PREPARED BY:
STUDIO MASTER:
ASSOC. PROF. DR. MOHD RODZI
SUBMISSION DATE:
18TH MAY 2018
TABLE CONTENT
Abstract
1.0 Introduction of Project
2.0 Building Description
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the internal space in a building from the aspect of
thermal comfort quality by measure and verify whether the thermal environment meets the
design criteria and standard requirements of the building and its specific functions. The study
was conducted on selected hostel in Hostel Cahaya Gemilang, which is Block H35-03-05. The
study was conducted field experiment from Saturday, 5th May 2018, 6pm to Sunday, 6th May
2018, 6pm. Hourly readings were taken for air temperature, relative humidity and air velocity
by using Extech 3 in 1 Thermo Hygro Anemometer while activity level and clothing value also
be observed and estimated. The result also found that thermal comfort level in the selected
room located in zone.
1.0 Introduction
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average people spend 93%
on their life indoors. Hence, indoor environment quality (IEQ) extremely beneficial to their
well-being while thermal comfort is one of the factor to increase Indoor Environment
Quality (IEQ). There are many ways to create thermal comfort in an indoor environment
such as reduction of air temperature in an office during heat wave using air conditioning
system or increase air movement using fans or natural air flow to provide thermal comfort.
According to ASHRAE (1966), thermal comfort can be defined as the condition of mind
which expresses satisfaction with the thermal environment. It is thus the condition of
minimal stimulation of the skin’s heat sensors and of the heat sensing portion of the brain.
With respect to thermal comfort, the Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) which is Predicted
Percentage of Dissatisfied (PDD) is a well-known and widely used example of a
performance indicator (Fanger, 1970).
Thermal comfort can be affected by air temperature, globe temperature, radiant temperature,
relative humidity and air velocity. Hostel occupants’ satisfaction of their indoor comfort
level also depends on the building’s design and infrastructure, activity level and clothing
value. Other factors that affect thermal comfort including gender, age, health condition,
body built, food intake, ethnicity and acclimatisation.
To evaluate the internal space in buildings from the aspect of thermal comfort quality, a
field survey of thermal comfort study been carried out to measure and verify whether the
thermal environment meets the design criteria and standard requirements of the building
and specific functions. A field survey of thermal comfort is an in-situ poll of comfort among
a given population together with simultaneous measurements of the environmental
condition. In field survey, participants wear their normal clothing and go about their usual
work. The result of such surveys is analysed statistically to estimate the temperature at
which the average survey participant will be comfortable, usually called the ‘comfort
temperature’.
A room from Hostel Cahaya Gemilang was selected to evaluate the thermal comfort.
Orientation of the building, exposure of the room to the sunlight and direct opening for
penetration of sunlight are the criteria that need to be considered while collecting and
interpret the data.
Desasiswa located in Jalan Gemilang. It is situated near to Health Service Centre and
School of Physic. It also situated beside Hadhanah day-care centre.
The selected room to carry out field experiment is located at third floor, room 5.
Figure 3: Outside view of hostel H35-03-05
Figure 4: Plan view of sun path diagram Figure 5: Front view of sun path diagram
Figure 4 and Figure 5 show sun path diagram at hostel Cahaya Gemilang. The opening of
the surveyed room face to North side while the sun path is from the East to the West.
Therefore, there is no direct sunlight throughout the day.
Interior of hostel H35-03-05:
The opening of the surveyed room is faced to North side. Consequently, daylight instead
of direct sunlight is absent throughout the day. From the Figure 7 shows, there is inadequate
lumen to carry out daily tasks if only depends on day light.
Figure 8: Layout plan of hostel H35-03-05 (Not to scale)
Figure 8 shows the interior layout plan (not to scale) of selected room. The room measure as
3.80m (length) × 3.65m (width). The size of the room is 13.87m2 which is sufficient to provide
a comfortable space for 2 occupants to stay in the room. The room envelope embodies 6 panels
of louvered airows with 1.1m2 (1.84m × 0.6m) each which allowing natural ventilation. Besides,
the single hinge leaf timber door which is shown in Figure 9, is also allowing natural ventilation
and day light.
Due to the orientation of the opening of the room, the surveyed room is absent throughout the
day. Consequently, the lumen of the room is mostly depending on artificial light. The artificial
light that used in the room is T12 lamps, as shown in Figure 10, while fan also be used to
increase air movement. For the fire protection system, smoke detector be installed in the room,
as shown in Figure 11.
Figure 12: Exterior environment from the room outside of the building
3.0 Methodology
The study conducted field experiment from Saturday, 5th May 2018, 6pm to Sunday, 6th
May 2018, 6pm. The room be selected to conduct field survey thermal comfort is one of
room from block H35. It located at 3rd floor, room 5. Hourly readings were taken for air
temperature, relative humidity and air velocity by using Extech 3 in 1 Thermo Hygro
Anemometer while activity level and clothing value also be observed and estimated. While
carry out the field survey, occupants in this room wear their normal clothing and carried
out their daily task as usual.
77 76.1 76.1
Relative Humidity
74.9
75 74.1 74.1 74.2 74
73.6 73.3
72.6
73 72.1 72.1 71.8 72.3
71 70.3
69.7
69 68.3
67.5 67.6
67
65
4.00am
10.00pm
11.00pm
12.00am
10.00am
11.00am
12.00pm
6.00pm
7.00pm
8.00pm
9.00pm
1.00am
2.00am
3.00am
5.00am
6.00am
7.00am
8.00am
9.00am
1.00pm
2.00pm
3.00pm
4.00pm
5.00pm
Time
Relative Humidity (%)
Graph 1 shows the Relative Humidity (RH) of the surveyed room. Relative Humidity
(RH) is a ratio, expressed in percent, of water vapor in the air at a specific temperature
compared to the amount of water vapor the air is saturated at that temperature. Too low or too
high of relative humidity will decrease the thermal comfort of an area.
The graph showed the lowest relative humidity occur at 2pm, recorded as 67.6%. The
surveyed room expose to the sun most at this duration and cause the temperature of the room
increase whereby most of the water vapour be evaporated at this time. Consequently, there are
lesser water vapour in the air at noon compare with morning and night. Less water vapour in
the air cause low humidity. Low humidity causes static electricity, dry skin, lips and hair,
scratchy throats and noses, and itching and chapping. Mucous membranes in nose and throat
dry out, increasing your discomfort and susceptibility to colds and respiratory illness. With low
humidity levels, body moisture evaporates so quickly that you feel chilled even at higher
thermostat settings.
In the other side, highest relative humidity recorded as 79.8% at 5am. The building is
surrounding by vegetation. Vegetation helps to reduce the temperature. Consequently, there
are more water vapour consist in the air. More water vapour consists in the air cause high
humidity. High humidity also increases the discomfort level. High humidity can even trigger
allergic reactions, contribute to ongoing allergies, and dust mite problems. High humidity
makes it easier for molds to reproduce, and they can appear virtually anywhere, damaging
whatever they grow upon. Mold spores pose a threat for allergy and asthma sufferers. Dust
mites will thrive when the humidity is high. Present in almost every home, these tiny pests are
yet another nuisance for people with allergies and asthma.
Temperature (˚c)
31.5
31 31
31 30.8
30.7 30.7 30.7
30.6
30.5
Temperature (˚c)
30.4
30.5 30.3
30.2 30.2
30.1
30 29.8
29.7 29.7
29.6 29.6
29.5 29.5
29.5
29.2
29
29
28.6 28.7
28.5
10.00pm
11.00pm
12.00am
10.00am
11.00am
12.00pm
6.00pm
7.00pm
8.00pm
9.00pm
1.00pm
2.00pm
3.00pm
4.00pm
5.00pm
1.00am
2.00am
3.00am
4.00am
5.00am
6.00am
7.00am
8.00am
9.00am
Time
Temperature
Graph 2: Temperature
Graph 2 shows the temperature of surveyed room. From the graph above, we can know
that the temperature of the room started to drop from 6pm as sun set exactly due west at this
time. The opening of the room less expose to the sun at evening. At 1am, we can observe from
the graph, the temperature of the room drops drastically from 29˚c to 28.6˚c. This can be
explaining as the occupants of this room switch off the artificial light which can helps to
decrease the temperature.
Temperature started to increase and reached the highest temperature at 2pm and 3pm
which is 31˚c. In noon, the room expose most to the sun and artificial lights is on to ease the
occupants carry out their daily tasks. Consequently, this increase the temperature of the room.
Time Relative Humidity (%) Temperature (˚c)
6.00pm 72.1 30.3
7.00pm 74.1 30.2
8.00pm 73.6 30.1
9.00pm 74.1 29.7
10.00pm 72.1 29.6
11.00pm 71.8 29.5
12.00am 72.3 29.0
1.00am 74.2 28.6
2.00am 74.0 28.7
3.00am 76.1 29.2
4.00am 77.9 29.5
5.00am 79.8 29.7
6.00am 79.4 30.2
7.00am 78.1 30.7
8.00am 78.0 29.6
9.00am 76.1 29.8
10.00am 74.9 30.5
11.00am 73.3 30.4
12.00pm 72.6 30.7
1.00pm 70.3 30.7
2.00pm 67.5 31.0
3.00pm 67.6 31.0
4.00pm 68.3 30.8
5.00pm 69.7 30.6
30.5
76
Temperature (˚c)
74 30
72 29.5
70 29
68 28.5
66
28
64
62 27.5
60 27
7.00pm
9.00pm
11.00pm
10.00pm
12.00am
10.00am
11.00am
12.00pm
6.00pm
8.00pm
1.00am
2.00am
3.00am
4.00am
5.00am
6.00am
7.00am
8.00am
9.00am
1.00pm
2.00pm
3.00pm
4.00pm
5.00pm
Time
Graph 3 showed the relationship between relative humidity and temperature. According to the
graph, Relative humidity (Rh) is inversely related to the air temperature. If temperature is
increases, the Rh decreases and vice versa. Value of relative humidity depends on temperature.
Warm temperature can saturate more water vapour compare with cool temperature while more
water vapour in the air increases the relative humidity and vice versa. In the other word, highest
the temperature the lowest relative humidity. This can be proved in Graph 3. At 6am, the
temperature showed 30.2˚c while relative humidity showed 79.4%. At 7am, temperature
increase to 30.7˚c while relative humidity drops to 78.1%.
Air velocity (m/s)
0.8
0.75 0.7 0.7
0.7
Air velocity (m/s)
7.00am
10.00pm
11.00pm
12.00am
10.00am
11.00am
12.00pm
6.00pm
7.00pm
8.00pm
9.00pm
1.00am
2.00am
3.00am
4.00am
5.00am
6.00am
8.00am
9.00am
1.00pm
2.00pm
3.00pm
4.00pm
5.00pm
Time
According to the Graph 4, the highest value of air velocity occurs at 1pm and 4pm which
recorded ae 0.7m/s. The average of air velocity for the surveyed room is 0.5 m/s. The range air velocity
to reach thermal comfort level is 0.5m/s to 1.5m/s. Consequently, the surveyed room consider reach the
thermal comfort level.
Time Relative Humidity (%) Air Velocity (m/s)
6.00pm 72.1 0.6
7.00pm 74.1 0.4
8.00pm 73.6 0.4
9.00pm 74.1 0.5
10.00pm 72.1 0.6
11.00pm 71.8 0.5
12.00am 72.3 0.6
1.00am 74.2 0.6
2.00am 74.0 0.5
3.00am 76.1 0.4
4.00am 77.9 0.5
5.00am 79.8 0.4
6.00am 79.4 0.5
7.00am 78.1 0.5
8.00am 78.0 0.4
9.00am 76.1 0.4
10.00am 74.9 0.5
11.00am 73.3 0.5
12.00pm 72.6 0.6
1.00pm 70.3 0.7
2.00pm 67.5 0.4
3.00pm 67.6 0.6
4.00pm 68.3 0.7
5.00pm 69.7 0.6
0.6
1.00pm
2.00pm
3.00pm
4.00pm
5.00pm
12.00am
10.00am
11.00am
10.00pm
11.00pm
12.00pm
Time
30 0.7
12.00am
10.00am
11.00am
12.00pm
6.00pm
7.00pm
8.00pm
9.00pm
1.00am
2.00am
3.00am
4.00am
5.00am
6.00am
7.00am
8.00am
9.00am
1.00pm
2.00pm
3.00pm
4.00pm
5.00pm
Time
25
20
15
10
5 v
0
-2 -1.5 -1 -0.5 0 0.5 1 1.5 2
PMW
The figure above shows the psychrometric chart that was generated through CBE Comfort Tool for
ASHRAE-55.
Clothing value is one of the consideration that could affect the thermal comfort of a room or building.
Clo value of 0.5 is used to generate the psychrometric chart as it represents the typical summer outfit,
which is short sleeve clothes and short pants.
A normal adult has a surface area of 1.7 m2 , and a person in thermal comfort with an activity
level of 1 Met will thus have a heat loss of approximately 100W. Our metabolism is at its lowest
while we sleep (0.8 Met). A Met rate commonly used is 1.2, corresponding to normal work when
sitting in an office. The average Met of occupants (0.8) when sleeping and sitting normal work (1.2),
that is 1.0. In this project clo value of 1.0 is implemented as the occupants will do their works using
their laptops or do drawings and having meals just as same as office workers, and sleeping as resting.
Regarding the mean radiant temperature, it is also known as air temperature without affected
by the moisture of air. The mean radiant temperature (MRT) is a means of expressing the influence of
surface temperatures on occupant comfort.
The mean radiant temperature (MRT) is a means of expressing the influence of surface
temperatures on occupant comfort. The air temperature that is taken at the room of CG is also used as
mean radiant temperature because the air temperature is taken at the middle of the room area, with the
Hygrometer 3 IN 1 holding at a height of 1 metre from the floor. This is because the Human Torso in
which the human body system will receive and release the heat at the core parts of the human system.
CONCLUSION
However, the room’s window is facing North direction. Vegetation is front of the hostel’s
room, which means that the sunlight is blocked by the vegetation. Consequently, water vapour would
not be saturated in the atmosphere.
AVERAGE PMV =
AVERAGE PPD =
Labeee.ufsc.br
http://www.labeee.ufsc.br/antigo/arquivos/publicacoes/Thermal_Booklet.pdf
Oem.bmj.com
http://oem.bmj.com/content/oemed/22/1/58.full.pdf