This thermal comfort field investigation was conducted
in different provinces from different climatic
zones of Thailand (Khedari et al., 2001a). The climate
zones were divided into three zones using dry bulb temperature
ranges and into four zones using the relative
humidity ranges, Fig. 1. In the south part of Thailand,
most areas are connected to the sea, so that the average
relative humidity is higher than in the other parts of the
country, while in the northeastern zone the climate is
pretty dry.
Obviously the different climates in each area affect
the acclimatization and the comfort of people who live
in them, their environmental response and thermal
comfort satisfaction will be different. Due to time and
budget limitations, only four representative provinces
out of three zones were selected to conduct the survey.
They were Chiang Mai in the North (zone H1), Bangkok
in the central part and Mahasarakham in the Northeast
(zone H2) and Prachuab Khirikhan in the South (zone
H3). Zone H4 was not included on the list because it
is mainly an important tourist destination and most
buildings are private hotels and resorts, and are controlled
at suitable conditions for tourists.