Baton Rouge, LA — How effective are fans at reducing heat stress and improving worker comfort under hot and humid conditions in industrial environments that don’t have air conditioning?
Researchers from the Center for Built Environment at the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Sydney are looking to answer that question after recent a field study. They’re also hoping to learn more about worker productivity and the benefits of fans, as well as address common misconceptions about using fans in hot and humid conditions.
Over a three-week period in August, the team conducted the two-phase study at an industrial facility operated by a heating, ventilation and air conditioning manufacturer in Baton Rouge. During the first phase, the researchers tested a range of conditions, from warm to hot, with ceiling fans cycled on and off based on a set schedule. They tracked detailed biometric measures, including body temperature, heart rate and moisture loss through sweating, along with environmental factors.
Next, participants completed qualitative surveys on thermal comfort, heat stress symptoms and their work performance.
“We’re interested in how fans work and how fans keep people cool, especially in a manufacturing environment,” CBE researcher Charlie Huizenga said in LouisianaFirstNews.com report published on Aug. 13. “We don’t get a chance very often to study that in a real working factory.”
According to an article on the CBE website, the research team intends to present preliminary results to CBE’s Industry Advisory Board in October, followed by a full report.
