This paper presents the development and validation of a simplified nodal model that predicts the vertical temperature profile in a stratum-ventilated room. With full consideration of the mechanism of stratum ventilation and the effects of envelope heat transmission, the vertical temperature profile in a stratum ventilated room could be predicted. The proposed model was validated through nine experiments of different scenarios. Generally good agreements between the model-predictions and measurements were achieved on the vertical air temperature profile, vertical temperature differences and area-weighted mean surface temperatures of different room enclosures. The agreements were also good for the volume weighted mean temperatures of the core zone and breathing zone. Therefore, this nodal model can be used for energy calculation and practical engineering design. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.