HVAC

Thermal Comfort

Last Updated: © I-Station Solutions Sdn Bhd 1

 Introduction
• Unlike animals such as a fox or a bear
that are born with fur, human beings
come into this world with little
protection against the harsh
environmental conditions.
• Therefore, we can claim that the search
for thermal comfort dates back to the
beginning of human history.
• It is believed that early human beings
lived in caves that provided shelter as
well as protection from extreme
thermal conditions.
• Probably the first form of heating system used was open fire, followed by
fire in dwellings through the use of a chimney to vent out the combustion
gases.

Last Updated: © I-Station Solutions Sdn Bhd 2

 • The concept of central heating
dates back to the times of the
Romans, who heated homes
through “hypocaust”.
• This is done by utilizing double-
floor construction techniques and
passing the fire’s fumes through
the opening between the two
floor layers.

• The Romans were also the first to use transparent windows made of mica
or glass to keep the wind and rain out while letting the light in.
• Wood and coal were the primary energy sources for heating, and oil and
candles were used for lighting.
• The ruins of south-facing houses indicate that the value of solar heating
was recognized early in the history.

Last Updated: © I-Station Solutions Sdn Bhd 3

 ASHRAE Standard 55
• Principle purpose of heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC)
systems is to provide conditions for human thermal comfort.
• A widely accepted definition is, “Thermal Comfort is that condition of
mind that expresses satisfaction with the thermal environment”.
• This definition leaves open what is meant by condition of mind or
satisfaction, but it correctly emphasizes that the judgment of comfort is a
cognitive process involving many inputs influenced by physical,
physiological, psychological, and other processes.
• Surprisingly, although regional climate conditions, living conditions, and
cultures differ widely throughout the world, the temperature that people
choose for comfort under like conditions of clothing, activity, humidity,
and air movement has been found to be very similar.
It has been long recognized that the sensation of feeling hot or cold is
dependent on more than just air temperature. In fact, there are six primary
thermal comfort factors:

1 Metabolic rate
Personal Factors
2 Clothing insulation

3 Air temperature

4 Radiant temperature
Environmental
Factors
5 Air speed

6 Humidity
• Principl
• Principl