Emilio Palomino Olivera

In high-altitude regions of the Global South, social housing programs are essential for mitigating vulnerability to low temperatures, but their standardized designs often fail to meet thermal performance codes. This study evaluates a “Sumaq Wasi” adobe housing module in the Peruvian Andes (Kunturkanki, 4237 m a.s.l.) during the 2023 frost season. We comparatively applied the 2014 and 2022 draft versions of the Peruvian standard EM.110 to assess the building envelope’s thermal transmittance and condensation risk, benchmarking monitored indoor temperatures against adaptive comfort models. The results revealed widespread non-compliance with thermal transmittance limits, especially for the roof and floor, although condensation risk was low. While indoor temperatures failed to meet conventional standards, they aligned with regionally adapted comfort ranges. We conclude that the standardized module design is insufficient for local climatic demands and argue that social housing policies must evolve, balancing regulatory stringency with context-aware bioclimatic design to be effective.

In high-altitude regions of the Global South, social housing programs are essential for mitigating vulnerability to low temperatures. However, a gap often exists between the actual thermal performance of these standardized dwellings and their compliance with national energy regulations. This study evaluates the "Sumaq Wasi" adobe housing module in Kunturkanki (Cusco, Peru) during the 2023 frost season, analyzing its regulatory compliance and its capacity to provide thermal comfort. The methodologies of the Peruvian standard EM.110 (2014 version and 2022 draft update) were applied to calculate thermal transmittance and surface condensation risk, while monitored indoor temperatures were benchmarked against adaptive comfort models. The results show widespread non-compliance with thermal transmittance limits for the roof and floor under both standards, although the condensation risk was found to be low. Indoor temperatures failed to meet conventional comfort standards but aligned with regionally documented adaptive comfort ranges. It is concluded that the module's design is insufficient for the local climatic conditions. Therefore, social housing policies must balance regulatory stringency with context-aware bioclimatic design to ensure their effectiveness.