Thermal Properties of Some Local Building Materials in Nigeria: A Case Study of Ibadan

The thermal properties of building materials have great influence on indoor thermal comfort, energy efficiency and urban thermal environment in tropics. In Nigeria, the rising use of conventional building materials with low thermal performance is a source of concern on heat retention and occupants’ comfort. The thermal potentials of available locally sourced building materials are underexplored. This work comparatively studied the thermal properties of some selected local building materials commonly found in Nigeria using Ibadan as a case study. The research design used was qualitative and based on comparative literature to synthesize evidence on key thermal properties like thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity, thermal mass, thermal diffusivity, and surface characteristics. The results of the review indicate that the thermal conductivity of terrestrial materials, laterite and adobe, is lower than that of conventional sandcrete blocks, but their thermal mass is higher. This leads to a higher barrier to heat transfer and better thermal efficiency of the structure, which is useful in tropical climates. Moreover, results indicate that it is possible to mitigate urban heat through the optimal urban albedo and to enhance the thermal comfort of outdoor spaces by selecting the appropriate material. The study concludes that increased use of climate responsive local building materials may improve thermal resilience in Nigerian cities. Recommendations are made for the inclusion of thermal performance criteria in the design and regulation of buildings, for encouraging the use of stabilized earth-based materials and for undertaking field studies to verify the thermal performance of local materials under tropical conditions

Local building materials, Nigeria, Thermal conductivity, Thermal mass, Thermal properties

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