ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN THERMAL PERCEPTION AND PHYSIOLOGICAL INDICATORS UNDER MODERATE THERMAL STRESS

This study reports the findings from subjective responses of tropically-acclimatized people and theirrelationships with cutaneous indicators at three air temperatures, i.e. 20.0, 23.0, and 26.0C. A blindintervention study was conducted in a simulated office environment. Ninety-six subjects were recruitedand divided into 6 groups of 16 subjects. Each group was asked to perform simulated office tasks in theroom for a continuous four-hour session. The subjects also completed surveys on general thermalcomfort and sensations at various body locations. Measurement of skin temperature was carried out atfive locations of the body, i.e. forehead, upper arm, hand, back, and foot, while sweat rate wasmeasured at the upper arm. Correlation analysis was performed on both the subjective andphysiological data. Subjects were unable to maintain thermal neutrality during the four-hour exposure at20.0 and 23.0C (P