Thermal comfort model for classrooms using occupant-centered approach

Using Grounded Theory (GT) and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), this mixed-methods study explores how architecture students' and graduates' understanding of thermal comfort evolves. Focus groups (FG-1 to FG-3) across three educational levels showed that perceptions mature from a basic...

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Main Authors: Huda Riaz, Sabahat Arif, Sumra Yousuf, Muhammad Nasir Bashir, Muhammad Mahmood Ali, Irfan Anjum Badruddin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:Case Studies in Thermal Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X25008494
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author Huda Riaz
Sabahat Arif
Sumra Yousuf
Muhammad Nasir Bashir
Muhammad Mahmood Ali
Irfan Anjum Badruddin
author_facet Huda Riaz
Sabahat Arif
Sumra Yousuf
Muhammad Nasir Bashir
Muhammad Mahmood Ali
Irfan Anjum Badruddin
author_sort Huda Riaz
collection DOAJ
description Using Grounded Theory (GT) and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), this mixed-methods study explores how architecture students' and graduates' understanding of thermal comfort evolves. Focus groups (FG-1 to FG-3) across three educational levels showed that perceptions mature from a basic focus on building design to a sophisticated understanding encompassing behavioural, psychological, and climatic factors. This led to four frameworks (FW-1 to FW-4), culminating in a comprehensive Thermal Comfort Evaluation Framework (FW-4) integrating building performance, climatic conditions, and occupant responses throughout design. A novel occupant-centred model synthesises AHP-weighted priorities and GT themes, structured around building performance (type, exterior, interior), climatic conditions (temperature, humidity, air velocity), and occupant (psychological and behavioural) factors. This model reflects the interplay of controllable and uncontrollable variables impacting thermal perception and productivity, offering a robust decision-making design model.
format Article
id doaj-art-6ea21b3406094d0993b1fadf4caf4e11
institution Kabale University
issn 2214-157X
language English
publishDate 2025-09-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Case Studies in Thermal Engineering
spelling doaj-art-6ea21b3406094d0993b1fadf4caf4e112025-08-20T03:31:05ZengElsevierCase Studies in Thermal Engineering2214-157X2025-09-017310658910.1016/j.csite.2025.106589Thermal comfort model for classrooms using occupant-centered approachHuda Riaz0Sabahat Arif1Sumra Yousuf2Muhammad Nasir Bashir3Muhammad Mahmood Ali4Irfan Anjum Badruddin5Department of Architectural Engineering and Design, University of Engineering and Technology, 54890, Lahore, PakistanDepartment of Architectural Engineering and Design, University of Engineering and Technology, 54890, Lahore, PakistanDepartment of Building and Architectural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & Technology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, 60800, Multan, Pakistan; Corresponding author.Multi-Scale Fluid Dynamics Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, 120-749, the Republic of KoreaDepartment of Mechatronic Engineering, Atlantic Technological University Sligo, Ash Lane, F91 YW50, Sligo, Ireland; Corresponding author.Mechanical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, King Khalid University, Abha, 61421, Saudi ArabiaUsing Grounded Theory (GT) and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), this mixed-methods study explores how architecture students' and graduates' understanding of thermal comfort evolves. Focus groups (FG-1 to FG-3) across three educational levels showed that perceptions mature from a basic focus on building design to a sophisticated understanding encompassing behavioural, psychological, and climatic factors. This led to four frameworks (FW-1 to FW-4), culminating in a comprehensive Thermal Comfort Evaluation Framework (FW-4) integrating building performance, climatic conditions, and occupant responses throughout design. A novel occupant-centred model synthesises AHP-weighted priorities and GT themes, structured around building performance (type, exterior, interior), climatic conditions (temperature, humidity, air velocity), and occupant (psychological and behavioural) factors. This model reflects the interplay of controllable and uncontrollable variables impacting thermal perception and productivity, offering a robust decision-making design model.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X25008494Thermal comfortBuilding occupantsAnalytical hierarchical process (AHP)Grounded theory (GT)Classrooms
spellingShingle Huda Riaz
Sabahat Arif
Sumra Yousuf
Muhammad Nasir Bashir
Muhammad Mahmood Ali
Irfan Anjum Badruddin
Thermal comfort model for classrooms using occupant-centered approach
Case Studies in Thermal Engineering
Thermal comfort
Building occupants
Analytical hierarchical process (AHP)
Grounded theory (GT)
Classrooms
title Thermal comfort model for classrooms using occupant-centered approach
title_full Thermal comfort model for classrooms using occupant-centered approach
title_fullStr Thermal comfort model for classrooms using occupant-centered approach
title_full_unstemmed Thermal comfort model for classrooms using occupant-centered approach
title_short Thermal comfort model for classrooms using occupant-centered approach
title_sort thermal comfort model for classrooms using occupant centered approach
topic Thermal comfort
Building occupants
Analytical hierarchical process (AHP)
Grounded theory (GT)
Classrooms
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X25008494
work_keys_str_mv AT hudariaz thermalcomfortmodelforclassroomsusingoccupantcenteredapproach
AT sabahatarif thermalcomfortmodelforclassroomsusingoccupantcenteredapproach
AT sumrayousuf thermalcomfortmodelforclassroomsusingoccupantcenteredapproach
AT muhammadnasirbashir thermalcomfortmodelforclassroomsusingoccupantcenteredapproach
AT muhammadmahmoodali thermalcomfortmodelforclassroomsusingoccupantcenteredapproach
AT irfananjumbadruddin thermalcomfortmodelforclassroomsusingoccupantcenteredapproach