ANALYSIS OF INDOOR THERMAL COMFORT IN MECHANICALLY VENTILATED OFFICE BUILDINGS OF MODERATE CLIMATE

Abstract

�â� � The task of the designer is to create the best possible indoor climate. The occupants of the building judges the quality of the design from a physical as well as emotional point of view�â� � (Koenigsberger.1974) An indoor environment is required to be thermally comfortable and healthy as the residence period inside a building has been gradually escalating. The utilization of airconditioning systems and HVAC devices has been rapidly increasing in current years and the demand for artificially ventilated systems have elevated around the world. Due to this reason, energy utilization of buildings and decrease in resources of developed countries has also amplified drastically. The essential purpose of every built structure and heating and air-conditioning systems installed in a building is to provide an atmosphere that is suitable and pleasing, one that does not affect wellbeing or functioning of the inhabitants. �â� � The experience of a space is depended on what the user expects from that particular space or user needs or aspirations. The architect�â� � s role is to realize the aspirations of the user and create a building that responds positively to those needs �â� � . (Sri Nammuni, 1987). Thermal comfort is essential for the man to lead a healthy life. Therefore, since the beginning times, man has tried to create thermally comfortable environments. Thermal comfort is highly subjective sensation. It is a cognitive indicator, which cannot be easily converted in to physical tangible parameters. However, thermal comfort can be defined more qualitatively as the range of climatic conditions which most of the people feel comfortable, neither cold nor warm.