Thermal comfort, physiological responses and performance during exposure to a moderate temperature drift

SUMMARY The objective of this research was to study the effects of a moderate temperature drift on human thermal comfort, physiological responses, productivity and performance. A dynamic thermophysiological model was used to examine the possibility of simulating human thermal responses and thermal comfort under moderate transient conditions. To examine the influence of a moderate temperature ramp, a climate room set-up with experimental subjects was used. Eight subjects visited the climate room on two occasions: 1) exposure to a transient condition (a moderate temperature ramp) and 2) a steady temperature corresponding with a neutral thermal sensation (control situation). During the experiments both physiological responses and thermal sensation were measured. Productivity and performance were assessed with a ‘Remote Performance Measurement’ (RPM) method. Physiological and thermal sensation data indicate significant differences between the transient condition and the control situation. Productivity and performance tests show no significant changes between the two situations. Simulations obtained with the thermophysiological model were in good agreement with the measurements. Possible improvements of the performance and productivity tests and the thermophysiological model will be discussed.