Impact of metabolism and the clothing thermal resistance on inpatient thermal comfort

Abstract For the purpose that relieves the suffering of the patients and shortens their hospital stay, it is crucial to design and manage the environment control systems reasonably to maintain an appropriate indoor thermal environment. However, all of the current thermal comfort theories are based on a healthy population. There are significant differences in metabolism and clothing thermal resistance between inpatients and healthy people, which are regarded as vital influenced factors on people's thermal comfort. Therefore, these existing thermal comfort models may not be applicable for inpatients. In this paper, the patients' comfort equation was derived by modifying the metabolism and the clothing thermal resistance based on the thermal comfort model of Professor Fanger, and the rationality of the model was tested by using field experiment data obtained in general wards. Validated by t-tests, the value of AMV and PMV calculated by the modified equation is not markedly different on a 5% significant level for all patients lying on bed in winter. Moreover, the typical comfort diagrams of inpatients were established by solving the thermal comfort equation. The results of this study are intended to assist in the formulation of useful guidelines to facilitate the assessment and management of hospital ward thermal environments.