Design and Evaluation of Clothing for Protection from Heat Stress: An Overview
Abstract
The human body compensates well for moderate climatic heat stress, but artificial environments often block or overwhelm physiological defence mechanisms. Examples from industry include combinations of high air temperature and extreme radiant load in smelters, foundries and glassworks; elevated wet bulb temperatures which cause problems in very deep mines, ship engine compartments and textile drying rooms. Workers cannot tolerate such environments indefinitely without some relief from thermal stress. Another source of heat stress is clothing worn for protection from nonthermal hazards. Examples are the sealed, pressurized suits or other highly specialized protective ensembles which are required to preserve life in hostile environments such as toxic, radioactive, or hypoxic atmospheres, at altitude and for extravehicular activity in space. In these cases the clothing tends to trap metabolic heat, and thermal balance is possible only in the coolest environments. Thermoprotective clothing is defined as a wearable system that ameliorates unacceptable heat stress. Since such systems carry significant ergonomic and economic penalties, a 'brute force' approach is rarely feasible. It is therefore necessary to consider the many factors which determine the nature of the heat stress and to tailor design and testing to the specific problem at hand. Steps in the process include setting appropriate thermal goals, analysing the heat stress problem, selecting protective measures and testing candidate systems.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA196438
Entities
People
- Sarah A. Nunneley
Organizations
- United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine