Evaluating and enhancing thermal comfort and indoor air quality in a library building through measurement and simulation

Thermal comfort and indoor air quality (IAQ) are critical for occupant well-being and productivity. This study evaluates a library’s self-study reading room for adults and children’s learning center, aiming to optimize temperature and airflow conditions for different age groups. Methods included questionnaire surveys, field measurements, and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling. Findings revealed that occupants preferred cooler temperatures than standard Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) models predicted, with optimal conditions being 26 °C and 0.2 m/s for adults and 24 °C and 0.2 m/s for children. Installing a Total Heat Exchanger (THX) system reduced CO 2 levels by approximately 200 ppm. CFD simulations identified CO 2 distribution issues, leading to recommendations such as removing partition walls and rearranging desks to improve airflow. The study highlights the importance of tailored ventilation strategies to enhance IAQ and occupant comfort in diverse spaces, providing insights applicable to similar building environments.