Working under the collided supply jets of active chilled beams – The effect on comfort and work performance

Our purpose was to examine the effect of working under the collided supply jets from active chilled beams on occupants’ perception, work performance, and stress. A repeated measures design with 36 participants was implemented with two test conditions: a reference condition, where active chilled beams were functioning appropriately, and a test condition, where supply jets from the active chilled beams collided and fell down to the workstation. Individual factors, such as gender and draught sensitivity are considered. Working under the collided supply jets resulted in lower thermal sensation, higher percentage of dissatisfied with the thermal environment and warmer thermal preference. The reference condition was perceived to be better for concentration, performance, and working efficiently for a long period of time. The Draught sensitive groups’ 0-back accuracy was lower when working under increased air movement and they had lower perceived performance and higher perceived workload than Draught neutral group at the end of exposure time. The present results indicate that working under the influence of the collided supply jets might generate stronger negative effects among females and draught sensitive persons. Self-rated draught sensitivity is an important parameter, and it is recommended to be used whenever air movement is studied with humans. Practical application This study provides evidence that individual factors, such as gender and draught sensitivity, are important while designing and implementing energy-efficient cooling systems that prioritize occupant comfort. The findings from this study has practical implications for indoor environment design and management in workplaces.