Journal of Environment and Earth Science www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-3216 (Paper) ISSN 2225-0948 (Online) Vol.5, No.2, 2015 117 Assessment of Window Types in Natural Ventilation of Hotels in Taraba State Anunobi, A.I., Adedayo, O.F., Oyetola, S.A., Siman E. A. & Audu, H.I. Department of Architecture, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria Corresponding author: arcadedayo@gmail.com Abstract Natural ventilation provides the needed amount of good air quality through a natural process of allowing air in and out of buildings through the windows in order to achieve thermal comfort. There has been poor ventilation problem in hotels due to choice of windows which causes sick building syndrome. This research is aimed at specifying window types for effective ventilation in hotels. This is to be achieved through ascertaining of the window types used in hotels, ascertaining the window sizes used in hotels and to analyse the various window types in order to specify the effective types for hotels. In carrying out the objectives, two hotels were selected from each of the three senatorial zones in Taraba State where primary data were collected from a total of six selected hotels through direct observation. Secondary data in relation to natural ventilation and window types were gotten through review of literature. The data collected were analysed, using descriptive statistics. Findings and deduction were made. The concluding part of this research highlights the need and importance of using window types that provide the maximum ventilation in hotel rooms and other spaces. Recommendations were made for windows with high ventilation percentage to be used in hotels for effective ventilation. Keywords: Hotel, Natural Ventilation, Sick building syndrome, thermal comfort, window 1. Introduction An average person spends about 90% of his time indoors, as stated by Tine (2006), it is thus important to maintain focus on a good and healthy indoor environment by increasingly using sustainable methods such as the use of natural ventilation which is often discussed when buildings are being built. Natural ventilation has experienced a strongly growing interest, or even a renaissance. Relying on wind and thermal buoyancy as the driving forces for natural ventilation is surely not a new phenomenon or invention. Its utilization for the purpose of ventilation has for several millennia provided the desired thermal comfort and air quality for both man and animals (Tommy, 2003). Natural ventilation provides the needed amount of quality air through a natural process of allowing air in and out of buildings through windows or other openings, thereby preventing indoor contamination and creating thermal comfort for occupants. Therefore, this research highlights those window types that are effective in allowing natural air into hotel buildings. This research is borne out of the fact that the wrong choice of windows causes poor ventilation in hotel buildings and in order to solve the poor ventilation problem, window types used in the hotels are going to be assessed. Window sizes used in the hotels are also going to be analyzed and the various common window types will be analyzed in order to specify effective types for hotel. Windows play an important role in ventilation of buildings. Its position and type matters allot on the amount of air that comes into the building. In order to get a good air exchange, windows will have to be opened for five to ten minutes in every three hours, (Passive House Resources, 2014). The amount of air that comes in will depend on the openings, verticality and its area, and this is where how the windows open comes to play. Cai Feng & Wai (2010) found out that ventilation performs better with a bigger inlet than with a bigger outlet. It is effective when the inlet is bigger so as to allow enough air into the room. The outlet can be smaller and on the leeward side to let out stale air. Designers tend to understand and provide adequate opening sizes than the types of windows to be used in the openings. This is why there could be big enough opening, but when the wrong window type is used, it impedes the flow of air and poor ventilation is experienced.