DETERMINATION OF INDOOR CONDITIONS AND HEARTBEAT LEVELS FOR HUMAN THERMAL COMFORT IN ILORIN, NIGERIA

Abstract

The paper presents an experimental determination of indoor conditions for human thermal comfort for four different structural positions in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. The Fanger's model was used to determine the optimum productivity level of occupants of the location under investigation. Experimental results and heat balance equation were coupled to determine the heat loss due to regulatory sweating in the zone. The results show the relationship between structural positions, skin temperature and ambient temperature of the enclosed space. For thermal comfortability, the expected indoor conditions for people sitting relaxed in their parlours, offices, and students receiving lectures should be 22°C and a relative humidity of 59.6% while for offices where documentations and businesses are done in seated and typing structural positions, a temperature of 21°C with a relative humidity of 59.3% are required for optimum productivity.

Keywords

• heat loss
• optimum productivity
• structural positions
• thermal comfort.