Clothing ventilation - update and applications

The Environmental Ergonomics Unit at the P.O.W. provided a forum for the discussion and consolidation of ideas regarding the origins, current progress and the future development of the Clothing Ventilation Index. Crockford et al (1972) first developed the concept of clothing ventilation. The basic technique employs a trace gas dilution method for measuring the ventilation of the clothing microclimate. Ventilation is vital to the removal of sensible and insensible heat and, therefore, an important determinant of thermal comfort. Two techniques (Lotens and Havenith, 1986, 1988; Reischl et al, 1987) have subsequently been developed. The former method results in an average ventilation value for the total clothed-body surface area, whereas the latter method also takes into consideration regional changes in garment design as separate entities from the total ventilation, allowing for local modification in garment design. The Clothing Ventilation Index is a quantitative, relatively inexpensive, fast, reliable and repeatable technique. It can be used in context, in the working environment to predict the effectiveness, preference and suitability of garments and clothing assemblies; firstly, to ensure that protective clothing is worn and used correctly, and secondly, to improve performance by minimising heat strain, sweat retention and thermal discomfort. Further work on validating the techniques in terms of human responses to the thermal environment is required. Questions were also raised as to whether human beings or manikins should be used. The use of human beings in dynamic situations is of paramount importance; however, manikins could be used for purely physical measurements to test various assumptions in evaluating clothing ventilation. It is essential that body dimensions and posture are always specified. The seminar enabled researchers to identify with the proposed techniques, outline the advantages and importance of the Clothing Ventilation Index and focus future studies.