A Method for Estimating Instantaneous Predicted Mean Vote Under Dynamic Conditions by Accounting for Thermal Inertia

Lenkovics, László; Budulski, László; Loch, Gábor; Grozdics, Anett Tímea; Borsos, Ágnes; Kisander, Zsolt; Girán, János; Eördöghné Miklós, Mária; Cakó, Balázs

doi:10.3390/buildings15091413

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Open AccessArticle

A Method for Estimating Instantaneous Predicted Mean Vote Under Dynamic Conditions by Accounting for Thermal Inertia

by

László Lenkovics

^1,*

,

László Budulski

¹,

Gábor Loch

¹

,

Anett Tímea Grozdics

²,

Ágnes Borsos

³,

Zsolt Kisander

⁴,

János Girán

⁵

,

Mária Eördöghné Miklós

¹ and

Balázs Cakó

^4,6

¹

Thermal Comfort Research Group Acting, Department of Building Services and Building Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Pécs, Boszorkány St. 2., 7624 Pécs, Hungary

²

Parameterized Comfort in Physical Spaces Research Group, Department of Architecture and Urban Planning, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Pécs, Boszorkány St. 2., 7624 Pécs, Hungary

³

Parameterized Comfort in Physical Spaces Research Group, Department of Interior, Applied and Creative Design, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Pécs, Boszorkány St. 2., 7624 Pécs, Hungary

⁴

Parameterized Comfort in Physical Spaces Research Group, Department of Electrical Networks, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Pécs, Boszorkány St. 2., 7624 Pécs, Hungary

⁵

Parameterized Comfort in Physical Spaces Research Group, Department of Public Health Medicines, Medical School, University of Pécs, Szigeti St. 12., 7624 Pécs, Hungary

⁶

Thermal Comfort Research Group, Department of Building Services and Building Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Pécs, Boszorkány St. 2., 7624 Pécs, Hungary

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Buildings 2025, 15(9), 1413; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15091413

Submission received: 14 March 2025 / Revised: 12 April 2025 / Accepted: 14 April 2025 / Published: 22 April 2025

(This article belongs to the Section Building Energy, Physics, Environment, and Systems)

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Abstract

Researchers have increasingly focused on thermal comfort, examining both individuals’ thermal sensations and the percentage of people dissatisfied with the thermal environment. Most studies rely on the widely used PMV (Predicted Mean Vote) model and the PPD (Predicted Percentage of Dissatisfied) value derived from it, both defined by the ISO 7730:2005 standard. However, previous studies have shown that this standardized method only applies under steady-state conditions, which do not reflect the dynamic nature of everyday environments. As closed-loop control technologies gain prominence in building services, the need to evaluate thermal comfort under time-varying conditions has grown. The standard method does not account for the thermal inertia of the human body, which limits its applicability in such dynamic contexts. In this study, we develop a method to estimate instantaneous thermal sensation under non-stationary conditions by incorporating thermal inertia through signal processing techniques. This approach addresses a well-recognized limitation of the standard PMV–PPD model and provides a way to assess thermal comfort in real time. We collected experimental data using a thermal comfort measurement station, a thermal manikin, and human subjects in a controlled climate chamber. The proposed method enables real-time evaluation of thermal comfort in dynamic environments and offers a foundation for integration into HVAC control and comfort optimization systems.

Keywords: thermal inertia; thermal comfort; predicted mean vote; indoor environmental quality; comfort map; dynamic thermal environment; sensor-based monitoring

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MDPI and ACS Style

Lenkovics, L.; Budulski, L.; Loch, G.; Grozdics, A.T.; Borsos, Á.; Kisander, Z.; Girán, J.; Eördöghné Miklós, M.; Cakó, B. A Method for Estimating Instantaneous Predicted Mean Vote Under Dynamic Conditions by Accounting for Thermal Inertia. Buildings 2025, 15, 1413. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15091413

AMA Style

Lenkovics L, Budulski L, Loch G, Grozdics AT, Borsos Á, Kisander Z, Girán J, Eördöghné Miklós M, Cakó B. A Method for Estimating Instantaneous Predicted Mean Vote Under Dynamic Conditions by Accounting for Thermal Inertia. Buildings. 2025; 15(9):1413. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15091413

Chicago/Turabian Style

Lenkovics, László, László Budulski, Gábor Loch, Anett Tímea Grozdics, Ágnes Borsos, Zsolt Kisander, János Girán, Mária Eördöghné Miklós, and Balázs Cakó. 2025. "A Method for Estimating Instantaneous Predicted Mean Vote Under Dynamic Conditions by Accounting for Thermal Inertia" Buildings 15, no. 9: 1413. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15091413

APA Style

Lenkovics, L., Budulski, L., Loch, G., Grozdics, A. T., Borsos, Á., Kisander, Z., Girán, J., Eördöghné Miklós, M., & Cakó, B. (2025). A Method for Estimating Instantaneous Predicted Mean Vote Under Dynamic Conditions by Accounting for Thermal Inertia. Buildings, 15(9), 1413. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15091413

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A Method for Estimating Instantaneous Predicted Mean Vote Under Dynamic Conditions by Accounting for Thermal Inertia

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