The Thermal Comfort of Residents with an Emphasis on the Quality of Materials in the Cold and Mountainous Climate

Moradi, Zahra; Moradi, Tahoora; Tan, Liangbin

doi:10.22034/ijumes.2026.2062831.1338

The Thermal Comfort of Residents with an Emphasis on the Quality of Materials in the Cold and Mountainous Climate

Document Type : Case Study

Authors

Zahra Moradi ¹

Tahoora Moradi ²

Liangbin Tan ³

¹ Department of Architecture, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Islamic Azad University, Hamedan, Iran

² Department of Architecture, Arts and Architecture Faculty, Kunming University of Science and Technology (KUST), Kunming, Yunnan, China

³ Department of Architecture and Urban Planning, Faculty of Architecture, Kunming University of Science and Technology (KUST), Kunming, Yunnan, China

10.22034/ijumes.2026.2062831.1338

Abstract

Thermal comfort is a multidisciplinary concept at the intersection of physiology, psychology, architecture, and environmental science, referring to the state in which a person feels satisfied with the surrounding thermal environment. The aim of this study is to investigate and explain the proposed indexes for evaluating the thermal comfort of residents in cold and mountainous climates, with an emphasis on building materials in the city of Kermanshah in western Iran. The method of collecting information is documentary and library, and a questionnaire and interview have been used to conduct the research. First, using the content analysis method and inductive reasoning in developing the initial concepts and reviewing the research background, the initial theoretical framework of the research is refined, and then using the fuzzy Delphi method in the participatory decision-making approach, it is questioned and evaluated in 4 rounds using an elite panel of 15 people in the research field of expertise finally using the results, the final framework of the indexes is presented. Findings show Environmental temperature, Humidity level, and Mean radiant temperature with an average score of 4.80, 4.72, and 4.65, respectively, are the most important and influential final indexes. It can be concluded that of the three components affecting the selection of effective indexes for assessing thermal comfort of residents in the cold and mountainous climate of Kermanshah city in Iran, the focus of building materials is more based on the environment and environmental conditions.

Graphical Abstract

The Thermal Comfort of Residents with an Emphasis on the Quality of Materials in the Cold and Mountainous Climate

Highlights

· Thermal comfort indexes are explained for residents in the cold, mountainous climate of Kermanshah, Iran.

· A fuzzy Delphi method with a 15-expert panel refined the factors over successive rounds.

· 22 candidate factors across three components were reduced to 10 final consensus indexes.

· Environmental temperature, humidity, and mean radiant temperature ranked as the most influential indexes.

· Building-material selection for thermal comfort is shown to be driven mainly by environmental conditions.

Keywords

Building materials

environmental conditions

Kermanshah

Iran

thermal comfort

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