https://doi.org/10.1140/epjs/s11734-026-02351-6
Regular Article
Pilot study of thermal comfort perception in educational buildings
National Center of Public Health and Analyses, Physical Factors Department, 15, Acad Ivan Geshov Boul., 1431, Sofia, Bulgaria
a
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Received:
29
August
2025
Accepted:
24
April
2026
Published online:
16
May
2026
Abstract
Thermal comfort is an essential factor in ensuring a favorable learning environment in school buildings. This pilot study investigates the subjective perception of thermal comfort among students and teachers using a questionnaire survey. The study aims to identify problems with thermal comfort in different school premises and provide a basis for developing a method for assessment and specific legislation for provision of thermal comfort in learning conditions. The questionnaire is applied to both students and teachers, taking into account their different activity (metabolic rate), perceptions, and thermoregulation.
The study was conducted in a secondary specialized school, and for the purpose of the study, a questionnaire was developed to study the subjective perception of students and teachers of thermal comfort in school premises. The questionnaire includes questions related to the physical characteristics of the microclimate that can affect comfort and concentration during the learning process: temperature, humidity, air velocity. It includes both fixed-answer questions related to thermal sensation and open-ended questions that allow participants to propose specific solutions to improve existing conditions. The article presents data from a survey covering 75 students. The complex analysis of the results shows that despite registered perceptions of a relatively acceptable microclimate, there are clearly pronounced problems related to overheating, cooling, drafts, temperature instability and unsatisfactory air quality. An important result is the reported influence of the microclimate on concentration, which confirms the need for the development of legislation for microclimate in educational buildings, the introduction of complex criteria for temperature comfort, based on PMV/PPD indices (ISO 7730) and/or adaptive models (ASHRAE 55).
Copyright comment Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to EDP Sciences, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2026
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
