RP1760 - Insulation and Vapor Permeability Values of Staff and Patient Medical Ensembles for Use in ASHRAE Standard 55, ISO 7730, and ISO 9920

ASHRAE Research Project RP-1760 updated the database of western clothing as used in ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 55-2013 (Smallcombe et al. 2021). This paper presents an extension to this database by providing detailed whole body and local insulation values for medical staff and patient clothing for hospital environments. Insulation values of seven medical staff ensembles and three patient ensembles were measured in a static standing posture at 0.2 and 0.4 m.s–1 (0.66 and 1.31 ft.s–1) air velocities, walking in 0.2 and 1.3 m.s–1(4.16 ft.s–1) air velocities, in a sitting posture in 0.2 m.s–1 air velocity and for patient clothing on an examination table and on hospital beds at air velocities of 0.2 and 0.4 m.s–1. Measurements were conducted with a ‘Newton’ manikin with 34 individually controlled zones. In addition, vapor resistance was determined in 5 ensembles. This new database provides total, intrinsic and air insulation values, vapor resistance, and clothing area factors. Furthermore, a method for dealing with the clothing area factor for use in conjunction with beds and examination tables was proposed.