The significance of air velocity and turbulence intensity for responses to horizontal drafts in a constant air temperature of 23°C

Abstract

Aim: The aim was to prove the significance of air velocity and turbulence intensity on the responses to drafts and if air velocity is adequately weighted in the draft rating model (DR-model) proposed in ISO 7730 (1994). Methods: Seventeen healthy persons (9 women, 8 men, 19–51 yr) took part in 12 randomly arranged 1-h sessions where horizontal drafts were directed towards the dorsolateral body sites of the sedentary persons. Mean air velocity was varied in 4 ( v ̄ a : 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 m/s) and turbulence intensity in 3 steps (Tu: <30,≈50,>70%) but were kept constant during the single sessions, whereas air velocities were increased every 15 min in the basic experiments performed for the DR-model. Air temperature was 23°C, humidity varied between 40% and 60%. Subjective perception and annoyance due to drafts were registered every 5 min using a list of prescribed body parts and skin temperature was measured continuously throughout the sessions at the forearm and at the neck. Results: Draft-induced general annoyance (if draft-induced annoyance was stated for at least one body site) and draft-induced local annoyance as stated for the neck and for the forearm increased with air velocity and/or with turbulence intensity. The decrease in skin temperature, however, was only related to air velocity but not to turbulence intensity. Air velocities are obviously not accurately weighted in the draft-rating model (ISO 7730, 1994). As compared to the effects observed here, the effects predicted with the DR-model were smaller in case of mean air velocities of 0.3 m/s and less but greater for 0.4 m/s. Concerning rather sedentary persons it seems that drafts are tolerable as long as mean air velocities do not exceed 0.2 m/s and as long as turbulence intensity remains below 30% in air temperature of 23°C. Relevance to industry Drafts are the most annoying climatic factor at many workplaces and assumed to reduce satisfaction with work, to impair performance and perhaps even health (Griefahn et al., Ind. Health 38 (2000b) 30). The limitation of drafts is therefore an important contribution to industrial safety. Using the draft-rating model proposed in ISO 7730 (1994) for the evaluation and for the prediction of draft-induced annoyance, it must be considered that the model underestimates the effects of drafts in case of air velocities of 0.3 m/s which prevail at more than 85% of workplaces in offices and in the industry (Griefahn, 1999; Zhou, Ph.D. Thesis, International Center for Indoor Environment and Energy, Department of Energy Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, 1999).