A systematic review on role of humidity as an indoor thermal comfort parameter in humid climates

Amaripadath, Deepak; Rahif, Ramin; Velickovic, Mirjana; Attia, Shady

doi:10.1016/j.jobe.2023.106039

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A systematic review on role of humidity as an indoor thermal comfort parameter in humid climates

Amaripadath, Deepak; Rahif, Ramin; Velickovic, Mirjana et al.

2023 • In Journal of Building Engineering, 68, p. 106039

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

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https://hdl.handle.net/2268/300186

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10.1016/j.jobe.2023.106039

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Keywords :

Thermal discomfort; Early-stage design; post-occupancy evaluation; Adaptive model; PMV/PPD model

Abstract :

[en] Thermal discomfort over time can lead to unproductivity and health issues for the occupants. Like operative temperature, humidity is an important parameter that affects thermal comfort and occupant health. This paper analyzed how humidity was incorporated into spatial and person alized thermal comfort assessments and models. In addition, the paper studied different indoor thermal comfort indices in terms of index type and time temporality. The study found that most standards and guidelines recommended a fixed upper and lower threshold for humidity for spatial assessment. For personalized assessments, the humidity was indirectly coupled through evaporative heat losses in most physiological and psychological models. In addition, transient processes like metabolic activities that changed in warm temperatures and humidities also influenced human comfort perception. The existing indoor thermal comfort indices used a point-in-time approach in terms of time temporality. Based on these findings, this paper suggested a spatial assessment for early-stage building design and a personalized assessment for the post-occupancy stage. In addition, this paper recommended a time-integrated and multizonal hygrothermal discomfort indicator that should incorporate both operative temperature and relative humidity in the future. Finally, the paper provides a set of suggestions and aspirations for practice and research based on the study findings.

Research Center/Unit :

Sustainable Building Design Lab

Disciplines :

Civil engineering

Author, co-author :

Amaripadath, Deepak ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Urban and Environmental Engineering

Rahif, Ramin ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Urban and Environmental Engineering

Velickovic, Mirjana

Attia, Shady ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département ArGEnCo > Techniques de construction des bâtiments

Language :

English

Title :

A systematic review on role of humidity as an indoor thermal comfort parameter in humid climates

Publication date :

01 June 2023

Journal title :

Journal of Building Engineering

eISSN :

2352-7102

Publisher :

Elsevier BV

Volume :

Pages :

106039

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Additional URL :

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352710223002188

Name of the research project :

Project SurChauffe

Funding number :

847587

Available on ORBi :

since 17 February 2023

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