AN

ASSIGNMENT

ON

THE USE OF THE CORRECTED EFFECTIVE

TEMPERATURE INDEX

BY

OMOBUDE IGHODALO FELIX.

ARC/05/5640.

COURSE CODE: ARC. 810.

COURSE TITLE: BUILDING CLIMATOLOGY.

COURSE LECTURER: PROF. O. OGUNSOTE.

August, 2011.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Abstract.

1.0 Introduction.

2.0 Thermal Comfort.

3.0 Thermal Indices.

4.0 Effective Temperature index.

5.0 Corrected Effective Temperature index.

6.0 Use of the Corrected Effective Temperature index.

7.0 Conclusion.

8.0 References.

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 ABSTRACT

Thermal comfort is an important concept in the design of buildings. With the

knowledge of the basic concept of thermal comfort buildings can be designed in such a way
that it will guarantee about 70% of comfort of its occupants. In attaining this fate certain
indices have been developed by people over the decade to have a common template for rating
the thermal comfort in a particular region. Some of this template include; Effective
temperature(ET), corrected effective temperature(CET), the Operative temperature(OT),
equivalent temperature, Mahoney scale, Standard effective temperature(SET), the Equivalent
Warmth(EW), the Resultant Temperature (RT) just to measure a few. This paper centres on
the Corrected Effective Temperature (derived from the Effective Temperature) and also
elaborates on its uses.

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1.0. INTRODUCTION

Comfort is a subjective sensation. It is that state of mind that expresses satisfaction

with the thermal environment. Alternatively, it is that state of mind that does not express
dissatisfaction with the thermal environment. It is equivalent to conditions in which human
beings can sleep soundly and work comfortably and when there is a minimum demand on the
thermo-regulatory mechanisms of the body. Outside comfort exist discomfort, which is
characterised by the degree and duration of thermal stress. In designing buildings and
evaluating the thermal comfort conditions of a particular location certain parameters are used.
These parameters are basically in the form of thermal indices which are derived from various
climatic factors. Some of this index includes Effective temperature (ET), corrected effective
temperature (CET), the Operative temperature (OT), equivalent temperature, Mahoney scale,
Standard effective temperature (SET), the Equivalent Warmth (EW), the Resultant
Temperature (RT). Their usefulness is very important in thermal comfort. The body attempts
to maintain a stable internal temperature by balancing heat loss and heat gain (homeostasis).
The body gains heat mainly through basal and muscular metabolism and additionally by
convection, conduction and radiation. Heat is lost through work performance by conduction,
radiation, convection, evaporation (sweat secretion) and skin diffusion, as well as by latent
and dry respiration.

2.0 THERMAL COMFORT.

Thermal comfort is defined as: “that condition of mind which expresses satisfaction
with the thermal environment. According to this definition comfort is a subjective sensation.
Based on ASHRAE definition the zone of thermal comfort is the span of conditions where
80% of sedentary or slightly active persons find the environment thermally acceptable. In
terms of climatic conditions the acceptable ambient temperature of comfort would be slightly
higher in the summer than in the winter, being 23–27°C and 20–25°C, respectively. Fanger
(1970) defined 3 parameters for a person to be in thermal comfort: a. the body is in heat
balance; b. sweat rate is within comfort limits; c. mean skin temperature is within comfort
limits. These conceptual requisites for determining thermal comfort can be expressed by
measurable terms such as: body-core temperature within a very narrow range of 36.5–37.5°C,
a skin temperature of 30°C at the extremities and 34–35°C at body stem and head, and the

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body will be free of sweating. Any deviation from these assertions results in sensation of
discomfort. Thermal comfort will be attained when the rate of heat dissipation from the body
by means of radiation and convection (cardiovascular tone) will equal the rate of metabolic
heat production and, consequently, heat storage.

Factors Affecting Thermal Comfort.

There are six major factors that determine comfort. They are ambient air temperature,
humidity, radiation, air movement, intrinsic clothing and level of activity. Other factors that
may have some effect on thermal comfort are age, sex, body shape, state of health, ethnic
grouping, diet, sleep, colour of clothing, acclimatisation, availability of fresh air, transients,
colour of a space enclosure and noise. An indication of the relative importance of these other
factors is the fact that when all the six major factors are within an acceptable and optimal
range, about 70% of the population will be comfortable.

3.0. THE THERMAL INDICES.

Knowledge of the way different variables affect thermal comfort have been used to
formulate thermal indices or thermal scales that indicate the effects of combining the
different variables on comfort. Over thirty of these indices have been devised although their
definitions and ranges of applicability differ widely. An ideal index should reasonably and
accurately predict the consequences of any combination of the six major factors affecting
comfort. It should be applicable both indoors and outdoors and it should be capable of
indicating the degree of discomfort. One of the most popular indices is the Effective
Temperature Index (ET) from which the Corrected Effective Temperature index (CET) is
derived. Others include, the Operative temperature(OT), equivalent temperature, Mahoney
scale, Standard effective temperature(SET), the Equivalent Warmth(EW), the Resultant
Temperature (RT) just to measure a few.

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4.0. THE EFFECTIVE TEMPERATURE.

The Effective Temperature (ET) is defined as the temperature of a still, saturated

atmosphere which would, in the absence of radiation, produce the same effect as the
atmosphere in question. It indicates the combined effects of relative humidity, air velocity, air
temperature and clothing*. The major merit of the index is that it indicates the effects of most
of the major factors on comfort. In addition, the nomogram is simple and easy to use. It
however has some limitations. It does not indicate the effect of radiation or show the degree
of discomfort directly. There are monograms for only two categories of clothing: normal
indoor clothing and stripping to the waist. Analyses carried out by Glickman et al, Koch et al,
Smith and Yaglou shows that the index overestimates the effects of humidity under cool and
comfortable conditions. They also claim that it underestimates the effects of humidity at high
temperatures and that it exaggerates the stress imposed by air velocity in hot environments.
Givoni shows that the index made adequate allowance for air movement only below an ET
value of 32 degrees Celsius. The index is valid for air temperatures between 0 and 45 degrees
Celsius; wet bulb temperatures between 0 and 45 degrees Celsius and air velocity between
0.1 and 7 metres per second.

The index requires that comfort limits should be established for the location, zone or region
and 22-27 degrees are assumed for the Tropics.

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Figures 1: Nomogram for the Effective Temperature index and the Corrected Effective
Temperature Index.

5.0 CORRECTED EFFECTIVE TEMPERATURE (CET).

The Corrected Effective Temperature summates the separate environmental factors of

air temperature, humidity and air velocity and also an allowance is made for radiant heat. It
refers to standard conditions of still and saturated air and hence useful in the comparison of
different thermal environments. It was derived by Vernon in 1932.

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 ASHVE (1932) published a nomogram representation of the ET index, which
included air velocity effects and showed that over about 100°F (37.8°C) and 100% RH, air
movement increases the thermal load (hence the reversal of the air velocity lines). Vernon
(1932) included the effect of radiation by substituting globe temperature values for the dry
bulb temperature scale, adopted also by Bedford (1940). This became known as the CET
nomogram. As clothing has a large influence on radiation and wind effects, he produced two
monograms: for people wearing 1 clo clothing (normal scale) and for people stripped to the
waist (basic scale):

The following expressions approximate the values at 0.1 m/s air speed:

Normal: CET = (1.21 GT - 0.21 WBT) / [1+0.029(GT-WBT)]

Basic: CET = (0.944 GT - 0.056 WBT) / [1+0.022(GT-WBT)]

It was discovered that in hot environments the effect of humidity is underestimated and that
the adverse effect of 0.5 - 1.5 m/s air velocities at high temperatures is overestimated. Givoni
(1963) however established that above 32°C air movements produced a greater heating effect
than that suggested by the ET.

6.0. USE OF THE CORRECTED EFFECTIVE TEMPERATURE.

In 1932 Vernon and Warner substituted the dry-bulb temperature with a black-globe
temperature to allow radiation to be taken into account (the “corrected effective temperature”
(CET)). Since then many modifications were made to this basic index. For the present
discussion two indices, which are in daily use for many years are regarded.
The wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) index:
The wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) is by far the most widely used heat stress index
throughout the world. It was developed in the US Navy as part of a study on heat related
injuries during military training. The WBGT index, which emerged from the “corrected
effective temperature” (CET) consists of weighting of dry-bulb temperature (Ta), Wet-bulb
temperature (Tw) and black-globe temperature (Tg), in the following manner:
WBGT=0.7Tw+0.1Ta+0.2Tg
For indoor conditions the index was modified as follows:
WBGT=0.7Tw+0.3Tg
(For indoor purposes, when Tg ≈ Ta, t h e n WBGT=0.7Tw+0.3Ta)

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The coefficients in this index have been determined empirically and the index has no
physiological correlates; but, it was found that heat casualties and the time lost due to
cessation of training in the heat were both reduced by using this index. This index is
recommended by many international organizations for setting criteria for exposing workers to
hot environment and was adopted as an ISO standard (ISO 7243).
Corrected Effective Temperature can be used to calculate the Code of Measures for
dealing with thermal stress of workers in outdoor worksites during the summer months. This
is explained below:

Code of Measures for dealing with thermal stress of workers in outdoor worksites
during the summer months
1. General Measures
The following general measures aim to reduce the harmful effects of thermal exposure of
workers at outdoor worksites during the summer months:
· Issuing and using suitable head cover
· Issuing potable cool water (10-15°C) and in general issuing abundant supply of cool water
to workers
· Configuring / selecting shady worksites or erecting suitable canopies for carrying out work,
wherever this is possible.

· Designing the work schedule in such a way that labour intensive activities are conducted
when temperatures are lower.

2. Adjustments

To avoid exposure to solar radiation, adjustments must be made to include interruption or

change in the time frame for carrying out work, when dry bulb temperatures combined with
relative humidity are as shown in TABLE I below.

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TABLE I (Conditions requiring adjustment of work schedule)

Dry Bulb Temperature (°C) Relative Humidity Corrected Effective Temperature (°C)

36 50 30

37 45 30

38 39 30

39 34 30

40 29 30

41 26 30

42 23 30

43 20 30

3. Explanatory notes

(a) The Corrected Effective Temperature listed in the third column in Table I corresponds to
the Corrected Effective Temperature calculated under conditions of negligible wind speed.

(b) Using data provided by the Meteorological Service, it is concluded that the appearance,
during the afternoon hours, of conditions of serious scorching heat and therefore conditions
which necessitate the regulation of work conditions, can be forecasted if at 9.00 am
conditions of average scorching heat prevail (Corrected Effective Temperature approx.
26°C).

(c) Using the aforementioned information, it is possible to forecast early in the morning
conditions where the upper limit values in Table I will be exceeded and hence inform
employers and employees if measures need to be taken by means of an announcement.
Confirmation of the forthcoming scorching heat can be carried out if, starting at 9.00 am,
temperature and humidity conditions are as in Table II.

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TABLE II (Scorching Heat forecasting conditions).

Dry Bulb Temperature (°C) Relative Humidity Corrected Effective Temperature (°C)

27 89 26

28 77 26

29 66 26

30 56 26

31 51 26

32 44 26

33 36 26

34 30 26

35 25 26

36 21 26

(d) The upper limit values of safe exposure (3rd column in Table I) are calculated according
to the fact that workers bear light summer clothing. In cases where special clothing is
required for carrying out specialised work, then the above upper limit values are not valid and
become stricter.

(e) The above upper limit values concern workers who are not included in high risk groups,
i.e. those who do not belong to these categories:

· Patients suffering cardiological problems

· Patients suffering respiratory problems

· Those suffering from general ailments which negatively affect the workers’ psychosomatic
health (diabetes, anaemia, arterial pressure disturbance, renal failure, psychological disorders)

· Pregnant and breast-feeding mothers.

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7.0. CONCLUSION.

In conclusion, the corrected effective temperature has been fully explained and the
use has been discussed in this paper. It has been discovered that the use of the corrected
effective index is important in achieving thermal comfort in the design of buildings. Its
usefulness also encompasses the dealing with thermal stress of workers in outdoor worksites
during the summer months.

REFERENCE

Andris Auliciems and Steven V. Szokolay. (2007. Thermal Comfort, Second revised edition,
Oxford Brookes University press, UK.

Ogunsote, O. O. and Prucnal-Ogunsote, B. (2002). Comfort Limits for the Effective

Temperature Index in the Tropics: A Nigerian Case Study. Architectural Science Review,
45:2, 125-132, Sydney, Australia.

Yoram EPSTEIN* and Daniel S. MORAN (2006). Thermal Comfort and the Heat Stress
Indices, McGraw Hill press, London.

www.Wikipedia.com/thermal comfort accessed on the 25th day of August 2011.

www.wikipedia.com/corrected effective temperature accessed on the 25th day of August

2011.

Gagge AP, Nishi Y. (1976). Physical indices of the thermal environment. ASHRAE J 18, 47–
51.

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