Low temperatures and wind; challenges, applicability and limitations from an industrial perspective

Abstract

The effect of low temperature and wind on the cooling of exposed skin has been a field of interest since the first study by Siple and Passel in 1945[1]. This resulted in the Wind Chill Index (WCI), which expressed the rate of heat loss of a cylinder per unit surface mass. The WCI remained unchanged for many years, and is still regarded as an established and well-defined framework for assessing cold stress. However, in recent years, the Wind Chill Equivalent Temperature (WCT) has supplanted the WCI. WCT is a calculated air temperature based on dry-bulb temperature and wind speed. In the last number of years, these equations have undergone several revisions, in an attempt to develop a tool that is easy to understand and use, and is scientifically valid. The rise in industrial activity in the High North has brought new challenges and a need for better winterisation standards in installations and vessels designed to operate in extremely cold climates. Reducing the need for winterisation without compromising the health and safety of the workers will reduce both building costs and the weight of offshore installations. The aim of this study was to compare the wind-chill recommendations in ISO 11079 and NORSOK S-002, Working Environment.