Evaluación de parámetros constructivos y arquitectónicos que influyen en el confort térmico de viviendas de interés social

The architectural and thermal characteristics of materials have a significant influence on a building and are crucial for maintaining comfort and habitability within a home. In Colombia, the majority of low-income housing lacks the minimum necessary conditions to guarantee a dignified lifestyle, mainly due to the socioeconomic gap experienced by those who occupy these spaces.This research focused on studying thermal comfort in low-income housing in the metropolitan region of Cali through the measurement and analysis of the most important variables and the effects of thermal inertia during critical periods. The aim was to determine the current state and propose possible improvements.To achieve this, thermal models were constructed on a scale of social housing apartments that main-tained geometric and constructive proportions, using identical raw materials conventionally used inthe industry. These models were subjected to local environmental conditions, and the internal con-ditions of the housing (internal temperature, mean radiant temperature, internal air humidity, among others) were periodically measured and recorded, evaluating the cooling or heating processes in relation to the external climate.The thermal behavior of the housing was characterized over extended periods of time, identifying the construction zones most affected by habitability issues. Passive improvements were proposed and implemented in the roof, windows, and solar orientation, resulting in a 20% improvement in thermal comfort.