Thermal Comfort during daily prayer times in an Air-Conditioned Mosque in Malaysia

This study evaluated the thermal environment in an air-conditioned mosque in Malaysia during the various daily prayer times. The objectives of the study includes determining the clo values, the neutral operative temperature, comfort temperature, and assessing the reliability of the PMV model predictions in determining thermal comfort in these situations. A field study was conducted in November 2012 and April 2013 during Subuh, Zohor, Asar, Maghrib and Isyak prayer times. Results show that PMV model predictions and AMV were found to be 25.88 °C and 30.44 °C, respectively.  The difference of 4.56 °C between PMV and AMV indicates that thermal comfort under these conditions cannot co-relate well with ASHRAE Standard-55. A new range of thermal comfort temperature between 26.99 °C to 31.41 °C was derived. Overall observations found that worshippers’ thermal comfort in the hot and humid climate such as Malaysia favours the adaptive approach.