Investigating the applicability of different thermal comfort models in Kuwait classrooms operated in hybrid air-conditioning mode

Abstract

A field study to investigate the applicability of different thermal comfort indices was conducted in Kuwait classrooms operated in a hybrid air-conditioned mode, to assess thermal conditions during the school day. In Kuwait, the girls' and boys' schools are completely separated at all academic levels thus offering a wide range for investigating differences in thermal comfort sensations between both genders. A modified questionnaire was used to collect responses from lower age groups of pupils while thermal comfort variables were measured at the same time. However, this paper reports on findings for pupils in the age range 11-17 years. Data analyzed suggested that the different thermal comfort indices (PMV, ePMV, PMV10 and adaptive model and various comfort equations) under-predicted the students' actual thermal comfort sensation on the warm side of neutral and overpredicted thermal sensation on the cool side of neutral on the ASHRAE comfort scale for both genders. Higher neutral temperatures were also predicted than those resulting from the students' actual mean vote (AMV). A difference in neutral temperature was found between both genders.