Comparing thermal performance of standard humanitarian tents

•A shade net improves thermal performance of the Standard Family Tent (SFT).•The Geodesic Family Tent (GFT) has similar thermal performance to the shaded-SFT.•Practical advantages of the GFT could improve emergency living conditions. Humanitarian tents provide emergency shelter for people displaced by conflict and disaster in diverse climatic conditions. This article compares the thermal performance of two standard humanitarian tents – the Standard Family Tent (SFT) and the Geodesic Family Tent (GFT). The SFT is the most widely used humanitarian shelter, while the GFT was recently introduced as a potential replacement intended to provide, inter-alia, improved thermal performance. The study aims to assess the extent to which this intention is achieved and, in doing so, improve understanding about how tent material and morphology affect thermal performance. Several variables, including internal air temperature, surface temperature, relative humidity and air change rates, were measured and compared in hot and cold conditions. Results demonstrate that the GFT performs better than the SFT regarding radiant heat gain, conductive heat loss and increased air tightness. However, performance of the GFT in relation to heat gain and heat loss is similar to that of the SFT with an additional shade net. Other functional advantages of the GFT are improved structural stability and spaciousness, which, together with improved thermal performance, suggest this marginal innovation in shelter design can positively impact emergency shelter living conditions.