Prioritizing effective means of retrofitting flat slabs to meet public demands in order to promote sustainable built environment

Abstract

Global warming is one of the major challenges that the current world is facing. Sri Lanka, being a small island, is inevitably undergone by the adverse impacts of it. Hence, it is significant to implement strategies to adapt that, while aiding to mitigation of global warming. In this context, flat concrete roof slabs is a viable option pacifying those two ends. However, it is not so popular among the general public yet and this study was carried out to identify the reasons behind that. It has been found out that Calicut tiles is the most preferred material for roof covering material, particularly due to the thermal comfort that it possesses, over the high initial cost and serviceability issues. Furthermore, flat concrete roofed buildings use, higher amount of energy for active cooling, which is adverse as far as sustainability is concerned. Hence, it is important to retrofit flat slabs so that it is thermally comfortable. In this process, priority should be given to address the issue of thermal discomfort.