relative humidity, air velocity, and surface temperatures—and the application of a thermal perception questionnaire, following the adaptive comfort model of ABNT NBR 16401-2:2024. The results indicate a predominance of thermal discomfort, insufficient natural ventilation, high indoor temperatures, and a significant influence of solar radiation on the building envelope. Tests involving shading and thermal insulation strategies demonstrate an effective reduction in heat gains. Based on these findings, passive strategies grounded in thermal regulation processes—radiation, conduction, convection, and evaporation—are organized, encompassing shading devices, enhanced cross-ventilation, improvements in construction materials, and the use of vegetation. The study culminates in the development of a didactic handbook that translates technical concepts into practical guidelines for managers and professionals, contributing to the promotion of more comfortable, efficient, and climate-responsive school environments.