Thermal discomfort in classrooms at different times of the day in a university in Bangkok
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14456/dcj.2020.28Keywords:
Thermal discomfort, Classrooms, a universityAbstract
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) has become one of the alarming threats that greatly concerns a society. Temperature, relative humidity, and air velocity in classroom are important factors associated with the increasing pollution which affects health. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the relationship between improved IAQ and thermal discomfort among university students. The objective of this study was to study the thermal discomfort in classroom at different times of the day in a university in Bangkok. A total of 237 respondents were selected using a cluster random sampling technique. Using structured questionnaires, data were collected from students who used classroom at three different sessions (at 10.00 AM, 12.00 PM, and 02.00 PM) and multi-parameter ventilation meters were used to measure air quality. Inferential statistics, which include Chi-square, one-way ANOVA, independent t-test, and multiple linear regression, were used by entering method. The results revealed that temperature, relative humidity, and air velocity obtained in the classroom from three different sessions were very similar. At 12.00 PM, the temperature in the classroom was 27.86 degree Celsius, which was the highest temperature in classroom, and higher than the standard set by the Department of Health. For afternoon sessions, the highest rates of relative humidity and air velocity were 60.04 and 0.19, respectively, which were within the standard range. The students did not feel the room was hot, felt they were having dry skin, and felt uncomfortable while studying in the classroom. There was only a quarter of students who felt comfortable while they were attending class. All students from three different sessions felt the same level of the thermal discomfort. Based on the results from this study with respect to the predictive factors, it was found that genders and underlying health conditions may be used for predicting the frequency of the thermal discomfort. In conclusion, even though the temperature in classroom was higher than the standard criteria set by the Department of Health, the students did not feel the room was hot because of their being accustomed to the outdoor temperature. It is recommended that classroom temperature should adjusted to suit the students feeling. In addition, ventilation fans should be regularly cleaned and maintained to improve air circulation, which will make students with underlying health conditions feel more comfortable.
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