Field study on adaptive thermal comfort in typical air conditioned classrooms

• Published in: Building and environment Vol. 133; pp. 73 - 82
• Main Authors: Fang, Zhaosong, Zhang, Sheng, Cheng, Yong, Fong, Alan M.L., Oladokun, Majeed Olaide, Lin, Zhang, Wu, Huijun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2018; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Air conditioned; Air conditioners; Air conditioning; Classroom; Classrooms; Colleges & universities; Human behavior; Prediction models; Predictions; Regression analysis; Regression models; Temperature effects; Thermal adaptation; Thermal comfort; Thermal sensation; Hong Kong China; China; Classroom; Air conditioned; Prediction models; Thermal adaptation; Thermal sensation
• ISSN: 0360-1323; 1873-684X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2018.02.005

This study investigates adaptive thermal comfort in air conditioned classrooms in Hong Kong. A field survey was conducted in several typical classrooms at the City University of Hong Kong. This survey covered objective measurement of thermal environment parameters and subjective human thermal responses. A total of 982 student volunteers participated in the investigation. The results indicate that students in light clothing (0.42 clo) have adapted to the cooler classroom environments. The neutral temperature is very close to the preferred temperature of approximately 24 °C. Based on the MTSV ranging between −0.5 and + 0.5, the comfort range is between 21.56 °C and 26.75 °C. The lower limit is below that of the ASHRAE standard. Of the predicted mean vote (PMV) and the University of California, Berkeley (UCB) model, the UCB model predictions agree better with the mean thermal sensation vote (MTSV). Also, the respective fit regression models of the MTSV versus each of the following: operative temperature (Top), PMV, and UCB were obtained. This study provides a better understanding of acceptable classroom temperatures. •A field survey was conducted in several typical classrooms in Hong Kong.•The students in light clothing (0.42 clo) had adapted to the cooler classroom environments.•The neutral temperature is close to the preferred temperature of approximately 24 °C.•The regression models of the MTSV, respectively fitted versus Top, PMV, and UCB, were obtained.