Most of the classroom in Nepalese school buildings are thermally less acceptable due to the poor thermal insulation. They are extremecold in winter and extreme hot in summer season leading for the discomfort in classroom. Thermally uncomfortable classroom causesthe negative impact in the academic performance of students. Therefore, there should be serious attention to improve the indoorthermal environment of classroom. There are limited indoor thermal environment studies conducted in Nepalese residential buildingsbut not at all in school buildings yet.This study investigated the students’ perceptions on thermal comfort inside the classroom of secondary school buildings during theautumn season of 2017 in a temperate climate (Dhading, Kathmandu and Nuwakot districts) of Nepal. 22 classrooms (33 students inaverage in each class) of 8 school buildings with a total of 818 students aged 12-18 years, 329 (40%) males and 489 (60%) femaleswere participated in the survey. The two simultaneous surveys: questionnaire survey and thermal measurement survey were conductedduring the regular lesson periods in each classroom. Students voted at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of the class inminutes’ lecture.About 76% responses were found to be in either of slightly cold, neutral or slightly hot. The results show that the comfort temperatureof students was around 28 °C, 26°C and 24°C in Dhading, Kathmandu and Nuwakot districts, respectively. However, the meancomfort temperature and preferred temperature was found to be around 27 °C and 26 °C respectively. The findings of this study mayhopefully invoke the awareness of the school building designers, teachers and students to maintain the thermally comfortable schoolbuildings without using mechanical system.
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