Comfort Threshold Research Articles

Finite-element simulation of functional knee sleeves based on three-dimensional modeling of the knee joint

Knee sleeves are one of the most satisfying and widely used items of protective equipment for sports enthusiasts. Achieving an effective balance between functionality and comfort is a key factor in the design of knee sleeves. However, there are still some problems with the knee protection products currently on the market, such as poor thermal and moisture comfort, difficulty in putting on and taking off, slippage during doing sports, and the lack of a timely and effective feedback mechanism that cannot guide the user to actively adjust their movement posture to avoid sports injuries. To improve the function and pressure comfort of the human body after wearing knee sleeves, this study took the knee joint as the research object, established a three-dimensional knee joint model through computed tomography (CT) scanning and Mimics software, and then built a finite-element model under the contact state between the human body and pressure clothing on this basis. Moreover, ABAQUS was used for finite-element simulation to obtain the pressure and displacement distribution of knee joints after wearing knee sleeves. In order to further investigate the stress state and deformation trend of knee joint after wearing knee sleeves, each section of the human body at the knee joint was divided into four regions according to the angle, and the functional relationship between pressure and displacement was obtained by curve fitting. This study has significance for the investigation of the pressure comfort threshold of knee sleeves and the optimization of the design of functional knee sleeves.

Enhancing Daylight Comfort with Climate-Responsive Kinetic Shading: A Simulation and Experimental Study of a Horizontal Fin System

This study employs both simulation and experimental methodologies to evaluate the effectiveness of bi-sectional horizontal kinetic shading systems (KSS) with horizontal fins in enhancing daylight comfort across various climates. It emphasizes the importance of optimizing daylight levels while minimizing solar heat gain, particularly in the context of increasing energy demands and shifting climatic patterns. The study introduces a custom-designed bi-sectional KSS, simulated in three distinct climates—Wroclaw, Tehran, and Bangkok—using climate-based daylight modeling methods with the Ladybug and Honeybee tools in Rhino v.7 software. Standard daylight metrics, such as Useful Daylight Illuminance (UDI) and Daylight Glare Probability (DGP), were employed alongside custom metrics tailored to capture the unique dynamics of the bi-sectional KSS. The results were statistically analyzed using box plots and histograms, revealing UDI300–3000 medians of 78.51%, 88.96%, and 86.22% for Wroclaw, Tehran, and Bangkok, respectively. These findings demonstrate the KSS’s effectiveness in providing optimal daylight conditions across diverse climatic regions. Annual simulations based on standardized weather data showed that the KSS improved visual comfort by 61.04%, 148.60%, and 88.55%, respectively, compared to a scenario without any shading, and by 31.96%, 54.69%, and 37.05%, respectively, compared to a scenario with open static horizontal fins. The inclusion of KSS switching schedules, often overlooked in similar research, enhances the reproducibility and clarity of the findings. A physical reduced-scale mock-up of the bi-sectional KSS was then tested under real-weather conditions in Wroclaw (latitude 51° N) during June–July 2024. The mock-up consisted of two Chambers ‘1’ and ‘2’ equipped with the bi-sectional KSS prototype, and the other one without shading. Stepper motors managed the fins’ operation via a Python script on a Raspberry Pi 3 minicomputer. The control Chamber ‘1’ provided a baseline for comparing the KSS’s efficiency. Experimental results supported the simulations, demonstrating the KSS’s robustness in reducing high illuminance levels, with illuminance below 3000 lx maintained for 68% of the time during the experiment (conducted from 1 to 4 PM on three analysis days). While UDI and DA calculations were not feasible due to the limited number of sensors, the Eh1 values enabled the evaluation of the time illuminance to remain below the threshold. However, during the June–July 2024 heat waves, illuminance levels briefly exceeded the comfort threshold, reaching 4674 lx. Quantitative and qualitative analyses advocate for the broader application and further development of KSS as a climate-responsive shading system in various architectural contexts.

Determination of outdoor thermal comfort thresholds for hot and semi-arid climates: A field study of residential neighbourhoods in Jaipur city

Outdoor thermal comfort (OTC) plays a vital role in enhancing the livability and well-being of urban residents, making it an essential area of research, particularly in the context of climate change. However, few studies have specifically focused on hot and semi-arid regions, especially within residential environments. This study seeks to address this gap by assessing OTC in various residential areas classified as Local Climate Zones (LCZs), ensuring a diverse range of survey locations to evaluate people's comfort and stress levels. Using the Thermal Sensation Vote (TSV) index, the study calibrated the Physiologically Equivalent Temperature (PET) scale for hot and semi-arid climates. In Jaipur, micrometeorological data was monitored alongside thermal perceptions, resulting in 2,428 valid responses gathered during both summer and winter seasons, between 09:00 and 21:00 h, when outdoor activity is common. The analysis revealed that microclimate parameters significantly influence thermal sensations in outdoor environments. Respondents showed high tolerance levels during summer, with variations in thermoneutrality, acceptability, preferences, and comfort across different built typologies. The threshold values identified in this study offer valuable insights for urban planners and designers, enabling them to enhance outdoor thermal comfort during the planning stages, ultimately creating more comfortable and livable urban spaces for residents.

Integrating effects of overheating on human health into buildings’ life cycle assessment

PurposeDue to climate change, the severity and length of heat waves are increasing, and this trend is likely to continue while mitigation efforts are insufficient. These climatic events cause overheating inside buildings, which increases mortality. Adaptation measures reduce overheating but induce environmental impacts, including on human health. This study aims to integrate the overheating-related effects on human health in building LCA to provide a design aid combining mitigation and adaptation.MethodsIn a novel approach, an existing building LCA tool is utilised to evaluate life cycle impacts, including damage to human health expressed in DALYs. The overheating risk is then evaluated using an existing dynamic thermal simulation (DTS) tool and prospective climatic data. Overheating is expressed as a degree-hour (DH) indicator, which integrates both the severity (temperature degrees over a comfort threshold) and the duration (hours). By assuming proportionality between DALYs and DH × area in a first step, the 2003 heat wave mortality data, 2003 climatic data, and a simplified model of the national residential building stock were used to identify a characterisation factor, which can then be used to evaluate DALYs corresponding to any building using DH obtained by thermal simulation.ResultsThe proposed overheating model not only allows to derive a characterisation factor for overheating to be used in building LCA but also provides practical insights. The first estimation of the characterisation factor is 1.35E-8DALY. DH-1.m-2. The method was tested in a case study corresponding to a social housing apartment building in France built in 1969 without insulation. The thickness of insulation implemented in the renovation works was varied. For this specific case study, the contribution of overheating is significant, ranging from 1.1E-5DALY.m-2.y-1 to 2.2E-5DALY.m-2.y-1, comparable to the contribution of heating. DTS and LCA results found an optimal thickness, minimising the human health indicator in DALYs. This underscores the potential of active cooling to reduce human health impacts, especially if it consumes electricity produced by a photovoltaic system integrated in the building.ConclusionCombining DTS and LCA makes it possible to evaluate damage indicators on human health, including building life cycles (e.g., material and energy) and overheating-related impacts. An application on a case study shows this method’s feasibility and gives a first order of magnitude of overheating health impacts induced by buildings. A more sophisticated model could replace the assumed proportionality between DALYs and DH.

Towards Sustainable Living through Thermoneutral Temperature Management in Subtropical Steppe Climates

This study addresses the critical interplay between sustainable living and thermal comfort within residential buildings in subtropical steppe (BSh) climates, particularly in Northern Iraq. With the global imperative to enhance energy efficiency and occupant well-being, this research emphasizes the identification of thermoneutral indoor air temperature ranges that both support sustainable energy use and ensure the occupants’ thermal comfort. By analyzing the acceptable temperature limits across different building orientations during summer and winter, the study utilizes the predicted mean vote–predicted percentage dissatisfied (PMV-PPD) index approach to establish thermal comfort thresholds. The findings reveal that the optimal summer and winter indoor air temperatures are 29.2 °C and 19.4 °C, respectively, with variations across orientations highlighting the significant influence of building directionality on achieving thermoneutral conditions. A wider range of accepted temperatures exists in the eastward orientation in summer (between 26.6 °C and 29.2 °C). The study advances our understanding of sustainable thermal comfort practices, proposing orientation-specific temperature ranges as a cornerstone for reducing energy consumption without compromising occupant comfort in subtropical steppe climates.

Understanding Outdoor Cold Stress and Thermal Perception of the Elderly in Severely Cold Climates: A Case Study in Harbin

This study collected data through microclimate monitoring, surface temperature measurements, and questionnaire surveys, and used indicators, such as the universal thermal climate index (UTCI), surface temperature (Ts), and wind chill temperature (tWC), to determine the thermal comfort threshold of the elderly in severely cold climates and evaluate their cold stress. The results indicated that (1) the neutral UTCI (NUTCI) for elderly individuals in winter was 13.3 °C, and the NUTCI range was from 1.4 to 25.2 °C; (2) the intensity of elderly individuals’ physical activity affected the magnitude of risk of whole-body cooling, with duration-limited exposures corresponding to 0.5, 3.3, and over 8 h for light, moderate, and vigorous activity levels, respectively; (3) the tWC in all four spaces was below −10 °C, potentially inducing discomfort or even frostbite in the elderly; (4) for a 10 s touch, the maximum Ts (−17.2 °C) of stone was lower than the numbness threshold (−15.0 °C), while that (−15.1 °C) of steel materials remained below the frostbite threshold (−13 °C), posing risks for the elderly during physical activity. This study’s results will provide valuable insights and theoretical references for the landscape design of urban park activity spaces for elderly individuals in cold climate regions.

Long-Term Analysis of Energy Consumption and Thermal Comfort in a Passivhaus Apartment in Spain

This study presents a detailed analysis of thermal comfort and energy consumption in a Passivhaus-certified apartment in Bolueta Tower, Bilbao, Spain, over a period of three years (2020–2022). Utilizing a comprehensive, long-term monitoring approach, the research investigates the effectiveness of the Passivhaus standard in achieving both energy efficiency and occupant comfort in a temperate climate. Using calibrated data loggers to record indoor temperature, humidity, and CO2 levels were used alongside the collection of utility bills to assess energy consumption and thermal comfort, as well as IAQ, against several international standards. Significant issues with overheating were confirmed, in line with previous research. During the warmer months, indoor temperatures frequently exceeded the Passivhaus comfort threshold of 25 °C, reaching as high as 31.3 °C, particularly in the living room and bedroom. This resulted in discomfort during summer, with the percentage of hours above 25 °C reaching 23.21% in 2022. Nighttime temperatures often surpassed 24 °C, impacting sleep quality. Conversely, heating consumption was minimal, corroborating the building’s energy efficiency in colder months. The findings highlight a critical gap in the Passivhaus standard when applied in milder climates, where overheating becomes a significant issue. This study suggests the need for an integrated approach in sustainable building design, one that balances energy efficiency with adaptive strategies to mitigate overheating, such as improved natural ventilation and thermal mass. These insights contribute to the ongoing discourse on optimizing energy-efficient buildings for occupant comfort in various climatic conditions.

THE EFFECT OF FITNESS TRAINING ON THE MOTION PREPAREDNESS OF WOMEN 23-33 YEARS OLD

Modern fitness programs require a special individual load as an optimal health-promoting preventive effect of physical activity. At the same time, the interaction of training effects from loads that differ in their nature can be negative. In this connection, a problem arises when an individual wants to develop several different physical qualities as much as possible at the same time. The research objective: to substantiate the effectiveness of fitness exercises on the motor readiness of women aged 23-33. Research methods: analysis of scientific and methodological literature, pedagogical observation, pedagogical testing, pedagogical experiment, methods of mathematical statistics. 40 women aged 23-33, average age 28±1.3 years, took part in the study. The discussed issues of systematic fitness exerciseses contribute not only to increasing the level of muscle training and improving the condition of the cardiovascular system, but also help to gain confidence in one's own strength, improve the emotional background, and also gain good physical shape. In the training process, strength abilities, flexibility, and endurance were improved; the performance of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems increased. An effective training combination was considered to be two aerobic trainings and two statodynamic trainings per week. The duration of aerobic training should be 30-45 minutes, provided that ones are held on different days. A comfortable and effective training regimen that takes place on the threshold of comfort is when women feel the load, but at the same time breathe deeply through the nose and without shortness of breath. Fitness training can improve: health and mental state (minimize the risk of many diseases, increase the level of work capacity and activity); physical abilities (increase endurance, strength, flexibility) of women aged 23-33.

Assessment of Outdoor Thermal Comfort in a Hot Summer Region of Europe

Heat waves are increasingly frequent in Europe, especially in South European countries during the summer season. The intensity and frequency of these heat waves have increased significantly in recent years. Spain, as one of the southern European countries most affected by these recurring heat waves, particularly experiences this phenomenon in touristic cities such as Cordoba. The aim of this study was to perform an experimental assessment of outdoor thermal comfort in a typical three-hour tourist walkable path of the historical center of Cordoba. The experimental study was carried out in the three-hour period of higher temperatures from 16:30 to 19:30 h CEST (UTC+2) on a normal summer day (6 July 2023), a day with a heat wave (28 June 2023) and a day with a higher heat intensity, called a super heat wave (10 August 2023). Environmental conditions such as a radiant temperature, ambient temperature, wet bulb temperature, air velocity and relative humidity were measured at three different heights corresponding to 0.1 (ankles), 0.7 (abdomen) and 1.7 (head) m. The results show extremely high levels of heat stress in all bioclimatic indices throughout the route. Cumulative heat stress ranged from “very hot” conditions at the beginning of the route to becoming “highly sweltering” at the end of the route. The average temperature excess over the thermal comfort threshold was very high and increased with the heat intensity. In addition, a correlation analysis was carried out between the bioclimatic indices studied, with the UTCI index standing out for its strong correlation with other thermal comfort indices. The findings emphasize the need for interventions to improve the urban environment and promote better outdoor thermal comfort for city dwellers through measures such as green infrastructure, UHI mitigation and increasing public awareness.

Indoor environmental quality in an Apulian kindergarten

Indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in school buildings is crucial for the health and well-being of students, educators, and staff. Poor air quality and inadequate thermal conditions compromise students’ comfort and can lead to potential long-term health issues. Since children’s comfort differs from adults’, it is important to consider surveys on IEQ in school buildings. For this reason, this paper focuses on air quality and thermal comfort in kindergartens in Italy. An IEQ monitoring campaign was conducted within a kindergarten, with data used for thermal comfort and IAQ analyses, including CO2 levels generated by occupants and thermal discomforting hours. The simulations of carbon dioxide levels showed that the amount of CO2 accumulated in the classrooms exceeds the threshold recommended by ASHRAE guidelines. During the winter seasons, CO2 levels are significantly higher than those accumulated in summer due to the limited ventilation practiced during the colder months. Moreover, thermal comfort analyses indicate that the summer season can be problematic due to overheating: 42% of the occupied hours during the monitoring period exceeded the temperature threshold, causing thermal discomfort for the occupants. The winter thermal comfort analyses demonstrated that heating systems are essential to maintain temperatures within comfort thresholds.

Application of 3D Printing Technology in Customized Garment Production

Abstract In this paper, human body images are acquired by DSLR camera shooting, and the photos are grayscaled based on the HIS model. Then, the different operations weaken the similar parts between the images, and the other parts of the photos are highlighted. The image is separated from the background by image binarization. After the contour detection of the image, the pixel coordinates of the contour points in the image are deposited into a dynamic array by the size judgment of the pixel values. The subsequent size calculation is called to make a pad. According to the human body, clothing size automation measurement has been derived from the human body characteristics of the size, the use of three-dimensional printing technology to produce clothing to meet consumer demand, and three-dimensional printing technology to support the production of customized clothing under the experimental analysis. It is verified that the data difference between the actual size of the subject’s ready-made clothes and the size of the clothes produced based on 3D printing technology is kept within ±0.48cm. The virtual fitting pressure is less than the comfort threshold of women’s upper body pressure (2.75kpa), which indicates that the clothes produced by this research will not cause physiological discomfort to the human body and, at the same time, meet the consumer’s personalized clothing customization needs.

The Effect of Parametric Patterned Façade Variations on Daylight Quality, Visual Comfort, and Daylight Performance in Architecture Studio-Based Tutoring

Parametric design influences on building envelope design are exponentially increasing in the current era due to the dominance of computational design on architectural outcomes. The composition of the building envelope’s patterns, shape, size, and distribution of the perforations can affect the efficiency of daylighting within the space; daylight quality, visual comfort, and daylight performance. Through the manipulation of the daylighting patterns, a balance between illuminance and glare control is created. This research study aims to analyze and evaluate the effect of different parametric patterns integration on daylighting in “Architecture Studio-based” tutoring through the distribution of perforation on façade openings, percentage of perforation, and perforation size in a hot-dry climate. The analysis is conducted through building performance simulation software (Climate Studio). The research concludes that the “Triangles Parametric Pattern” among all the tested patterns, achieves the highest performance in compliance with the recommended thresholds of daylight quality, visual comfort, and daylight performance metrics within the studio space compared to other parametric patterns and the base case model. The implications of such an experiment inform designers to categorize daylight performance while selecting patterns in window design as part of façade design.

Effects and Improvements in Carpentry for Thermal Comfort in Educational Spaces in Andean Mild Equatorial Climate

Environmental comfort is fundamental for teaching and learning processes. This work focuses on identifying shortcomings and proposing improvements for educational buildings in the Andean equatorial climate. A quantitative experimental methodology was employed, which included collecting thermal comfort data to calibrate the use of the DesignBuilder v7 environmental simulation software. Issues with thermal weakness in the carpentry were identified, both due to the choice of materials and construction sealing. These are common weaknesses that arise in the context of the Andean Ecuadorian climate, but which affect moments of thermal discomfort during study hours. With the calibrated simulator, thermal improvements achievable by working on the carpentry to reduce infiltrations by half and improving glazing with double-glazed and triple-glazed windows, achieving even uniformity in thermal transmittance compared to other envelope materials, were analyzed. By reducing infiltrations alone, the average temperature increased by between 1.07 °C and 1.61 °C, surpassing the minimum comfort threshold and remaining within locally accepted temperatures throughout the day. With very-high-standard glazing, additional improvements are made, increasing the average temperature by an additional 0.30 °C to 0.69 °C, resulting in a less efficient alternative.

Investigating change of discomfort during repetitive force exertion though an exoskeleton cuff

This article investigates discomfort development for forces exerted repetitively and for extended durations through a rigid cuff.Three force patterns, chosen to mimic exoskeleton use, were applied to the thigh of 15 healthy participants for 30 min. Changes in perceived comfort and skin effects were recorded.Discomfort was detected at normal forces ranging from 40 to >230 N. Repetitive force application triggered discomfort after a median of 4.1 min (normal force only) and 5.4 min (normal and shear force) respectively. Discomfort increased over time but the repetitive force applications did generally not result in pain and there were no significant differences between repetitive loading patterns.Exoskeleton design and use should be informed by comfort thresholds specific to prolonged repetitive loading. Large interindividual differences in perception of discomfort limit the possibilities for generally applicable comfort thresholds. Further research is needed to investigate how patient groups perceive such repetitive loading.

Temporal Changes in Tourists’ Climate-Based Comfort in the Southeastern Coastal Region of Spain

In the context of climate change, where the average temperature has risen in recent decades on the Mediterranean coast of the Iberian Peninsula, bioclimatic indicators show an increase in thermal discomfort. This is especially relevant in regions with a clear focus on mass and seasonal sun and beach tourism, with a large number of tourists experiencing discomfort in hot and humid summer environments. The research analyses the temporal evolution (1967–2022) of the coasts of the provinces of Alicante and Murcia (Spain) using the Climate Comfort Index (CCI), divided into four different regions. Used are 14 coastal meteorological observatories divided into four regions. Trend analysis was performed using the Mann–Kendall (MKT) and Theil–Sen (TSE) tests. The results revealed a loss of climate comfort during the summer season (−0.3 to −0.4/decade), as well as an expansion of the warm period toward June and early September, with an increase of 38.7 days in “hot” thermal comfort. The increase in thermal discomfort in the summer is influenced by an increase in average temperature (0.5 to 0.7 °C/decade) and a reduction in the average relative humidity (−1.0 to −2.1%/decade) and wind speed (−0.2 to −0.9 km/h/decade). In the last 22 years (2000–2022), decreases (p ≤ 0.05) have been recorded in July and September (−0.2 to −0.4/decade), reaching “excessive heat” climatic comfort thresholds for the first time. Finally, there has been an increase in thermal comfort in winter, especially during December in recent years (2000–2022).

Evaluating the Environmental Footprint: BPE Framework for Sustainable and Energy-Efficient Residential Buildings in India

In the context of enhancing building performance assessment, this study introduces the BPE (Building Performance Evaluation) framework and explores its application through a residential complex in India. An expert evaluation of the questionnaire is carried out to investigate the main element and obstacles to the execution of BPE. The framework, designed to scrutinize five parameters, initially assesses design aspects, including building form, orientation, and aesthetics. Findings reveal that the building design lacks efficient circulation, storage facilities, and satisfactory spatial allocation. Building energy monitoring, essential for comprehensive analysis, faces limitations due to insufficient data availability, emphasizing the need for thorough planning. Thermal comfort analysis, based on temperature and humidity measurements, unveils significant fluctuations beyond comfort thresholds. Expert surveys and occupant feedback further expose reduced utilization of natural ventilation, high air conditioner adoption rates, and adaptive behaviours. The framework's insights prompt opportunities for improvement, yet validation requires broader application across diverse buildings. The study's academic survey emphasizes the importance of integrating BPE in industries with government policies. Field observations highlight challenges in space utilization, material selection, and occupant engagement. This study's findings underscore the BPE-RBPI framework's potential to refine performance assessment, sustainable and energy efficient to foster industry confidence, and drive holistic improvements in India's building sector.

Effect of heat mitigation strategies on the thermal environment of hardened pavement and pedestrian thermal comfort in a hot and humid area: A case study of Guangzhou, China.

The synergistic effect of heat waves and urban heat islands (UHI) adversely affect the urban environment, building energy consumption, and human health. The absorption and storage of short-wave radiation by hardened pavement is the primary reason for high-temperature heat waves and the UHI effect. Three mitigation strategies were assessed to alleviate the influence of high-temperature hardened pavement on the thermal environment and thermal comfort of pedestrians, water-spray vehicles (spray) and pavement watering (watering) to take advantage of evaporative cooling, and a fan based on convective heat transfer. In addition, the fan-spray and fan-watering combinations were evaluated to increase the evaporative cooling rate. Field measurements showed that the five heat mitigation strategies improved the thermal environment and reduced environmental thermal stress. The thermal sensation, comfort sensation, and mean skin temperature (MST) were analyzed in thermal perception experiments. The result indicated that the mitigation strategies changed the subjects' thermal perception. Moreover, regression analysis between the universal thermal climate index (UTCI) and the thermal response showed that the neutral temperature and the range of comfort threshold of UTCI and MST increased after implementing the mitigation strategies.

A methodological approach to evaluate the passive cooling effect of Oasis palm groves

With climate change and the recurring heat waves in arid lands, human well-being and activities in oasis settlements can be critical subjects for the ongoing years. This paper introduces a methodological approach to investigate the potential passive cooling effect inside the oasis palm groves, their spatial characteristics, and microclimatic thresholds. Based on the Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) index, the paper evaluates oasis palm groves’ ability to ensure a neutral human outdoor thermal comfort zone. The research aims to determine guidance of an optimal and nearly optimal thermal comfort threshold based on a series of parametric scenarios of oasis configurations. The study provides a cross of 12 ideal oasis scenarios. The paper evaluates the oasis cooling effect and thermal comfort and recommends aligning urban planning with thermal thresholds. Results reveal that PET neutral zone can be assured into ranges of 29°C to 37°C, 19°C to 20°C, 55% to 58%, and 1m/s to 2m/s of mean radiant temperature, air temperature, relative humidity and air velocity, respectively. The results refer policymakers and urban planners to invest in the passive cooling effect of the oasis palm grove in future urban design strategies to maintain the maximum neutral comfort hours during heat waves.

Kajian Kenyamanan Lingkungan Ruang Komputer Terhadap Pemenuhan Syarat Suhu Udara, Pencahayaan, Dan Akustik Dengan Metode Deskriptif Kualitatif

The Comfort against the influence of air temperature, humidity, indoor lighting, circulation and acoustics is part of the effort to improve the quality of the function of the room. If the room is comfortable, the activities that take place in it are optimal. This research is a qualitative descriptive method. The results in this study were obtained that the average temperature and humidity in South Tangerang City exceeded the comfort threshold of 22.8-25.8 oC, the emission value per square meter was 349.9 Lux, the noise level of the research object from the average measurement results. is 57 dB. It was concluded that the Lux number is very close to ideal, so it is stated that the room lighting in the research object meets the requirements, while the noise level requires a noise damper or barrier to be able to reduce noise so that the room is comfortable to use.Comfort against the influence of air temperature, humidity, indoor lighting, circulation and acoustics is part of the effort to improve the quality of the function of the room. If the room is comfortable, the activities that take place in it are optimal. This research is a qualitative descriptive method. The results in this study were obtained that the average temperature and humidity in South Tangerang City exceeded the comfort threshold of 22.8-25.8 oC, the emission value per square meter was 349.9 Lux, the noise level of the research object from the average measurement results. is 57 dB. It was concluded that the Lux number is very close to ideal, so it is stated that the room lighting in the research object meets the requirements, while the noise level requires a noise damper or barrier to be able to reduce noise so that the room is comfortable to use.

The COMFA model for assessing courtyard thermal comfort in hot and humid regions: A comparative study with existing models

The present study introduces the development of the COMFAcourtyard model, which combines the strengths of COMFA, PET and SET* to create a reliable, practical and scientifically validated outdoor thermal comfort index for courtyards in hot and humid regions. To validate the model, four elements were implemented: validation in a real scenario (two classical courtyards in central Guangdong, China), comparison with relevant models (PET, SET*, UTCI, WBGT and COMFA), sensitivity analysis and statistical quantification of performance. Results show that COMFAcourtyard outperforms other models in terms of accuracy, interpretability and computational speed, with an R2 of 0.78 for linear regression and the ability to output intuitive and physically meaningful heat flow values. In terms of computational efficiency, COMFAcourtyard is approximately 1.5 times faster than COMFA and is two orders of magnitude faster than PET and SET*. In this study, a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of human thermal comfort is attained and the accuracy, interpretability and computational speed of the newly developed COMFAcourtyard model and previous models are systematically evaluated. The study also establishes a theoretical foundation for the thermal sensation scale and comfort thresholds in humid and hot courtyard environments. These efforts advance the design of climate-resilient outdoor environments and contribute to providing thermal security for individuals in the context of climate change.