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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Abstract
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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Keywords
The level of thermal comfort and indoor air quality of air-conditioned , undergraduate laboratories in Universiti Sains Malaysia