Evaluating Thermal Comfort and Environmental Factors Using PMV-PPD Model: A Case Study in a Health Faculty in Yazd, Iran

Background: Thermal comfort is a multifaceted concept that is influenced by environmental factors such as air temperature,mean radiant temperature, air velocity, and relative humidity (RH). These elements significantly affect individual well-being andperformance, particularly in office settings. Accordingly, this study investigated thermal comfort within a public health faculty.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2023 at a Health Faculty in Yazd, Iran. The study recorded the environmentalparameters necessary for calculating the predicted mean vote (PMV) and predicted percentage of dissatisfied (PPD) on November13th at 1 p.m. Calculations followed ISO 7730:2005 standards. Statistical analysis was performed using R version 4.3.3, withnormality tested via the Shapiro-Wilk test. The Wilcoxon test was used for comparisons between two groups, while the KruskalWallis test was utilized for multiple-group comparisons.Results: The third floor exhibited a consistently higher temperature (24.1 °C), potentially causing discomfort. Although temperature,humidity, and thermal comfort indices varied across floors and corridors, the lack of statistical significance (P>0.05) suggestsuniform environmental conditions. Most PMV values across floors fell outside the acceptable range (-1<PMV<+1), indicatinggeneral discomfort. PPD values were around 50% for all floors, except for the third floor, which had a PPD of 14%.Conclusion: The study underscored the need for thermal comfort interventions in the health faculty building. A substantial portionof the building’s occupants experienced thermal discomfort, potentially impacting their health and productivity. Addressing theseissues is crucial for enhancing the overall environment and well-being of the faculty members and students.