Abstract
With the purpose of proposing bathing environments that allow bathing that is physically safe and psychologically comfortable, we have devised an evaluation index that predicts the thermal effects on a bather of the thermal environment of a bathroom. The parameters for the evaluation index are the physical characteristics of the bather, bath water temperature, bath room temperature, bathing period, and body area under water; using these parameters, an equation to estimate the change in tympanic temperature was determined. From the fact that a psychologically comfortable and physically safe bath corresponds to a change in tympanic temperature of less than 0.5℃, we have illustrated the range of thermal environment parameters for the bathroom when the change in tympanic temperature is less than 0.5℃. By using this index, we have shown it is possible to experience a comfortable and safe bathing by making sure the change in tympanic temperature is less than 0.5℃ by adjusting bath water temperature, bath room temperature, water level, and bathing period.
