Window Direction Factor toward PMV and PPD Values in Classrooms

Abstract

Thermal comfort is an important element in students’ learning activities. The object chosen was the classroom of the Sawah Besar 01 Public Elementary School in Semarang, Indonesia built in a densely populated area, resulting in a window design that has varying orientation directions but with a homogenous façade design. This affects the level of thermal comfort in the classroom. Data analysis was carried out quantitatively – namely, to obtain a thermal comfort index, PMV, and PPD according to the Indonesia National Standard and ASHRAE. The thermal comfort conditions of all selected rooms on the 1st and 2nd floors, either indoor or outdoor, did not meet the comfortable thermal comfort standard for classrooms. The PMV index is above +1 and is mostly categorized as slightly warm, warm, and hot, and all of the PPD percentages are above 10%, indicating that most of the occupants are not satisfied with the temperature in the classroom. New façade opening designs and mechanical ventilation aids need to be applied to improve thermal comfort according to the Indonesia National Standard and ASHRAE.