Temperature and Humidity

Abstract This chapter describes the scientific parameters of temperature and humidity and the ways in which they affect comfort and health in schools. Thermal conditions—temperature, relative humidity, and air velocity—have direct effects on the human body and on functional outcomes such as performance, learning, and productivity. Thermal conditions can also indirectly affect indoor air pollutant concentrations, as well as human exposure to these pollutants. Regulation of the thermal environment is necessary to maintain optimal conditions and involves routine monitoring and adjustment of the temperature, relative humidity, and air movement.