AC-83-02-4 -- A Validation Study of the ASHRAE Summer Comfort Envelope PDF

The thermal acceptability of males and females wearing uniform summer clothing ensembles of 0.54 clo or 0.95 clo units and exposed to ASHRAE summer comfort envelope temperatures of 73°FET* (22.8°CET*), 76°FET* (24.4°CET*), and 79°F (26.1°CET*) was investigated. Variables were tested for a 90-minute period using 108 female and 108 male college students exposed under stable and controlled conditions. Thermal responses were measured using a thermal sensation ballot for the body as a whole and for the face, hands, and feet; a thermal comfort ballot; and the weighted mean skin temperature. In general, results validated both the 0.5 clo value specified in ASHRAE Standard 55-1981 for summer comfort envelope conditions and the 0.95 clo value determined using the Thermal Comfort Threshold formula for optimal satisfaction at 73°FET* (22.8°CET*).