Impact of Temperature and Humidity on Perception of Indoor Air Quality During Immediate and Longer Whole-Body Exposures

Abstract

Acceptability of clean air and air polluted by building materials was studied in climate chambers with different levels of air temperature and humidity in the ranges 18–28°C and 30‐70% relative humidity (RH). The acceptability of the air quality immediately after entering a chamber and during the following 20‐min whole‐body exposure was assessed by 36 untrained subjects who maintained thermal neutrality by modifying their clothing. The results confirm the significant decrement of the acceptability with increasing temperature and humidity, as shown in a previous study with facial exposures. The odour intensity was found to be independent of temperature and humidity. A linear relation between acceptability and enthalpy of air was again observed by this experiment. No significant difference was observed between the immediate acceptability and the acceptability during the following 20‐min exposure, i.e., no adaptation took place. Both the immediate assessment of acceptability and the assessments during the 20‐min exposure were independent of the air temperature and humidity to which the subjects were exposed before entering the chamber. The results further indicate that a notable decrement of the ventilation requirement may be achieved by maintaining a moderate enthalpy of air in spaces.

Effects of diffuser airflow minima on occupant comfort, air mixing, and building energy use (RP-1515)

“…This result contradicts a commonly cited assertion that perceived air quality is a monotonic function of room air temperature (Fang et al, 1998), and supports the view that perceived air quality is instead related to occupant thermal comfort (Humphreys et al, 2002), (Arens et al, 2008), , , (Kaczmarczyk et al, 2010), (Melikov and Kaczmarczyk, 2012).…”

Energy Flow and Thermal Comfort in Buildings

“…Furthermore, Fang et al [84] highlighted the "strong and significant impact of temperature and humidity on the perception of air quality". The higher air temperature of radiant cooling systems can be a disadvantage, as the perceived air quality decreases with increasing enthalpy [42].…”

A Review of General and Local Thermal Comfort Models for Controlling Indoor Ambiences

“…Often, it has been considered that the relative humidity of the interior environment is of little importance in the design of air conditioning elements. But now, the effect has become apparent on the comfort (ASHRAE; Fanger, 1970;Wargocki et al, 1999), perception of indoor air quality (Fang et al, 1998), health of the occupants (Molina, 2000) and energy consumption (Simonson, 2001). …”