HI-85-09-1 -- Human Response to Thermal Conditions Maintained in an Office by Radiant Ceiling, Baseboard, Forced Air, and Floor Heating Systems PDF

A typical office space was heated separately by (1) radiant ceiling panels, (2) forced-air, (3) baseboard, and (4) carpet heating systems. Each system was controlled for equal comfort with the same "operative temperature" thermostat whose set point was unchanged throughout the test series. The office. was contained within an environmental chamber. The steady-state power consumption per unit floor area for all systems averaged 9.1 Btu/hft² (98 W/m²). The radiant system used the least power. Air temperatures in the occupied space were most uniform with the floor heating system. Twenty subjects experienced each environment for three hours. Periodically, subjects indicated their thermal sensations for whole body, head, and feet, local discomfort, comfort, and whether the environment was thermally acceptable or not. Comfort and whole body thermal sensations were not statistically different for all four systems and thermal acceptability averaged 94%. Though subjects indicated their feet were slightly warm with the carpet heating, they preferred this system to the others tested.

Units: Dual