Literature Review of Thermal Comfort for Hospital Design

Creating indoor environments in hospitals that meet the varied needs of patients and staff is essential, with thermal comfort being a critical factor affecting patient healing and the welfare of medical personnel. While numerous studies explore thermal comfort and related contexts, there is a shortage of review articles on this vital subject. This paper aims to address this gap by conducting a thorough and evaluative review of existing research, analyzing 160 articles to identify key themes and provide insights into future research directions. Additionally, it is observed that achieving satisfactory thermal comfort is influenced by various factors, including the patient's health status and the nature and intensity of staff activities, underscoring the context-specific nature of this phenomenon. The review also explores measures aimed at reducing energy consumption in hospital settings. Important issues such as the limitations of predicted mean vote (PMV) and the influence of demographic factors such as gender and age on thermal comfort are addressed. Ultimately, this review provides valuable insights into designing and evaluating thermal environments in hospitals, highlighting the need for tailored approaches to ensure optimal conditions for both patients and staff. Key Words: Thermal comfort; Hospital buildings; Improvement measures; Energy efficiency.