Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2brh9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T23:50:07.909Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Thermal comfort of patients in hospital ward areas

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

R. M. Smith
Affiliation:
Building Services Research Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8 RZ
A. Rae
Affiliation:
Building Services Research Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8 RZ
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

The patient is identified as being of prime importance for comfort standards in hospital ward areas, other ward users being expected to adjust their dress to suit the conditions necessary for patient comfort. A study to identify the optimum steady state conditions for patient comfort is then described.

Although this study raises some doubts as to the applicability of the standard thermal comfort assessment techniques to ward areas, it is felt that its results give a good indication of the steady-state conditions preferred by the patients. These were an air temperature of between 21.5° and 22° C and a relative humidity of between 30% and 70%, where the air velocity was less than 0.1 m/s and the mean radiant temperature was close to air temperature.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1977

References

REFERENCES

Andersen, I., Lundqvist, G. R., Jensen, P. L. & Proctor, D. F. (1974). Human response to 78–hour exposure to dry air. Archives of Environmental Health 29, 319–24.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Building Services Research Unit (1968). Tech. Rep. No. 5. The Hairmyres Project – studies of hospital ward ventilation.Google Scholar
Draper, N. R. & Smith, H. (1966): Applied Regression Analysis. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.Google Scholar
Fanger, P. O. (1970): Thermal Comfort. Copenhagen: Danish Technical Press.Google Scholar
Franzen, B. (1969). A Study of Climate in Nine Office Blocks, Rapport 21: 1969, Statens Institut fur Byggnadforskning, Stockholm.Google Scholar
Grandjean, E. & Rhiner, A. (1963). Die Luftfeuchtigkeit and ihre Auswirkung auf die Behaglichkeit in Wohn-und Buroraumen. Gesundheitsingenieur 84, 362–4.Google Scholar
Griffiths, I. D. (1970). Thermal comfort, abehavioural approach. In: Architectural Psychology (ed. Carter, D.V.). London: RIBA Publications Ltd.Google Scholar
Legg, R. C. (1970). The planning, construction and maintenance of the Hairmyres Experimental Ward Unit. The Heating and Ventilating Engineer 43, 329–36.Google Scholar
Legg, R. C. (1971). Thermal environment in hospital wards, Hospital Engineering, May 1971, 87–93; June 1971, 106–9.Google Scholar
Nevins, R. G., Rohles, R. H., Springer, W. & Feyerherm, A. M. (1966). Temperature–humidity chart for thermal comfort of seated persons. Transactions of the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers 72, no. 1984.Google Scholar
Provins, K. A. (1966). Environmental heat, body temperature and behaviour: an hypothesis. Australian Journal of Psychology 18, 118–29.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rae, A. & Smith, R. M. (1976). Subjective odour levels in an air conditioned hospital ward. Applied Ergonomics 7, 2733.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rasmussen, O. B. (1971). Man's subjective perception of air humidity. Proc. 5th International Congress for Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning, Copenhagen.Google Scholar
Wyon, D. P. (1972). The role of the environment in buildings today: thermal aspects. Proceedings I.L.O. Symposium ‘The Environment in Buildings’, Loughborough.Google Scholar
Wyon, D. P., Lidwell, O. M. & Williams, R. E. O. (1968). Thermal comfort during surgical operations. Journal of Hygiene 66, 229–47.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed