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Appendix Two: Thermal Comfort Sensation Scales
Many thermal comfort sensation scales have been established; one is presented as an example in table A-1 below. This scale recognizes 15 degrees of comfort and discomfort with regard both to heat and humidity and 5 degrees with respect to air freshness.
Table A2.1.Thermal comfort sensation scale
Heat |
Humidity |
Air Freshness |
|||
Unbearably hot | +7 | Unbearably moist | +7 | ||
Much too hot | +6 | Much too moist | +6 | ||
Too hot | +5 | Too moist | +5 | ||
Hot | +4 | Moist | +4 | Very stuffy | +2 |
Too warm | +3 | Too humid | +3 | ||
Warm | +2 | Humid | +2 | Stuffy | +1 |
Comfortably warm | +1 | Comfortably humid | +1 | ||
Neutral | 0 | Neutral | 0 | Comfortable | 0 |
Comfortably cool | -1 | Comfortably dry | -1 | ||
Cool | -2 | Dry | -2 | Fresh | -1 |
Too cool | -3 | Too dry | -3 | ||
Cold | -4 | Parched | -4 | Very fresh | -2 |
Too cold | -5 | Too parched | -5 | ||
Much too cold | -6 | Much too parched | -6 | ||
Unbearably cold | - 7 | Unbearably parched | -7 |
In applying this scale to a practical situation, one determines the degrees that correspond to the sensation and notes down the corresponding code from table A-1 and the time of observation on a record sheet similar to the example shown in table A-2 along with other relevant data.
Table A2.2. Typical data sheet for environmental conditions and thermal comfort observation
Outdoor Weather Conditions | Date | |||
Description of Room | Location | |||
Observations |
||||
Instrument | Measurement | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Time of observation | ||||
Whirling hygrometer | °C Dry bulb | |||
°C Wet bulb | ||||
°C Wet bulb | ||||
Temp. difference | ||||
From tables or chart | % Relative Humidity | |||
From tables or chart | Dew Point | |||
Globe thermometer | G. T. °C | |||
Silvered thermometer | S. T. °C | |||
Kata thermometer | Cooling times | |||
Factor: | ||||
Range: | ||||
Glass or silvered | ||||
From nomogram | Cooling power | |||
Air velocity | ||||
Effective temperature | ||||
(Normal-scale nomogram) | E. T. °C | |||
Effective temperature | ||||
(Basic-scale nomogram) | B.E.T.°C | |||
Corrected effective temperature (Basic-scale nomogram) | G.E.T. (B)°C | |||
Mean temperature of surroundings | M.T.S. °C | |||
Equivalent temperature nomogram | Equiv. Temp. °C | |||
Thermal comfort sensations | ||||
Sensation | Time | |||
a. Heat | ||||
b. Moisture | ||||
c. Freshness |
Name________________________ | Posture or work_______ | Weight_____________ |
Age and sex___________________ | Last meal: time________ | |
nature________ | ||
Clothing_______________________ |