The Role of Duration of Presence, Carbon Dioxide Concentration, and Relative Humidity on the Thermal Comfort of Worshippers in Contemporary Mosques of Ilam

Document Type : Original

Author

Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture, II.c., Islamic Azad University, Ilam, Iran.

Abstract

The feeling of thermal comfort in religious spaces is one of the key factors affecting the quality of worship and spiritual concentration of worshippers. The presence of temperature and humidity outside the desired range not only leads to thermal dissatisfaction but also leads to a decrease in comfort, creates restlessness, and disrupts the quality of worship. The present study aims to investigate the experimental effect of the levels of humidity variables (50 and 70 percent), the duration of people's presence (20, 40, 60, and 80 minutes), and the amount of carbon dioxide (600 PPM with mechanical ventilation and 1600 PPM without mechanical ventilation) on the feeling of thermal comfort of worshippers in mosques in a laboratory climate chamber. This study was conducted using a three-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) between groups over four months (December to March 2024) with the participation of 160 men in Ilam city. It was analyzed using SPSS version 27 software. The results of the statistical analysis of this study indicate a significant effect of environmental factors on the feeling of thermal comfort of worshippers in mosques. The findings indicate that relative humidity of the air, as one of the environmental quality components, plays a significant role in determining the thermal comfort of the architectural space (p<0.05). Also, carbon dioxide concentration and the duration of the presence of worshipers, as independent factors, affect the thermal comfort index of worshipers (p<0.05). It is noteworthy that there is a significant interaction between relative humidity and the amount of carbon dioxide (p<0.05), which indicates that the combination of these two factors can change the structure of the thermal comfort balance in the architectural environment. However, other interactions, including the relationship between the duration of presence with relative humidity and carbon dioxide, were not statistically significant and no noticeable effect was observed on the thermal comfort status. The results showed that maintaining humidity at the optimal level of 50% and controlling the concentration of carbon dioxide at 600 ppm, as two key factors, are a necessary condition for creating a desirable environment, especially in the long-term presence of worshipers in mosques. This finding emphasizes the need for coordinated design of ventilation and humidification systems in mosques, such that simultaneous provision of desirable air quality and humidity, especially during longer occupancy hours (such as congregational prayers or religious ceremonies), should be prioritized. Therefore, combining passive solutions (such as appropriate materials and natural ventilation) with active systems controlling humidity and air quality can lead to the design of sustainable religious spaces and enhance the spiritual experience of worshippers.

Keywords

References

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Journal of Iranian Architecture Studies
Volume 14, Issue 28
March 2026
Pages 129-152

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