Improving the thermal performance of the New South Wales Demountable Classroom

Abstract

The objective of the thesis is the development of socially, economically and environmentally viable proposals that will improve the thermal performance of the NSW Demountable Classroom and the thermal comfort of the people and communities who use them in any of the climates across the state. The problem is significant because around 6000, or 12%, of all government classrooms in the state are Demountable Classrooms. The NSW Demountable Classroom was designed 50 years ago and was intended to, and continues to, provide the NSW government with a system of physical infrastructure that allows schools to expand and contract in response to population fluctuation as well as providing emergency accommodation at times of need in any of the diverse climates across NSW. However, they are commonly regarded as offering inferior “temporary” teaching spaces due, in particular, to the perception of their internal environmental quality. The thesis understands buildings, including the NSW Demountable Classroom, as intrinsically complex systems that exist within other complex environmental, social and economic systems. This thesis adopts a design led research methodology that is integrative; which accepts implicitly that there is no single optimal answer or solution for a problem consisting of so many indeterminate and interrelated variables. The thesis develops an overall strategy, and specific “Solution Sets”, for improving the thermal performance of the NSW Demountable Classrooms and the thermal comfort of those who use them The thesis concludes that the NSW Government, in collaboration with local communities, can employ simple strategies, identified in this thesis, to create high performance, adaptable and low carbon classroom buildings at a low cost in all NSW climates. The analysis argues that the benefits of this refurbishment can go beyond comfort and engage in social and pedagogical issues.