Thermal Comfort Requirements in Iranian Hospitals

SUMMARY This paper presents the results of a study to determine the thermal comfort requirements of the occupants in Iranian hospitals. It arrives at its conclusions through consideration of the wide range of metabolic rates and clothing levels experienced by the occupants. The study includes both patients and staff, and only considers patient recovery wards as these are where the greatest range of thermal comfort needs will normally be found. This study uses ISO 7730 as its basis, with reference also to ASHRAE 55 and CIBSE. The main conclusion from this study is that while the occupants of Iranian hospitals can require widely varying thermal conditions to achieve thermal comfort, it is possible to reconcile these different needs.