Thermal comfort evaluation in cruise terminals

Abstract

The variations of building typologies contribute to the difficulty of performing a correct analysis of the comfort conditions in buildings that do not fit the more common geometries and occupation patterns. The main objective of the article is to evaluate the comfort conditions of cruise terminal buildings, an example of this type of problem. A twofold strategy, comprising in-situ measurements and user surveys was implemented. A total of 20 independent field measurements of thermal comfort parameters underwent in 2 facilities located in Portugal. The in-situ measurements supported the comfort assessment by the PMV analytical index and by the ASHRAE 55 and EN15251 adaptive approaches. The responses to 572 questionnaires to judge sensations and preferences of the passengers were obtained. Other aspects were also inquired, such as the time spent in the facilities and the health status. The comparison of the comfort assessment with the results of the survey showed that the adaptive models provided a broader acceptance of the measured environmental conditions, in line with the broader acceptance demonstrated by the users. The significant restriction of the PMV model application in this building typology was emphasized. The contrast of sensations by passengers of different national origin, with tropical originals feeling neutral at higher operative temperatures than temperate climate originals, was detected as an influencing factor. Waiting time was another relevant factor found, as the time spent inside the buildings pointed to a greater demand by passengers.