Thermal Comfort, Perceived Air Quality and Intensity of SBS Symptoms During Exposure to Moderate Operative Temperature Ramps

The objective of the presented research work was to study the effects of moderate operative temperature drifts on human thermal comfort, perceived air quality, and intensity of SBS symptoms. Experimental subjects (52, 50% female) were seated in a climatic chamber and exposed to operative temperature ramps with different slope, direction and duration during two related experiments (0.6 K/h, 1.2 K/h, +2.4 K/h, +4.8 K/h). The studied temperature ranges were 22-26.8C (light clothing - 0.5 clo) and 17.8-25C (heavier clothing - 0.7 clo). Exposure to steady temperatures (24.4, 21.4C) corresponding with a neutral thermal sensation was included in the experimental design. Results of the experiment showed that all tested operative temperature ramps were perceived by sedentary subjects when the exposure time exceeded four hours. No significant effect on SBS symptoms related to local irritation of mucous membranes was found, while the intensity of headache, well feeling and concentration ability was significantly higher at the end of the exposure to the temperature ramps. A linear relation between perceived air quality and temperature (enthalpy) was found.