PMV/PPD Thermal Comfort Calculator

Estimate Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) and Percentage of People Dissatisfied (PPD) using ISO 7730 inputs for air temperature, humidity, clothing, and metabolic rate.

Indoor dry-bulb temperature.
Between 0 and 100%.
1.0 met ≈ seated office work.
0.5 clo ≈ summer attire; 1.0 clo ≈ business suit.
Optional. Defaults to the air temperature.
Optional. Defaults to 0.10 m/s for sedentary spaces.

Engineering estimate; confirm HVAC decisions with detailed simulations or field measurements when required.

Examples

  • 23 °C air and radiant temperature, 50% RH, 1.2 met, 0.7 clo, 0.1 m/s ⇒ PMV -0.42 | PPD 8.72%
  • 28 °C air and radiant temperature, 60% RH, 1.0 met, 0.5 clo, 0.1 m/s ⇒ PMV 0.22 | PPD 6.04%

FAQ

Why do I enter mean radiant temperature?

Surface temperatures influence radiant heat exchange; when unknown, set it equal to air temperature for a first approximation.

What PMV range is considered comfortable?

Standards typically target PMV between -0.5 and +0.5, corresponding to PPD below 10%.

How do air speed and clothing affect results?

Higher air speed increases convective cooling, lowering PMV, while additional clothing insulation raises PMV by reducing heat loss.

Can I model activity like light assembly work?

Yes. Increase the metabolic rate input—for example 1.6 met for light industrial work—to reflect higher heat generation.

Additional Information

  • PMV follows ISO 7730 and ASHRAE 55, combining convective and radiant heat exchange with metabolic and clothing factors.
  • PPD converts PMV into an expected dissatisfaction percentage; values under 10% indicate generally acceptable comfort.
  • Air speed defaults to 0.10 m/s, approximating gentle indoor air movement in offices.

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