The effect of building materials choice on the thermal comfort in the auto-produced individual housing in Biskra.

The building envelope is the first barrier to protect against external climatic variations. Generally, it consists of two types of walls: opaque walls (walls and roof) and transparent walls (Windows). The design characteristics of the enclosure strongly affect the occupants' thermal comfort, as well as the building energy consumption. The constructive choices relating to structural elements, in particular, walls, roofing and openings are generally considered in the thermal exchanges between the building and its environment. In the present study, which is based on experimental analysis in the self-generated residential sector in Biskra (Algeria), where a warm and arid climate predominates, we aim to evaluate the thermal impact of certain architectural and constructive parameters that are specific to residential habitat self-produced in Biskra. This paper summarizes the main results obtained from an in situ measurement campaign that evaluated the essential parameters of thermal comfort such as ambient and surface temperature, air velocity, and humidity. These parameters were used as indicators to measure the impact of the envelope material characteristics on its climatic adaptability. This paper also presents some recommendations for optimizing the choice of building materials specific to the self-produced residential in order to improve its thermal performance while preserving the essentials of its specificities.