ABSTRACT

Thermal comfort has a great influence on the productivity and satisfaction of indoor building occupants. The exposure to excessive heat or cold during work may cause discomfort and contributed to low productivity among workers. Maiduguri, Borno State is known with its hot and cold condition during summer and hammattan weather respectively. Unimaid Engineering workshop had exposed to excessive temperature during summer and excessive cold during hammattan while working. The study investigates the thermal comfort level experienced by students at Unimaid Engineering workshop during hammattan season. The study had been conducted at the machining section, the foundry unit, fabrication section and engine section. The environmental factors examined were the relative humidity (%), air temperature and air velocity of the workshop area. The environmental factors were measured using Luton apparatus, which is capable of measuring simultaneously those mentioned environmental factors. Then thermal comfort of the workers was assessed using ASHRAE thermal sensation scale by using Predicted Mean Vote (PMV). Further, Predicted Percentage Dissatisfied (PPD) was used to estimate the thermal comfort satisfaction of the occupant. Finally the PPD versus PMV were plotted to present the thermal comfort scenario of students involved in the workshop. The trend of relative humidity curve from the graph also indicated the increasing level of discomfort. The air temperature observed seems slight variation during the study. The study revealed that the PPD value of 34% of the students’ population at the workshop is likely to be satisfied with thermal comfort. In conclusion, the empirical study from the PPD and PMV index indicated that students working at this were influenced by the cold. The less of PPD value from 80% of the population satisfied with the thermal comfort showed the environment were not good for the students while the PMV index showed the area of work is very cold.