Determining Open Space Thermal Comfort Range for Isfahan’s Elementary Schools for Girls

Abstract

Students learn important educational, environmental, and social skills in schools' open space, which serves as a place for both playing and studying, and hence among important spaces in schools. The open space, therefore, demand special specifications to meet all needs of students, including thermal comfort in schoolyards. Determining thermal comfort range is complicated, and varies for people with different backgrounds, expectations, cultures, ages, and genders. The present study aims to determine thermal comfort range and neutral temperature in Isfahan girls' elementary schools' open spaces. Three schools were chosen to represent the three climatic zones in the province, in Naeen, Meymeh, and Shahreza; which have hot and dry, moderate and dry, and semi cold zones respectively. Then climatic variables such as temperature, humidity, and wind speed were obtained in their schoolyards, using a temperature and humidity data logger and anemometer, with 500 students having completed a questionnaire. In the second stage, the thermal index of physiological equivalent temperature was calculated using Rayman software, and the range of thermal comfort and neutral temperature of girls aged 7 to 13 in Isfahan was calculated using statistical software and a linear regression diagram. According to the findings, the neutral temperature was 17.4°C, and the thermal comfort range was 13.6°C to 32°C, which is inconsistent with Ashrae and Iso 7730 standards, and even previous Isfahan thermal comfort studies. This highlights the importance of working out thermal comfort for various ages and genders in Iranian cities. The 17.4°C percent neutral temperature suggests that the sample population is to relatively colder conditions.

Keywords

• thermal comfort
• physiological equivalent temperature index
• schoolyard
• isfahan
• neutral temperature