Prediction of Thermal Comfort from Operating Temperature and the Predicted Mean Vote / Predicted Percentage Dissatisfied (PMV/PPD) Indices in a Nubian Vault

Abstract

The building and construction sector has a significant impact on the environment due to its high consumption of energy resources and increasing levels of emissions, and pollution. According to the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-HABITAT), the energy used by buildings and construction accounts for more than a third of the final energy consumed in the world and a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions. African countries such as Burkina Faso are concerned in this reality in the field of building. This is why the major issue in the tropic today is the construction of new buildings with high environmental quality and high energy performance. Today's construction choices will have an impact on future generations. The technique and materials of a building contribute to the health, safety and comfort of people. In the present work, the operating temperature and the PMV/PPD indices in a Nubian vault were determined. The operating temperature and the PMV/PPD indices are indicators of thermal comfort. Thus, the knowledge of these indicators allows to appreciate the state of comfort in the Nubian vault. It is in this perspective that the operating temperature will be determined by the adaptive method. The Fanger model is used for the determination of the PMV/PPD indexes. From the state of sensation obtained, acceptable ambient conditions can be defined for an individual in a tropical zone. As an alternative, the most suitable construction type and building materials could be recommended for each type of climate.