INDOOR THERMAL COMFORT OF CLASSROOMS IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

The thermal comfort level of an individual affects his or her productivity level. The weather in Singapore has been seeing an uprising trend and classrooms in government schools of Singapore are still naturally ventilated. In May 2011, the Ministry of Education sought for innovative and cost-effective solutions to combat the possibility of thermal discomfort. This paper hence looks into the thermal comfort level of classrooms in Singapore. It investigates the thermal comfort parameters of the physical classrooms as well as the thermal comfort perceptions of its users, the students. It also seeks to establish a preliminary link between the possible shifts in thermal perception of the classrooms due to the increase use of airconditioning in our daily lives according to the Adaptive Thermal Theory. Research was first done on similar studies in the past, both locally and internationally. A case study was then followed with a preliminary walk-through, a field study along with a survey conducted in a primary school up north of Singapore. Through both objective and subjective assessments done, it was later found that the thermal comfort parameters fell short of the recommended range for good indoor air quality stated in the Code of Practice for Air-conditioned and Mechanically Ventilated Buildings in Singapore. However, thermal perception from the survey respondents suggests significant acceptability towards the relatively warm and humid environment. It was also found that thermal perception of users may also possibly be affected by the amount of time one utilises the air-conditioning system.