Thermal comfort is the satisfaction with the internal environment, influenced by external and internal factors. Employers use HVAC systems to control temperature, humidity, and air circulation. High or low humidity and air speed can affect comfort. Thermal comfort also affects livestock productivity.
Thermal comfort is a concept related to the individual’s satisfaction with their internal environment. In order for a person to feel thermal comfort, it must be neither too cold nor too hot. Since this type of comfort can be influenced by both internal and external factors, not all people will feel comfortable in the same environment. The three main external factors are humidity levels, air temperatures and air movements. These factors are often closely monitored in workplace environments, as employees are typically more productive if they are not too hot or too cold.
Many different factors can contribute to thermal comfort, and each individual may have a different range of temperatures they are happy with. Internal factors, such as metabolism and age, may contribute to individual thermal sensitivity, and gender differences have also been noted. In some cases there may also be a psychological component. The amount and type of clothing a person wears also affects their comfort level, as someone wearing warm clothing indoors will tend to be hotter than another person wearing light clothing.
Employers often try to provide a level of thermal comfort that will satisfy as many people as possible. To achieve this, various heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems can be used. The three external factors that can be controlled in this way are temperature, humidity levels and air circulation. Temperature is the key factor in thermal comfort, although it can be significantly influenced by both humidity and air speed.
Some air movement is generally needed indoors, although excessive levels can make a room feel colder than it is. Even indoor air speeds in excess of 0.25 meters per second (50 feet per minute) can be a distraction to workers. High humidity can make people feel uncomfortable and often cause an area to feel stuffy, but low humidity levels can cause respiratory problems. All of these factors must be balanced to provide maximum comfort for most people.
In addition to human employees, many of these concepts have also been applied to livestock. Thermal comfort in animals can affect productivity, and studies have shown a reduction in some biological functions in the presence of extreme temperatures. Sheep in particular have shown a reduced ability to digest food when in a state of thermal discomfort, so addressing this problem can lead to higher yields.
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