IJETRM (http://ijetrm.com/ ) [151] Vol-05 Issues 06, June-2021 ISSN: 2456-9348 Impact Factor: 5.004 International Journal of Engineering Technology Research & Management ADAPTATION OF THERMAL COMFORT IN NATURALLY VENTILATED STUDENTS RESIDENTIAL COLLEGE IN TROPICAL CLIMATES OF MALAYSIA Nur Syahirah Nissa Khamis *1 Rozlin Zainal 2 Sharifah Meryam Shareh Musa 3 Narimah Kasim 4 * 1 First Author (Technology Management and Business, Universiti Tun Hussien Onn Malaysia, Malaysia) 2,3,4 Second Author (Technology Management and Business, Universiti Tun Hussien Onn Malaysia, Malaysia) ABSTRACT The climate in tropical regions was affecting the level of thermal comfort of the individual while accommodating the residential buildings. Residential buildings especially student residential colleges in Malaysia were mainly build depending on natural ventilation systems as a tool to facilitate comfort in their daily life without the consent of the mechanical ventilation system such as air conditioners. This study has been done by distributing a questionnaire to the occupants who live in the naturally ventilated residential college and conducting an interview series with a college management officer to prove and validate the data collected throughout the study. The result of the study shows that students most likely will change their behavior due to the level of heat stress in the dormitory. Statistics from the data collected shown that students were very relying on the support of the mechanical ventilation system and they are also keener towards wearing a thinner and comfortable clothing material as it will help them to reduce the heat discomfort throughout the day. This study also shows a positive correlation analysis between the relationship of low ventilation flow and the level of indoor thermal comfort. This situation is regarded as the environmental factors that play important roles in the level of thermal comfort in a residential building, especially in tropical climates. Keywords: Adaptive Behavior, Thermal Comfort, Student Residential INTRODUCTION Malaysia is a tropical country that is known for its hot, humid, and rainy climate throughout the year. Climate change in Malaysia is influenced by its strategic location which is intersecting route to the monsoon winds that caused dry climate during the southwest monsoon which is starts from late May till August, and heavy rains during northeast monsoon from November till February all year round. This phenomenon has contributed to the heat stress, wind flow patterns, and humidity level that influenced the comfort level of the locals [1]. Climate indeed was the main factor that affecting the comfort of human life. Humans will strive to adapt to their surrounding environment to reach their standardization of comfort, well-being, health, productivity, and performance. Climate factor has caused the thermal comfort issues in a residential building. Thermal discomfort in student residential buildings will affect the student’s learning process and productivity [2]. Thermal discomfort issues in student residential buildings were triggered by the excessive numbers of student enrollment in higher education institutions (HEI) which is recorded from 664,402 students in 2010 to 1,134,134 students in 2012 [3]. However, the increasing rate of registered students was unbalanced with the facilities provided by the university especially in terms of students accommodation centers. This has led to overcrowding issues prompt by the arrangement of a student’s placement in one room [4];[5];[6].