Cited by 149Thermoregulation and physiological responsesBuilding Energy and Comfort OptimizationUrban Heat Island Mitigation

Thermal environment assessment reliability using temperature–humidity indices

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d’AMBROSIO ALFANO, Francesca Romana, PALELLA, Boris Igor, RICCIO, Giuseppe·2011·Industrial Health

Abstract

A reliable assessment of the thermal environment should take into account the whole of the six parameters affecting the thermal sensation (air temperature, air velocity, humidity, mean radiant temperature, metabolic rate and thermo-physical properties of clothing). Anyway, the need of a quick evaluation based on few measurements and calculations has leaded to like best temperature-humidity indices instead of rational methods based on the heat balance on the human body. Among these, Canadian Humidex, preliminarily used only for weather forecasts, is becoming more and more widespread for a generalized assessment of both outdoor and indoor thermal environments. This custom arouses great controversies since using an index validated in outdoor conditions does not assure its indoor reliability. Moreover is it really possible to carry out the thermal environment assessment ignoring some of variables involved in the physiological response of the human body? Aiming to give a clear answer to these questions, this paper deals with a comparison between the assessment carried out according to the rational methods suggested by International Standards in force and the Humidex index. This combined analysis under hot stress situations (indoor and outdoor) has been preliminarily carried out; in a second phase the study deals with the indoor comfort prediction. Obtained results show that Humidex index very often leads to the underestimation of the workplace dangerousness and a poor reliability of comfort prediction when it is used in indoor situations.

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Crossref · 10.2486/indhealth.ms1097

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  • The weaker correlation between WBGT and HD aligns with results of a previous study, where HD was found to be less reliable than WBGT in the assessment of heat stress exposure risk with a moderate workload under simulated hot working conditions.

    “The weaker correlation between WBGT and HD aligns with results of a previous study, where HD was found to be less reliable than WBGT in the assessment of heat stress exposure risk with a moderate workload under simulated hot working conditions (D’ambrosio Alfano et al., 2011).”

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Authors
d’AMBROSIO ALFANO, F. R., PALELLA, B. I., & RICCIO, G.
Affiliations
University of Naples Federico II (IT)
Venue
Industrial Health
Published
2011
Volume
49
Issue
1
Pages
95-106
ISSN
  • 0019-8366 (ISSN-L)
  • 1880-8026
OpenAlex
W2166433195
Cited by
149
References
24
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 4
FWCI
3.25
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Industrial Health (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • INFM-OAR (INFN Catania) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Thermoregulation and physiological responses
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Building and Construction › Building Energy and Comfort Optimization
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Engineering › Urban Heat Island Mitigation
Keywords
thermal environment evaluation, indoor thermal comfort, indoor thermal environment, outdoor thermal environment, comfort prediction, human thermal sensation, clothing thermal properties
MeSH terms
Basal Metabolism, Body Temperature, Body Temperature Regulation, Cold Temperature, Environment, Hot Temperature, Humans, Humidity, Stress, Physiological, Temperature, Reproducibility of Results, Workplace

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