ASSESSMENT OF THERMAL COMFORT IN SOME SELECTED LECTURE ROOMS IN GIDAN-KWANO CAMPUS, FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY MINNA

Abstract

ABSTRACT It is widely recognised that educational systems across the world involve different stages of learning where student spend different amounts of time in the class or lecture rooms. This study assessed the environmental factors in some selected Lecture rooms in Gidan-Kwano Campus of Federal University of Technology Minna, Niger State as they affect thermal comfort in the selected spaces, in relation to the recommended comfort zone by established standards. Fieldwork that involved the collection of data were conducted via the use of AirVisual Pro, wet and dry bulb thermometer device to monitor as well as measure the indoor environmental factors of thermal comfort (indoor air temperature and relative humidity) of the study area. The collected data were analysed using descriptive (mean) and inferential (Pearson’s correlation) statistics. The results revealed that the temperature values in all the cases were slightly below 28°C, while the relative humidity values in the lecture rooms were well outside the comfort zone with average values of 88.8%, 86.1% and 85.3% for the studied indoor environment. It was concluded from the analyses of the results that the lecture rooms are not thermally comfortable enough. Therefore, it is recommended that a more conducive learning environment (lecture rooms) is needed to enable the students learn more and the lecturers to perform their duties productivity.