Thermal and Acoustc Comfort

LEARN undertook a research project examining the climatic dependence of simultaneous thermal and acoustic comfort. A series of field surveys where conducted in Pakistan and the U.K. with a total of 34 subjects in different offices each completing hourly comfort questionnaires over a week. Temperature readings were logged every 2 minutes and sound level every three minutes. Analysis has shown a summer neutral temperature of 30.1°C in Pakistan and 23.3°C in the U.K. The subjects appeared about 7dB more tolerant of noise in Pakistan than the U.K.

Work commenced Febuary 1994 for 30 months.

Researchers: Jo Dubiel and Fergus Nicol

Funding source: HEFC fundsa.

©LEARN, Low Energy Architecture Research Unit
Courtesy of JK Solomon