Adaptive Thermal Comfort Model for Air-Conditioned Lecture Halls in Malaysia
This paper presents an adaptive thermal comfort
model study in the tropical country of Malaysia. A number of
researchers have been interested in applying the adaptive thermal
comfort model to different climates throughout the world, but so far
no study has been performed in Malaysia. For the use as a thermal
comfort model, which better applies to hot and humid climates, the
adaptive thermal comfort model was developed as part of this
research by using the collected results from a large field study in six
lecture halls with 178 students. The relationship between the
operative temperature and behavioral adaptations was determined. In
the developed adaptive model, the acceptable indoor neutral
temperatures lay within the range of 23.9-26.0C, with outdoor
temperatures ranging between 27.0-34.6C. The most comfortable
temperature for students in lecture hall was 25.7C.
[1] Y. BF, H. ZB, M. Liu, H. Yang, Q. Kong, Y. Liu, “Review of research
on air-conditioning systems and indoor air quality control for human
health,” Refrigeration, vol. 32, pp. 3-20, 2009.
[2] M. Kavgic, D. Mumovic, Z. Stevanovic, A. Young, “Analysis of thermal
comfort and indoor air quality in a mechanically ventilated theatre,”
Energy and Buildings, vol. 40, pp. 1334-1343, 2008.
[3] P. Wargocki, Z. Bakó-Biró, G. Clausen, P. Fanger, “Air quality in a
simulated office environment as a result of reducing pollution sources
and increasing ventilation,” Energy and Buildings, vol. 34, pp. 775-783,
2002.
[4] G. Brager, R. de Dear, “Thermal adaptation in the built environment: a
literature review,” Energy and Buildings, vol. 27, pp. 83-96, 1998.
[5] Ansi/Ashrae Standard-55a, “Thermal environmental conditions for
human occupancy,” Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers, 1995.
[6] Ansi/Ashrae Standard 55, “Thermal environmental conditions for human
occupancy,” Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers, 2004.
[7] J. V. Hoof, J. Hensen, “Quantifying the relevance of adaptive thermal
comfort models in moderate thermal climate zones,” Building and
Environment, vol. 42, pp. 156-170, 2007.
[8] S. Mohamed, K. Srinavin, “Forecasting labor productivity changes in
construction using the PMV index,” Industrial Ergonomics, vol. 35, pp.
345-351, 2005.
[9] J. V. Hoof, “Forty years of Fanger's model of thermal comfort: comfort
for all?,” Indoor Air, vol. 18, pp. 182-201, 2008.
[10] K. Charles, “Fanger’s thermal comfort and draught models,” National
Research Council of Canada, IRC Research Report RR-162, 2003.
[11] S. Deng, Z. Li, M. Qu, “Indoor thermal comfort characteristics under the
control of a direct expansion air conditioning unit having a variablespeed
compressor and a supply air fan,” Applied Thermal Engineering,
vol. 29, pp. 2187-2193, 2009.
[12] R. Yao, B. Li, J. Liu, “A theoretical adaptive model of thermal comfort –
Adaptive Predicted Mean Vote (aPMV),” Building and Environment,
vol. 44, pp. 2089-2096, 2009.
[13] M. Humphreys, “Field studies of thermal comfort compared and
applied,” Building Services Engineer, vol. 44, pp. 5-23, 1976.
[14] M. Humphreys, M. Hancock, “Do people like to feel ‘neutral’?:
Exploring the variation of the desired thermal sensation on the ASHRAE
scale,” Energy and Buildings, vol. 39, pp. 867-874, 2007.
[15] L. Wong, K. Mui, N. Fong, P. Hui, “Bayesian adaptive comfort
temperature (BACT) of air-conditioning system in subtropical climate,”
Building and Environment, vol. 42, pp. 1983-1988, 2007.
[16] S. Barlow, D. Fiala, “Occupant comfort in UK offices—How adaptive
comfort theories might influence future low energy office refurbishment
strategies,” Energy and Buildings, vol. 39, pp. 837-846, 2007.
[17] T. Karyono, “Report on thermal comfort and building energy studies in
Jakarta—Indonesia,” Building and Environment, vol. 35, pp. 77-90,
2000.
[18] K. Mui, W. Chan, “Adaptive comfort temperature model of airconditioned
building in Hong Kong,” Building and Environment, vol.
38, pp. 837-852, 2003.
[19] J. Nicol, I. Raja, A. Allaudin, G. Jamy, “Climatic variations in
comfortable temperatures: the Pakistan projects,” Energy and
Buildings,Vol. 30, pp. 261-279, 1999.
[20] G. Milne, “The energy implications of a climate-based indoor air
temperature standard; in Nicol F et al. (eds): Standards for Thermal
Comfort,” Indoor Air Temperature Standards for the 21st Century, pp.
182-189, 1995.
[21] A. Auliciems, R. de Dear, “Air conditioning in Australia I: Human
thermal factors,” Architectural Science Review, vol. 29, pp. 67-75, 1986.
[22] J. Nicol, “Thermal comfort and temperature standards in Pakistan; in
Nicol F et al. (eds): Standards for Thermal Comfort,” Indoor Air
Temperature Standards for the 21st Century, pp. 149-157, 1995.
[23] J. Nicol, “Adaptive thermal comfort standards in the hot–humid tropics,”
Energy and Buildings, vol. 36, pp. 628-637, 2004.
[24] M. Humphreys, “Outdoor temperatures and comfort indoors” Building
Research and Practice, vol. 6, pp. 92-105, 1978.
[25] M. Humphreys, J. Nicol, “Outdoor temperature and indoor thermal
comfort: raising the precision of the relationship for the 1998 ASHRAE
database of field studies,” Ashrae Transactions, vol. 206, pp. 485–492,
2000.
[26] F. McQuiston, J. Parker, J. Spitler, “Heating, Ventilating and Air
Conditioning, Analysis and Design,” John Wiley and Sons, 2005.
[27] ASHRAE, “Thermal Comfort Tool CD (ASHRAE Item Code 94030),”
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditioning
Engineers, 1995.
[28] ASHRAE, “Fundamentals Handbook: Thermal Comfort,” American
Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers, 2009.
[29] R. de Dear R, G. Brager, “Developing an adaptive model of thermal
comfort and preference,” Ashrae Transactions, vol. 104, pp. 1-18, 1998.
[30] C. Bouden, N. Ghrab, “An adaptive thermal comfort model for the
Tunisian context: a field study results,” Energy and Buildings, vol. 37,
pp. 952-963, 2005.
[31] K. Cena, R. de Dear, “Thermal comfort and behavioural strategies in
office buildings located in a hot-arid climate,” Journal of Thermal
Biology, vol. 26, pp. 409-414, 2001.
[32] Y. Yau, “Energy savings in tropical HVAC systems using heat pipe heat
exchangers,” PhD in Mechanical Engineering Thesis, Department of
Mechanical Engineering, University of Canterbury, New Zealand, 2004.
[33] A. Melikov, Z. Popiolek, M. Silva, I. Care, T. Sefker, “Accuracy
Limitations for Low-Velocity Measurements and Draft Assessment in
Rooms,” HVAC&R Research, vol. 13, pp. 971-986, 2007.
[34] H. Thomas, W. James, L. James, “Thermal Environmental Engineering,”
Prentice-Hall, 1998.
[35] ASHRAE Applications: Health Care Facilities, American Society of
Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers, 2007.
[1] Y. BF, H. ZB, M. Liu, H. Yang, Q. Kong, Y. Liu, “Review of research
on air-conditioning systems and indoor air quality control for human
health,” Refrigeration, vol. 32, pp. 3-20, 2009.
[2] M. Kavgic, D. Mumovic, Z. Stevanovic, A. Young, “Analysis of thermal
comfort and indoor air quality in a mechanically ventilated theatre,”
Energy and Buildings, vol. 40, pp. 1334-1343, 2008.
[3] P. Wargocki, Z. Bakó-Biró, G. Clausen, P. Fanger, “Air quality in a
simulated office environment as a result of reducing pollution sources
and increasing ventilation,” Energy and Buildings, vol. 34, pp. 775-783,
2002.
[4] G. Brager, R. de Dear, “Thermal adaptation in the built environment: a
literature review,” Energy and Buildings, vol. 27, pp. 83-96, 1998.
[5] Ansi/Ashrae Standard-55a, “Thermal environmental conditions for
human occupancy,” Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers, 1995.
[6] Ansi/Ashrae Standard 55, “Thermal environmental conditions for human
occupancy,” Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers, 2004.
[7] J. V. Hoof, J. Hensen, “Quantifying the relevance of adaptive thermal
comfort models in moderate thermal climate zones,” Building and
Environment, vol. 42, pp. 156-170, 2007.
[8] S. Mohamed, K. Srinavin, “Forecasting labor productivity changes in
construction using the PMV index,” Industrial Ergonomics, vol. 35, pp.
345-351, 2005.
[9] J. V. Hoof, “Forty years of Fanger's model of thermal comfort: comfort
for all?,” Indoor Air, vol. 18, pp. 182-201, 2008.
[10] K. Charles, “Fanger’s thermal comfort and draught models,” National
Research Council of Canada, IRC Research Report RR-162, 2003.
[11] S. Deng, Z. Li, M. Qu, “Indoor thermal comfort characteristics under the
control of a direct expansion air conditioning unit having a variablespeed
compressor and a supply air fan,” Applied Thermal Engineering,
vol. 29, pp. 2187-2193, 2009.
[12] R. Yao, B. Li, J. Liu, “A theoretical adaptive model of thermal comfort –
Adaptive Predicted Mean Vote (aPMV),” Building and Environment,
vol. 44, pp. 2089-2096, 2009.
[13] M. Humphreys, “Field studies of thermal comfort compared and
applied,” Building Services Engineer, vol. 44, pp. 5-23, 1976.
[14] M. Humphreys, M. Hancock, “Do people like to feel ‘neutral’?:
Exploring the variation of the desired thermal sensation on the ASHRAE
scale,” Energy and Buildings, vol. 39, pp. 867-874, 2007.
[15] L. Wong, K. Mui, N. Fong, P. Hui, “Bayesian adaptive comfort
temperature (BACT) of air-conditioning system in subtropical climate,”
Building and Environment, vol. 42, pp. 1983-1988, 2007.
[16] S. Barlow, D. Fiala, “Occupant comfort in UK offices—How adaptive
comfort theories might influence future low energy office refurbishment
strategies,” Energy and Buildings, vol. 39, pp. 837-846, 2007.
[17] T. Karyono, “Report on thermal comfort and building energy studies in
Jakarta—Indonesia,” Building and Environment, vol. 35, pp. 77-90,
2000.
[18] K. Mui, W. Chan, “Adaptive comfort temperature model of airconditioned
building in Hong Kong,” Building and Environment, vol.
38, pp. 837-852, 2003.
[19] J. Nicol, I. Raja, A. Allaudin, G. Jamy, “Climatic variations in
comfortable temperatures: the Pakistan projects,” Energy and
Buildings,Vol. 30, pp. 261-279, 1999.
[20] G. Milne, “The energy implications of a climate-based indoor air
temperature standard; in Nicol F et al. (eds): Standards for Thermal
Comfort,” Indoor Air Temperature Standards for the 21st Century, pp.
182-189, 1995.
[21] A. Auliciems, R. de Dear, “Air conditioning in Australia I: Human
thermal factors,” Architectural Science Review, vol. 29, pp. 67-75, 1986.
[22] J. Nicol, “Thermal comfort and temperature standards in Pakistan; in
Nicol F et al. (eds): Standards for Thermal Comfort,” Indoor Air
Temperature Standards for the 21st Century, pp. 149-157, 1995.
[23] J. Nicol, “Adaptive thermal comfort standards in the hot–humid tropics,”
Energy and Buildings, vol. 36, pp. 628-637, 2004.
[24] M. Humphreys, “Outdoor temperatures and comfort indoors” Building
Research and Practice, vol. 6, pp. 92-105, 1978.
[25] M. Humphreys, J. Nicol, “Outdoor temperature and indoor thermal
comfort: raising the precision of the relationship for the 1998 ASHRAE
database of field studies,” Ashrae Transactions, vol. 206, pp. 485–492,
2000.
[26] F. McQuiston, J. Parker, J. Spitler, “Heating, Ventilating and Air
Conditioning, Analysis and Design,” John Wiley and Sons, 2005.
[27] ASHRAE, “Thermal Comfort Tool CD (ASHRAE Item Code 94030),”
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditioning
Engineers, 1995.
[28] ASHRAE, “Fundamentals Handbook: Thermal Comfort,” American
Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers, 2009.
[29] R. de Dear R, G. Brager, “Developing an adaptive model of thermal
comfort and preference,” Ashrae Transactions, vol. 104, pp. 1-18, 1998.
[30] C. Bouden, N. Ghrab, “An adaptive thermal comfort model for the
Tunisian context: a field study results,” Energy and Buildings, vol. 37,
pp. 952-963, 2005.
[31] K. Cena, R. de Dear, “Thermal comfort and behavioural strategies in
office buildings located in a hot-arid climate,” Journal of Thermal
Biology, vol. 26, pp. 409-414, 2001.
[32] Y. Yau, “Energy savings in tropical HVAC systems using heat pipe heat
exchangers,” PhD in Mechanical Engineering Thesis, Department of
Mechanical Engineering, University of Canterbury, New Zealand, 2004.
[33] A. Melikov, Z. Popiolek, M. Silva, I. Care, T. Sefker, “Accuracy
Limitations for Low-Velocity Measurements and Draft Assessment in
Rooms,” HVAC&R Research, vol. 13, pp. 971-986, 2007.
[34] H. Thomas, W. James, L. James, “Thermal Environmental Engineering,”
Prentice-Hall, 1998.
[35] ASHRAE Applications: Health Care Facilities, American Society of
Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers, 2007.
@article{"International Journal of Architectural, Civil and Construction Sciences:69129", author = "B. T. Chew and S. N. Kazi and A. Amiri", title = "Adaptive Thermal Comfort Model for Air-Conditioned Lecture Halls in Malaysia", abstract = "This paper presents an adaptive thermal comfort
model study in the tropical country of Malaysia. A number of
researchers have been interested in applying the adaptive thermal
comfort model to different climates throughout the world, but so far
no study has been performed in Malaysia. For the use as a thermal
comfort model, which better applies to hot and humid climates, the
adaptive thermal comfort model was developed as part of this
research by using the collected results from a large field study in six
lecture halls with 178 students. The relationship between the
operative temperature and behavioral adaptations was determined. In
the developed adaptive model, the acceptable indoor neutral
temperatures lay within the range of 23.9-26.0C, with outdoor
temperatures ranging between 27.0-34.6C. The most comfortable
temperature for students in lecture hall was 25.7C.
", keywords = "Hot and humid, Lecture halls, Neutral temperature,
Adaptive thermal comfort model.", volume = "9", number = "2", pages = "150-8", }
