Which of the following is NOT one of the six primary personal or environmental variables contributing to occupant thermal comfort?

• A. Metabolic rate
• B. Humidity
• C. Dry bulb temperature
• D. Pressure

Answer: (D)

Thermal comfort is shaped by both personal factors and the surrounding environment. The standard set of six primary variables includes metabolic rate (how much heat your body generates), clothing insulation (how much warmth your clothes trap), air temperature (dry-bulb temperature), radiant temperature from surrounding surfaces, air velocity (how quickly air moves over the skin), and humidity (moisture content in the air). Pressure doesn’t directly drive perceived comfort under typical indoor conditions, so it isn’t counted among these six. While pressure can matter in extreme environments or at high altitudes, it isn’t a primary factor in shaping everyday thermal comfort.