Key words
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Thermal manikin; thermo-physiological model; climate; clothing; average human response
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Research programs
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COST-Action 730 - Towards a universal thermal climate index UTCI for assessing the thermal environment of the human being
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Short description
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The Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) requires a universal thermo-physiological model of an average human to be developed for use in weather prediction and should be valid for any climate to which the human may be exposed. Various existing models shall be validated for their application range using physiological and clothing data and combined in an appropriate manner. By linking the model with the control algorithm of the Sweating Agile thermal Manikin (SAM) the following should be achieved: 1. the model can be developed and validated directly for a given well-defined climate and clothing. 2. the resulting unique physical model can then be used in future to provide predictions of thermo-physiological response, comfort, hyperthermia, hypothermia, frostbite, survival time, etc. for any climate and reduce the need for costly and possibly health- or life-threatening human trials.
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Further information
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Full name of research-institution/enterprise: Eidg. Materialprüfungs- und Forschungsanstalt EMPA Laboratory for Protection and Physiology
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Partners and International Organizations
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AT, BG, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GR, HU, IL, IT, PL, PT, RO, SE, SI, UK
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Abstract
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Humans require a balanced heat budget to maintain well-being and avoid thermal stress, health problems and even possible mortality. When outdoors, this individual heat budget is directly influenced by the local climate. Not only by ambient temperature but also the other local climatic conditions such as wind speed, solar radiation and relative humidity can effect the thermal status of the human. The main aim of this COST action is to develop and make easily available a physiologically relevant assessment model of the thermal environment in order to significantly enhance applications relating to health and well-being. This assessment model shall lead to the creation of a Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI). Applications should include future weather forecasts, which inform the general public of how the weather feels in a standardised manner, taking into account the effects of radiation, wind and humidity. The UTCI requires a thermo-physiological model of an average human which should be valid for any climate to which the human may be exposed. Following extensive validation work (44 exposures involving 286 human subjects), the Fiala model of human thermo-physiology and thermal comfort has been demonstrated to predict accurately the average untrained human response over a large range of air temperatures (-13 to 50°C) and metabolic rates (0.8 to 12 met). Consequently the Fiala model has been chosen to form the basis of the UTCI model. The clothing properties for the above validations were determined using the Sweating Agile thermal Manikin (SAM) and ISO 9920. The Fiala model has been coupled with SAM (multi-sector manikin) and with a simpler Torso (single sector) manikin, in order to provide physical thermo-physiological simulators of the human body. Validation of the coupled Torso system indicate its predictive capabilities for given application zones for cold to hot climates. Work is now in progress to validate the coupled SAM system. These coupled systems should be useful for further development of the UTCI and to predict human thermo-physiological response, hyperthermia, hypothermia, survival time etc. thus reducing the need for costly and possibly health- and life-threatening human trials.
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References in databases
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Swiss Database: COST-DB of the State Secretariat for Education and Research Hallwylstrasse 4 CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland Tel. +41 31 322 74 82 Swiss Project-Number: C06.0023
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