INFLUÊNCIA DA UMIDADE DO AR NO CONFORTO TÉRMICO DE USUÁRIOS DE EDIFICAÇÕES DE ESCRITÓRIOS LOCALIZADAS NO CLIMA SUBTROPICAL ÚMIDO DE FLORIANÓPOLIS/SC

Abstract

More and more, the thermal comfort presents a high importance for energy conservation, as well as user satisfaction and performance. An important factor to be considered in thermal comfort analysis is the air humidity. Based on this, this study was carried out with the aim of investigating the thermal perception and the air humidity perception of users in office buildings located in the humid subtropical climate of Florianópolis/SC, southern Brazil. From field data previously collected, statistical analysis were performed considering the air humidity and users subjective responses obtained by means of an electronic questionnaire. The thermal perception and the air humidity perception of occupants of a building with central air-conditioning system and two mixed-mode buildings, in which there was alternation between the natural ventilation mode and the air-conditioning mode, were analysed. The results obtained indicate that most people considered the thermal sensation and the humidity sensation neutral, as well as acceptable and comfortable thermal environment. This may be related to the acclimatization of users and the absence of indoor conditions with simultaneously high temperatures and high air humidity. In addition, as other authors have pointed out, it was verified the importance of the use of absolute humidity instead of relative humidity in the analysis of thermal comfort.