Abstract
Dry and evaporative heat resistances of 12 experimental garments were determined in a climatic chamber using a newly developed sweating thermal manikin of a two-year-old Japanese infant. The experimental garments were made of a polyethylene film that was i) un-perforated, and ii) perforated with two different hole diameters, i.e. 1.5 and 2.5 mm/cm2, in addition, four different garment designs were developed. Surface areas covered by the clothing ranged from approximately 10, 30, 65, and 83% of the manikin total body surface area. The dry heat resistance of the film clothing significantly increased as the surface area of the body covered by the clothing increased, but was affected by the hole diameters of the clothing. Linear regression equations were obtained between both the dry and wet heat resistance, and the area covered. The evaporative heat resistance also increased significantly with the area covered, while decreased significantly as the holes diameters of the clothing increased. Multiple regression equations were obtained between the evaporative heat resistance and the area covered by the clothing. The results showed that the dry and evaporative heat resistances of the clothing had a few characteristics differences, but the area covered by the clothing was the most dominant influence on both dry and wet insulation of the clothing. These results were similar to the results obtained using an adult manikin but the insulation value of the infant clothing were less than those of the adult clothing which is made of the same film and the same design.
