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Using Upper Extremity Skin Temperatures to Assess Thermal Comfort in Office Buildings in Changsha, China

Author

Listed:
  • Zhibin Wu

    (College of Civil Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410081, China)

  • Nianping Li

    (College of Civil Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410081, China)

  • Haijiao Cui

    (College of Civil Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410081, China)

  • Jinqing Peng

    (College of Civil Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410081, China)

  • Haowen Chen

    (College of Civil Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410081, China)

  • Penglong Liu

    (College of Civil Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410081, China)

Abstract

Existing thermal comfort field studies are mainly focused on the relationship between the indoor physical environment and the thermal comfort. In numerous chamber experiments, physiological parameters were adopted to assess thermal comfort, but the experiments’ conclusions may not represent a realistic thermal environment due to the highly controlled thermal environment and few occupants. This paper focuses on determining the relationships between upper extremity skin temperatures (i.e., finger, wrist, hand and forearm) and the indoor thermal comfort. Also, the applicability of predicting thermal comfort by using upper extremity skin temperatures was explored. Field studies were performed in office buildings equipped with split air-conditioning (SAC) located in the hot summer and cold winter (HSCW) climate zone of China during the summer of 2016. Psychological responses of occupants were recorded and physical and physiological factors were measured simultaneously. Standard effective temperature (SET*) was used to incorporate the effect of humidity and air velocity on thermal comfort. The results indicate that upper extremity skin temperatures are good indicators for predicting thermal sensation, and could be used to assess the thermal comfort in terms of physiological mechanism. In addition, the neutral temperature was 24.7 °C and the upper limit for 80% acceptability was 28.2 °C in SET*.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhibin Wu & Nianping Li & Haijiao Cui & Jinqing Peng & Haowen Chen & Penglong Liu, 2017. "Using Upper Extremity Skin Temperatures to Assess Thermal Comfort in Office Buildings in Changsha, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-17, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:14:y:2017:i:10:p:1092-:d:112767
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Chandel, S.S. & Sharma, Vandna & Marwah, Bhanu M., 2016. "Review of energy efficient features in vernacular architecture for improving indoor thermal comfort conditions," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 459-477.
    2. Chen-Fa Wu & Yen-Fen Hsieh & Sheng-Jung Ou, 2015. "Thermal Adaptation Methods of Urban Plaza Users in Asia’s Hot-Humid Regions: A Taiwan Case Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-27, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Zefeng Lian & Binyi Liu & Robert D. Brown, 2023. "Exploring the Predictive Potential of Physiological Measures of Human Thermal Strain in Outdoor Environments in Hot and Humid Areas in Summer—A Case Study of Shanghai, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-15, March.
    2. Charmaine Childs & Jennifer Elliott & Khaled Khatab & Susan Hampshaw & Sally Fowler-Davis & Jon R. Willmott & Ali Ali, 2020. "Thermal Sensation in Older People with and without Dementia Living in Residential Care: New Assessment Approaches to Thermal Comfort Using Infrared Thermography," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-22, September.

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