Abstract
We proposed MCM (mean clothing microclimate) as the new thermal evaluation index. It was comprised of two factors, namely MCM-t (mean clothing microclimate temperature) and MCM-h (mean clothing microclimate humidity). The purpose of present study was to evaluate the relationship between MCM and subjective sensations. Subjects were 9 healthy adult females. The clo values were 0.89 for winter condition and 0.23 for summer one. At first, subjects stayed in the anteroom (winter: 20°C 50%RH, summer: 28°C 50%RH) for 20 minutes. Next, subjects moved into the exposure room which controlled at −3~+3°C, and −20%RH~+30%RH, kept rest for 60 minutes and performed step test (RMR:1.2) for 10 minutes. The MCM was more sensitive than the mean skin temperature in order to assess the thermal stress. In winter and summer conditions, the MCM-t (MCM-h) values for thermal comfort were 29.7±1.4°C (39.9±7.6%) and 33.0±0.7 °C (37.0±9.3%), respectively. The mean skin temperatures did not show significant changes.
