Optimal cooling intervention for construction workers in a hot and humid environment

• Published in: Building and environment 2017-06, Vol.118, p.91-100
• Main Authors: Yi, Wen, Zhao, Yijie, Chan, Albert P.C., Lam, Edmond W.M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air temperature; Body temperature; Construction; Construction industry; Construction sites; Construction worker; Cooling; Cooling effects; Cooling vest; Heart rate; Heat; Heat strain; Hot and humid environment; Intervention; Males; Moisture content; Recovery; Reduction; Relative humidity; Skin; Skin temperature; Solar radiation; Summer; Temperature; Temperature effects; Temperature perception; Thermal comfort; Velocity; Workers; Working conditions
• ISSN: 0360-1323; 1873-684X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2017.03.032

This study aims to determine the optimal cooling intervention of a newly designed hybrid cooling vest. 10 males participated in three random experiments, i.e., cooling vest worn during exercise and recovery (ALL-COOL), cooling vest worn during passive recovery (REC-COOL) and control (CON) in a climatic chamber controlled at 37 °C temperature, 60% relative humidity, 0.3 m/s air velocity, and 450 W/m2 solar radiation to simulate the summer working environment of construction sites. The work–rest protocol was adopted to compare the effectiveness of ALL-COOL and REC-COOL. Physiological (core temperature, skin temperature, and heart rate) and perceptual (ratings of perceived exertion, thermal sensation, and wetness sensation) parameters were measured during the entire heat exposure. The cooling vest worn during exercise improved thermal comfort but did not alleviate heat strain or prolong work duration, as shown by the significant reduction in skin temperature and thermal sensation in ALL-COOL compared with CON (p