Assessment of Thermal Comfort and Indoor Air Quality in Library Group Study Rooms

Abstract

Human performance and health are among the most relevant topics in modern society, especially at young ages, when academic performance is indispensable. Thus, as humans spend most of their life inside a building, thermal comfort and indoor air quality are essential aspects of a room. The aim of the current study is to numerically evaluate the main thermal comfort parameters such as PMV and PPD as well as indoor air quality, i.e., CO2 concentration, in library group study rooms at the University of Gävle in Sweden. Rotroninc Measurement Solutions CL11 sensors were utilized for temperature measurements. Simulation models were created and validated based on building data as well as temperature measurements. Several simulations were conducted throughout the year, covering different periods. The results show that even though the ventilation system, with only temperature control, works as intended for maintaining thermal comfort, the CO2 concentration rises above 1000 ppm when more than one student occupies the rooms, which is not recommended by different thermal comfort ruling institutions. Consequently, a modification to the ventilation system control is recommended, changing it from temperature control to CO2 and temperature control.