Thermal Properties of Carpets on Floor Heater

Abstract

We investigated the detectable temperature and the comfortable one of the carpets, when the subjects were standing on the carpets. The subjects were 26 female college students. The detectable temperature and the comfortable one were determined, at which they recognized warmness and comfortableness, respectively. The results were as follows;
(1) The mean detectable temperature was around 30.6°C and the mean comfortable temperature was around 31.4°C, among all the carpets used in the experiment. The difference between the mean value of the detectable temperature and also that of the comfortable one in using carpets was about 1.0°C. The comfortable temperature at the thenar part of the sole was almost equal to that at the top of the longitudinal sole arch.
(2) The increment rate of the sole temperature was almost proportional to the heat conductance as well as the heat flow of the carpet.
(3) The subjects recognized warmness and comfortableness, when the heat flow was over a certain level.
(4) The heat conductance and the heat flow depended on the thickness of the carpets, therefore, the thickness of the carpet was one of the most important factors for the thermal properties of the carpet, especially when a carpet was pressed by the subject's body weight.
It was concluded that a carpet with high heat conductance and with high heat flow rate was the effective carpet as the floor heating carpet.