Practical Guide: Guidelines for Comfort

Refers to ASHRAE Standard 55-1992, Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy. States it is mainly a prescriptive standard intended for occupants with primarily sedentary activity. Discusses some of the issues being addressed during the proposed revision. Notes that this revision will include an analytical method based on the PMV-PPD method, where different levels of comfort may be specified. Using the analytical method requires better dialogue between the client (builder/owner) and the designer. Considers the issues of conditions for an acceptable thermal environment, including operative temperature, humidity, increased air speed, adaptation, personal control, non-uniformity or local thermal comfort, and draughts.