Comparison of adaptive thermal comfort with face masks in library building in Guangzhou, China. (1st January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tang, Tianwei; Zhou, Xiaoqing; Dai, Kunquan; Fang, Zhaosong; Zheng, Zhimin
• Is Part Of: Thermal science and engineering progress. Volume 37(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-01-01
• Subjects: University library -- Masks -- Human body -- Thermal sensation -- Operative temperature; Heat engineering -- Periodicals; Heat engineering; Thermodynamics; Periodicals; 621.402
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tsep.2022.101597
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2451-9049

Abstract

Highlights: Wearing masks for more than 2 h, more than half subjects feel uncomfortable. The mask has no obvious influence on the whole body. Wearing a mask for a long time has significant impact on head and chest comfort. In winter the differences of the neutral T op between wearing masks and without masks were no significant. Abstract: During the COVID-19 pandemic, wearing masks in public spaces has become a protective strategy. Field tests and questionnaire surveys were carried out at a university library in Guangzhou, China, during June 2021 and January 2022. The indoor environmental parameters were observed, thermal sensation votes of students on various environmental parameters were collected, symptoms of students wearing masks were quantified, and the appropriate amount of time to wear masks was established. To identify acceptable and comfortable temperature ranges, the relationship between thermal sensation and thermal index was investigated. During summer and winter, people wearing masks are symptomatic for a certain duration. The most frequently voted symptom was facial heat (62.7 % and 54.6 % during summer and winter, respectively), followed by dyspnea. During summer, more than 80 % of the participants subjects were uncomfortable and showed some symptoms after wearing masks for more than 2 h (3 h during winter). In the summer air conditioning environment in Guangzhou, the neutral T op was 26.4 °C, and the comfortable T op range was 25.1–27.7 °C. Under the natural ventilation environment in winter, the neutral T op was 20.5 °C, and the comfortable T op range was 18.5–22.5 °C. This study may provide guidance for indoor office work and learning to wear masks in Guangzhou.