Thermal Discomfort Patterns in Office Buildings in a Humid Subtropical Climate Under Actual-Use Conditions

Thermal comfort in office buildings is a key factor in occupant well-being and productivity, yet it poses a challenge due to the diversity of individual thermal characteristics and preferences. This study aims to investigate the relationships among thermal discomfort of occupants in office buildings, the ventilation mode, and individual occupant characteristics under actual-use conditions. Three buildings with a hybrid ventilation mode (natural ventilation and air-conditioning) and one building with central air-conditioning were evaluated. Data on thermal discomfort and occupant characteristics were collected via electronic questionnaires. A total of 7564 records were collected, of which 945 corresponded to clearly defined thermal discomfort (488 for heat discomfort and 457 for cold discomfort). The results showed that heat discomfort was more frequent among men and cold discomfort among women, with gender emerging as the most consistent individual factor associated with discomfort. The 30–50 age group, occupants with normal body mass index, lower clothing insulation, and lower metabolic rate accounted for a higher absolute number of discomfort reports; however, proportional analyses indicated relatively similar discomfort rates across these categories, reinforcing that thermal perception results from the combined influence of building operation and individual sensitivity rather than from isolated individual characteristics. A higher incidence of thermal discomfort, mainly due to cold, was also observed in air-conditioned environments. Among women, 68.8% of cold discomfort votes were associated with air-conditioning, while among men, it was 83.2%. In summary, the results highlight the need for strategies to personalise thermal comfort, with individual control and adaptive temperature adjustments in office buildings.