Thermal Comfort And Indoor Air Conditions In Laboratories At Universiti Sains Malaysia

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Date
2016-09
Authors
Mamat, Hussin
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In the university, laboratory is one of the most important facilities for science based students. The students are deserved to have a healthy indoor environment that is conducive for their learning activities. Therefore a study has been conducted to determine the level of thermal comfort and indoor air quality of air-conditioned undergraduate laboratories in Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). Data presented in this study are based on field measurement and perception assessment. In Phase 1, field measurement consists of air temperature, air velocity, relative humidity, CO2 and CO concentrations, were measured in eight laboratories. Results indicate that Dispensing Laboratory did not comply with the CO2 and CO concentration limit set by ICOP DOSH (2010) guideline. Thermal comfort calculations according to ASHRAE 55 (2010) indicate that both Dispensing laboratory and Industrial 148 laboratories do not comply with ASHRAE 55. Perception responses to temperature (thermal comfort) using 7-point thermal sensation perception scale indicate that most of the laboratories are not in thermally acceptable condition. In Phase 2, both field and perception measurements were performed in Dispensing laboratory. Respondents from three practical class groups, A, B and C involved in the survey. Predicted mean vote (PMV) was calculated based on Fanger theory. In addition the thermal sensation vote (TSV) was calculated according to the survey. In this study, a strong relationship between field and perception data was obtained with R2= 0.99. The neutrality point has shifted to +0.2 instead of 0 on 7-point ASHRAE scale. It is found that the neutral effective temperature based on TSV (perception measurement) is approximately 0.8°C higher than that of based on PMV (field measurement). It is observed that practical class which involves the use of Bunsen burner increased the CO2, CO and formaldehyde concentrations. Psychrometric charts indicates that thermal condition in Dispensing laboratory for practical groups A, B and C comply with ASHRAE 55. In conclusion, thermal comfort and indoor air condition in laboratories at USM is within acceptable level set by ASHRAE 55 (2010) and ICOP DOSH (2010) respectively, however it is influenced by types of experiment conducted in the laboratories.
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The level of thermal comfort and indoor air quality of air-conditioned , undergraduate laboratories in Universiti Sains Malaysia
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