The effect of local thermal sensation on overall thermal sensation in older people under warm conditions: a chamber room study

Abstract

Global aging and climate warming have made scholars begin to pay attention to the thermal comfort of the elderly. The deterioration of the function of body organs and systems caused by aging affects the thermoregulatory system of the elderly, resulting in a narrowing of their thermoregulatory range. To ensure their thermal comfort, personalised thermal comfort systems can be used, for example. When designing a system or selecting equipment, the impact of local thermal sensation on the overall thermal sensation needs to be considered. Most of the existing studies are based on young people, however, the local thermal sensation of the elderly may not be consistent with that of the young. This study recruited 26 Finnish older adults to conduct a series of human thermal comfort experiments under warm conditions in a climate chamber. The local and overall thermal sensations of the elderly were analyzed, and the weights of the influence of different parts on the overall thermal sensation of the elderly were obtained. The study found that the head and torso had a greater impact on the overall thermal sensation in a warm environment.