Proceedings of the BSME-ASME International Conference on Thermal Engineering, 3JJI.

Dec 2001, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Ibrahim Hussein ,Mohd. Izani Mohd Ibrahim, Mohd Zamri Yusoff & MoM Hariffin Bosrooh

Thermal Comfort Zone of a Campus Buildings in Malaysia

Ibrahim bin Hussein, Mohd Izani bin Mohd Ibrahim, Mohd Zamri bin Yusoff, Mohd Hariffin Boosroh

Department of Mechanical Engineering College of Engineering Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN)

Km. 7, Jalan Kajang-Puchong, 43009 Kajang, Selangor D.E.

Tel: 03-89287220, Fax: 03-89263506 e-mail: ibrahim@uniten.edu.my

ABSTRACT

The comfort zone used by most engineers in designing air-conditioning systems is normally based on those recommended by ASHRAE. However, due to the high relative humidity in Malaysia, the figures recommended by ASHRAE, particularly in relation to relative humidity may not be easy to accomplish. This paper presents the result of a study carried out to estimate the thermal comfort zone for classrooms in Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN) campus buildings. The data was obtained from measurements of the dry bulb temperature and relative humidity of the air-conditioned campus buildings and a survey conducted on the occupants to determine the comfort level in the classroom environment. Based on the present study it was found that the thermal comfort zone is in the temperature range of between 23°C to 24.5°C and relative humidity of between 74 to 83 percent, which differ slightly from the ASHRAE thermal comfort zone, The ASHRAE thermal comfort zone for summer is in the temperature range of between 22°C to 2rC and relative humidity of between 30 to 60 percent Comparison with the Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) thermal comfort sensation scale shows a slightly different result

KEYWORDS: Thermal comfort, air-conditioning, dry bulb temperatures, relative humidity, PMV.

INTRODucnON

The comfort zone stipulated by American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers, ASHRAE (ASHRAE, 1993), for summer season is in the following range:

(I) Dry Bulb Temperature is between 22"C to 27"C

(II) Relative Humidity is between 300Al to 60%

(III) Air Motion velocity is about J 5 m/min

Guidelines for Energy Efficiency in Buildings for Malaysia produced by the Ministry of Energy, Telecommunications and Posts, Malaysia (1989), quote the air-conditioned space requirements as follows:

(I) (II)

Dry bulb temperature is between 22"C to 2(/'C, design temperature 24"C Relative humidity is between 55% to 65%. design relative humidity 60%

The climate in Malaysia is however, hot and humid. Data obtained by the Malaysian Meteorological Service (1997), for a ten-year period records the outdoor temperatures are relatively uniform with average temperatures of between 23.rC to 31.3°C throughout a day with the highest maximum recorded as 36.9°C and the average relative humidity throughout a day of between 67% to 95%. Based on these environmental conditions, it is possible to achieve condition (I) and (III) above in any airconditioning system design, but to achieve condition (II) requires a significant amount of energy input. This is because in order to achieve the relative humidity stipulated in condition (II). dehumidification with possibility of heating process will have to be included in the system, thus requiring additional energy input. Other mean of reducing the relative humidity is by using chemical (desiccant).

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. Proceedings of the BSME-ASME International Conference on . Thermal Engineering, 31".Dec 2001, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Ibrahim Hussein, Mohd. Izani Mohd Ibrahim . Mohd Zamri Yusoff & MoM Hariffin Bosrooh

Human occupants are more sensitive to the variation of temperature rather than relative humidity. There is little conclusive evidence to show that either high or low humidities are detrimental to the health of normal people. However, some studies indicate that people when exposed to low relative humidity condition may leads to skin drying and irritation (Learning Network) mainly due to the increase in evaporation rate from the skin. In high relative humidity condition, a study conducted by University of California Berkeley, (Arens et.al., 2000) on thermal comfort at high relative humidities shows that there are no significant psychological or physiological differences in human response to exposure of between 60% to 90% relative for the temperature range 20°C to 26°C effective temperature while sedentary.

Air conditioning in campus buildings especially in classrooms is for human comfort. Since human occupants are less sensitive to the change in relative humidity compared with temperature, the relative humidity considerations in design of air conditioning system for human occupants in a hot humid environment such as Malaysia can be considered secondary. Design of systems to a slightly lower temperature maybe able to compensate for the increase in heat index or apparent temperature due to the high relative humidity. This can be considered more energy efficient than installing system, which requires dehumidification plus heating to the desired relative humidity for thermal comfort.

The present study is aimed at determining the acceptable comfort level of occupants in classrooms of campus buildings in Malaysia. The study was conducted at Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN) campus buildings. A survey was carried out among the human occupants in the classrooms of UNITEN's College of Engineering buildings to determine the acceptable comfort level based on the existing operating conditions of the air conditioning system. Questionaires were distributed to all occupants involved in the study with various conditions to determine the acceptable comfort level.

THERMAL COMFORT

Comfort is a major concern of the Heating, Ventilating and Air-conditioning (HV AC) industry. To design air-conditioning systems, a number of factors, which physiologically affect human comfort, should be considered. Experience has shown that not everyone can be made completely comfortable by one set of conditions but a controlled space can be developed to provide comfort to most of the occupants. Comfort involves control of temperature, humidity, air motion, and thermal radiation interacting with the occupants. Odor, dust (particulate matter), noise, vibration are additional factors that may cause one to feel uncomfortable. A well-designed HV AC system manages to keep these variables within specified limits that have been set by the customer, building codes and good engineering judgment. Non-environmental factors such as dress and activity level of the occupants must be considered.

Thermal comfort as defmed in the ISO 7730 standard (1994), as being "that condition of mind, which expresses satisfaction with the thermal environment". A definition most people can agree on, but also a defmition that is not easily converted into physical parameter (Olesen, 2000). The Thermal Comfort Zone is region stipulated by ASHRAE, in the psychometric chart where all the condition can satisfy 80% of all the occupants. Human can feel comfortable in this condition The Thermal Comfort Zone stipulated by ASHRAE standard 55 (1992) is shown in figure 1.

There are three main factors that can affect the human comfort, which must be considered by engineers before designing air-conditioning systems. There are the effective temperature, moisture content of air (relative humidity), and air motion. There are also other factors such as heat production and regulation in human body, cold and hot surfaces and air stratification

Predictions for comfort can also be quantified by the parameters PMV and PPD. PMV (Predicted Mean Vote) is an index for thermal comfort given as a value on the ASHRAE seven-point comfort scale: -3 cold, -2 cool, -1 slightly cool, 0 neutral, 1 slightly warm, 2 wann, 3 hot. It is based on the two personal factors (clothing insulation [c1o] and activity level [met], together with the physical factors (air temperature, mean radiant temperature, air velocity and humidity). The PPD (Predicted Percentage of Dissatisfied is a related index expressing the quality of the thermal environment as a percentage dissatisfied. PMV= 0 corresponds to 5% of people dissatisfied. PMV=+ 0.5 correspond to approximately 10% dissatisfied.

184

Proceedings of the BSME-ASME International Conference on Thermal Engineering, 31".Dec 2001, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Ibrahim Hussein, Mohd. Izani Mohd Ibrahim. Mohd Zamri Yusoff & Mohd Hariffin Bosrooh

., 15
i !i!
.1!
:i ~i
1:: .~
1 10
Oper.1ltrWe1e~

Figure 1: Acceptable ranges of operative temperature and humidity for people in typical summer and winter clothing during light and primary sedentary activity.

The 80% acceptability level in the standard is based on 10% dissatisfaction with general thermal comfort, plus an average of 10% dissatisfaction with criteria for local thermal comfort (ranges from 5% to 15% for different factors). Most of the parameters have known relationships between the parameter and a predicted percentage of people finding the conditions unacceptable. Little information exists on the combination influence of general and local thermal comfort parameters. As a result, there is no method for combining these percentages of dissatisfied persons to provide an accurate prediction of the total number of persons finding the environment unacceptable (Olesen, 2000; Brager & de Dear, 2000).

THERMAL COMFORT SURVEY

A survey was conducted in the campus buildings ofUNlTEN to determine the acceptable comfort level of occupants. A total of 244 occupants' were tested under steady state conditions in classrooms environment. The occupants were exposed to a range of temperature 23°C to 28°C and relative humidity of 74% to 83%, one hour before the survey forms were distributed. During the survey, the occupants (students) were sitting quietly and listening to a lecture. Occupants wore typical informal office attire with an insulation value of approximately 0.5 clothing index. The temperature and relative humidity of the classroom under study were measured at four different locations in the classroom. One hour after sitting in the classroom, the occupants were asked to fill in the survey forms regarding comfort conditions in the classroom. Occupants were asked whether the classroom condition is comfortable or not; too hot or too cold; and too dry or too damp. General summary of the survey that was carried out is shown in table 1 and the result obtained is shown in figure 2.

Table 1 General Summary of the Survey

Total Occupant 244 persons
No. of Room 9
Average per Room 27 persons
Highest Room 28°C
Temperature
Lowest Room TemJ)erature 23°C
Highest Room Relative 83%
Humidity
Lowest Room Relative 74%
Humidity 100
80
., 60
i
..
~
.. 40
""
20
0
~OD issatisfied
r- r- r- .s atisfied

- - - '- r- -
l- t- r- - l- I-
r- '- r- I- - I-
'-...- - -
'-...- 23 23.5 24 24.S 25 26 28

Tern perature. Denee Celsius

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Figure 2: Satisfaction of Occupants

Proceedings of the BSME-ASME International Conference on Thermal Engineering, 31".Dec 2001, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Ibrahim Hussein, Mohd. Izani Mohd Ibrahim, Mohd Zamri YusojJ & Mohd Hariffin Basrooh

As can be observed from figure 2, the satisfaction decreases as the temperature increases. Most of the occupants feel comfortable under 23°C and 23.5°C where the acceptability is more than 80%, although the relative humidity is 83%. At 24°C and 24.soC the acceptabilit- .Jecreasing until it reaches about 80%. For dry bulb temperature of more than 24.soC, it is totally unacceptable for majority of the occupants. Referring to the ASHRAE Standard, temperatures up till 27°C are still acceptable but with conditions of up to 60% relative humidity. Lower relative humidity accelerates evaporation of moisture, thus helps in the human body to feel cooler. However, at high relative humidity the occupants will start to sweat and feel uncomfortable at temperature above 24°C. At temperatures 26°C and 28°C and relative humidities range of 74% and 81%, more than 90% of the occupants stated that it is uncomfortable. Therefore these temperatures are' totally unacceptable and can be said to be uncomfortable conditions. From the survey and based on 80% occupant satisfactions it could be concluded that the UNITEN's thermal comfort acceptability within the scope of the present study are as follows:

(I) Dry Bulb temperature is (II) The relative humidity is

23DC to 24.S'C 74% to 83%

The environmental conditions around the buildings at UNITEN were also measured. Figure 3 shows a sample of temperature variations inside and outside of the buildings on a clear day and figure 4 shows a sample of relative humidity variations inside and outside of the buildings on a clear day.

35r---r=========~---------.

90

\ I -Outdoor l
-Indoor
\
-, <. -
\
.'"
\ /
\ /
"- / -Outdoor

--Indoor

33+---~========~~--~--~

85

.~

"il u3I +-----------~~----------~~

i

°29+-------~~----------------_1

I27+---~~--------------------~ E

~

25+-~------------------------~

80

.'--. ... --~

55

23~~-,--~~_,--T_~~--r_,_~

'b~ # # -c ~ ",~ ..,~ "'~ .,~ b~ ,,~ 'b~ ~ .... .... .... ~ .... ~ .... ....

Time (Hours)

50

'b~ # # ~ ,.~ ..,tfl .. ~ .,~ b~ "tfl 'btfl

~ ....r .... ~ .... ~ .... ....

Time (Hours)

Figure 3: Sample of Temperature Variations of the Buildings

Figure 4: Sample of Relative Humidity Variations of the Buildings

The data obtained were also compared against the Predicted Mean Vote or PMV thermal comfort sensation scale. PMV is an index for thermal comfort given as a value on the ASHRAE seven-point comfort scale: -3 cold, -2 cool, -I slightly cool, 0 neutral, 1 slightly warm, 2 warm, 3 hot. Based on the data obtained, i.e. temperatures and relative humidities in the classrooms, the PMV was calculated. The result obtained is shown in Table 2.

Comparing the PMV scale result with the thermal comfort survey result, it can be seen that for the temperature range of between 23°C to 24°C and relative humidity of 74% to 83%, the survey result agree very well with the PMV thermal comfort sensation scale indicating the values of ± 0 i.e. neutral which is comfortable to most occupants. However, for temperature of between 25°C and 27°C, although the PMV thermal sensation scale still indicate the values of ± 0 i.e. neutral, most of the occupants in the present study feel that the conditions are uncomfortable. Only at temperature, of 28°C, the PMV thermal comfort sensation scale indicates that the condition is slightly warm which is in agreement with the result of the present study where most occupants indicate uncomfortable condition. The results of the present study however, show good agreement with outdoor temperature dependence

186

Proceedings of the BSME-ASME International Conference on Thermal Engineering, 3lst.Dec 2001, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Ibrahim Hussein, Mohd. Izani Mohd Ibrahim. Mohd Zamri Yusoff & Mohd HarifJin Bosrooh

of the PMV model as shown in figure 5, (Brager & DeDear, 2000; Olesen, 2000) and also with the RP- 884 adaptive model developed by deDear et.al.(2000).

Table: 2 Predicted Mean Vote

Tempera- Relative PMV
ture, ·C Humidity. %
23 74 -0.324
83 -0262
24 74 -0.047
83 0.019
25 74 0.232
83 0.302
26 74 0.507
83 0.582
27 74 0.795
83 0.874
28 74 1.079
83 1.163 ADAPTATION IN BUILDINGS

Buildings with Centralized HVAC

·0 5 to· "U'2D 25

...... ouIdaar" ....... ...,....(ac)

Figure 5: Comparison of the RP-884 adaptive models' predicted indoor comfort temperatures with those predicted by PMV model

The ASHRAE Standard 55 or IS07730 on thermal comfort was developed based on heat balance models in highly controlled laboratory conditions where clothing and activity are the only modification one can make to reflect seasonal difference in occupants requirements. People were considered passive subjects of climate change in artificially setups and little considerations was given to the broad ways people might naturally adapt to a more wide ranging thermal environments in realistic settings. Brager & de Dear (2000) suggest an alternative thermal comfort standard based on field measurements, which take into account for contextual and perceptual factor absent in laboratory setting. The research they conducted focus on three primary modes of adaptation: physiological, behavioral and psychological. Physiological adaptation also known as acclimatization refers to biological responses that result from prolonged exposure to characteristic and relatively extreme thermal conditions. Behavioral adaptation refers to any conscious or unconscious action a person might make to alter their body's thermal balance, e.g. changing clothes or activity levels. Psychological adaptation refers to an altered perception of, and reaction to, physical conditions due to past experience and expectations. In their research they used both subjective and physical measurements including thermal questionnaire responses, clothing and metabolic estimates, concurrent indoor climate measurements, a variety of calculated thermal indices and outdoor meteorological observations. Although their work is more towards developing a standard for natural ventilation, the outcome of the study suggest a need to review of the ASHRAE standard to suit human adaptation to the environment they are in.

Olesen (2000) in his paper discuss issues being addressed in the proposed revision of ASHRAE Standard 55 or IS07730. One of the factors highlighted in his paper is on the criteria for humidity, which in the Standard were based on IAQ considerations such as mold growth and house dust mites. This resulted in a range of relative humidity of between 30% to 60%. The general agreement in the proposed revision of the Standard seems to be in favor of the upper limit for relative humidity of a higher value.

The result of the present study indicates that people can accept high relative humidity especially when they are use to live in that environment. The question of preference asked in the thermal comfort survey of the present study can be assumed to represent the ideal conditions or comfort conditions accepted by the occupants within the scope of the study. It is realized that people are more sensitive to temperature changes rather than changes in relative humidity. Further research can be conducted to cover lower temperature range to see how occupants' response to lower temperature and other approaches can be incorporated to support the above findings. The result obtained, however seems to compliment the suggestions by Barger & deDear (2000) and Olesen (2000) on the need of the

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Proceedings of the BSME-ASME International Conference on Thermal Engineering, 31st.Dec 2001, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Ibrahim Hussein, MoM. Izani MoM Ibrahim, Mohd Zamri Yusoff & MoM Hariffin Bosrooh

ASHRAE Standard 55 to be reviewed and adaptation to the environmental conditions to be taken into consideration.

CONCLUSIONS

The result of the present study shows that people are more sensitive to temperature changes rather than relative humidity. The thermal comfort zone obtained within the scope of the present study is in temperature range of 23°C to 24.soC and relative humidity of 74% to 83%. This is slightly different than the ASHRAE Standard and also the Building Guideline of the Ministry of Energy, Telecommunications and Posts, Malaysia. According to the ASHRAE Standard, temperatures up till 2rC are still acceptable but with the conditions of up to 60% relative humidity. Lower relative humidity accelerates evaporation of moisture, thus helps in the human body to feel cooler. However, at high relative humidity the occupants will start to sweat and feel uncomfortable at temperature above 24.5°C. Comparing with the PMV thermal comfort sensation scale, the result seems to agree well in the temperature range of 23°C to 24.5°C. However at higher temperature, the result differs. The thermal comfort survey indicates that most occupants will feel uncomfortable at that temperature, but the PMV scale still indicates neutral, i.e. comfortable level. The result obtained in this study however, is consistent with the latest researches on thermal comfort, which indicate the ability of people to adapt or acclimatize with the environment they live in.

REFERENCES

American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers (1993), 'ASH RAE Fundamentals Handbook', Atlanta, 1993.

Arens e., Bauman F., Huizenga C. , 'ASHRAE Investigation of Thermal Comfort at High Humidities', Building Science at University of Califomia at Berkeley, http://www.arch.ced.berkeley.edulresourceslbldgscilresearchlthermalcomf.html.

ASHRAE Standard 55 (1992), 'Thermal Environment Conditions for Human Occupancy'.

Brager, G.S.; de Dear, R (2000), 'A Standard for Natural Ventilation', ASHRAE Journal, pg 21-27, October.

DeDear R etel., (1996) 'Macquarie University's ASHRAE RP-884 Adaptive Model Project', http://atmos.es.mq.edu:aul-rdedear/ashrae_rp884_resuIsrn6.htmJ

ISO EN7730 (1994), 'Moderate thermal environments - Determination of the PMV and PPD indices and specification of the conditions for thermal comfort', International Standards Organization, Geneva,.

Learning Network. 'Effects of Dry Air on the Body', http://ln.inforplease.com/ipalAOOOI433.html. Malaysian Meteorological Service (1997), 'Annual Summary of Meteorological Observation, 1972- 1997', Malaysian Meteorological Service, Kuala Lumpur.

Ministry of Energy, Telecommunications and Posts, Malaysia (1989), 'Guidelines for Energy Efficiency in Buildings'.

Olesen, B. W. (2000), "Guideltnes for Comfort', ASHRAE Journal, pg. 40-45, August ..

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