COMPLIANCE OF THERMAL COMFORT PARAMETERS WITHIN THE STUDENTS’ DORMITORY, RESIDENTIAL, AND PUSAT ISLAM ENGINEERING CAMPUS, USM BASED ON INDUSTRY CODE OF PRACTICE ON INDOOR AIR QUALITY (ICOP) 2010

Abstract

This study assessed occupants’ satisfaction with their surrounding temperature conditions. The study was carried out at the student’s dormitory, residential and prayer hall of Pusat Islam Engineering Campus, USM. It entailed determining the compliance of thermal comfort parameters; temperature (T), relative humidity (RH) and air movement (AM). The parameters are then used as input in the Center for the Built Environment (CBE) Thermal Comfort Tool to obtain Predicted Mean Value (PMV) and Predicted Percentage Dissatisfied (PPD) for ASHRAE Standard-55. The monitoring for this study was conducted for three hours in a three-time period; 6 A.M. - 9 A.M., 11 A.M. - 2 P.M., and 5 P.M. - 8 P.M. for students’ dormitory and residential. For monitoring at Pusat Islam, it was conducted in two slots; 11 A.M. - 2 P.M. and 6 P.M. - 10 P.M., and it was assessed during Ramadan when the Muslims perform the Teraweh prayer. Overall, the finding indicates that most of the time, the thermal comfort parameters at the three monitoring places did not comply with the (Industry Code of Practice on Indoor Air Quality) ICOP limit. Hence, it also influenced the PMV and PPD values which did not adhere to the ASHRAE Standard-55. This could be due to the poor design of the building where the plan itself does not promote cross-ventilation, the high outdoor temperature, and insufficient indoor air movement, thus causing discomfort to the occupants