Thermal discomfort Assessment in Schools Buildings: Study Based on Short-Term Measurements

Abstract

School buildings thermal comfort is crucial regarding pupils' health, learning ability, and educational performance. Since children are less tolerant than adults to unfavorable environmental conditions, the effect of low indoor air temperature during winter season, on ordinary classroom work, is more impactful than the effect of low temperatures on of fice work performed by adults. In order to assess thermal discomfort in school buildings, an indoor climate measurement program was implemented, from the November 2019 till March 2020, to characterize a wide set of elementary school buildings, in the North of Portugal. Most part of the instrumented buildings are not covered with thermal insulation, and not equipped with air conditioning or heating devices. The experimental measurements were carried out to evaluate pupils' comfort conditions, accordingly to adaptive models included in EN15251. Each classroom was instrumented, over a week, to measure indoor air temperature and relative humidity, and occupancy records of the classrooms were collected. After results analysis, it was concluded that most part of school buildings face severe scenarios of thermal discomfort for the occupants, with strong consequences on pupil's academic performance. To tackle the problem, it is fundamental to subject buildings to an extensive envelope retrofitting (façades, roofs and windows), and at the same time install energy efficient heating systems to be operated during classes period. The energy efficiency measures must be complemented by the use of renewable energy which bring savings, leading to lower energy costs and improved classroom conditions.