Architectural Evaluation of Thermal Comfort: Sick Building Syndrome Symptoms in Engineering Education Laboratories

Providing comfortable and healthy learning environment in tertiary institutions is beneficial to the teaching and learning process. However, uncomfortable and unhealthy indoor conditions may increase the risk of sick building syndrome (SBS) symptoms, discomfort and illness among building occupants. This study was conducted to investigate thermal conditions and SBS symptoms in three air-conditioned engineering education laboratories (EEL) located at Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM). Building-related factors (such as space layout and adequacy, seating, furniture layout, surfaces' colors, windows, architecture aesthetic value and windows/ opening) of the lab were also evaluated and rated as good in terms of overall quality (range between 3.71, SD= 0.48 and 3.93, SD= 0.36). Objective measurement was conducted for thermal variables; mean radiant temperature (tr), relative humidity, and air velocity. Results shows that the mean radiant temperature (tr) were not within recommended range (minimum 17.80C in EEL3 and maximum 22.420C in EEL1). Subjective measurement with questionnaire surveys was distributed to 71 undergraduate and postgraduate students. Investigations were made with a particular focus at SBS symptoms and thermal sensation votes. Results show that most students in each lab have experienced all the SBS symptoms. Among the symptoms, dry skin received the highest percentage (40.85%), followed by runny nose (31%), dry eyes (29.58%), blocked/ stuffy nose (28.17%), tiredness (26.76%) and flu-like symptoms (21.13%) with unacceptable thermal conditions among the respondents in all laboratories. Based on the results, centralized air conditioned in engineering education laboratories should be designed adequately. Without a proper functioning control system, it is impossible to sustain a comfortable indoor environment for student occupants.