Proceedings of the Third International Meeting on Thermal Manikin Testing, 3IMM, at the National Institute for Working Life, October 12-13, 1999

Abstract

The third international meeting for users of thermal manikins was organised by the National Institute for Working Life in Stockholm, Sweden on October 12-13, 1999. The first meeting was organised at the same place in February, 1997. Proceedings can be obtained from the organisers. The second meeting took place in Halifax, Canada in June, 1997. Thermal manikins provide a useful and valuable complement to direct experiments with human subjects. In conditions where the heat exchange of is complex and transient measurements with a thermal manikin produce relevant, reliable and accurate values for whole body as well as local heat exchange. Such values are useful for - detailed assessment of thermal stress in environments with human occupancy : determination of heat transfer and thermal properties of clothing : prediction of human responses to extreme or complex thermal conditions : validation of results from human experiments regarding thermal stress : simulation of responses in humans exposed to thermal environments. Thermal manikins are traditionally used by research institutes for climate research. In recent years manikins are increasingly used in many practical applications. Today are manikins frequently used for testing and product development by the building industry and by the automobile industry for evaluation of the performance of heating and ventilation systems. The clothing industry uses manikins for development of clothing systems with improved thermal properties. Test houses perform tests on protective clothing according to defined European or international standards. This kind of work results in continuous improvement of environments and products of importance for comfort, health and safety in working life. The aim of this series of meetings is to bring together users and manufacturers of thermal manikins for discussion around subjects of mutual interest such as - research results : technical issues : evaluation methods : calibration procedures : development of manikin standards : new application fields : manikin network We appreciate and acknowledge the special support of the meeting from Taiga AB. Information from the different fields of manikin testing will be available at http://www.niwl.se/tema/klimat/mer_manikin_en.htm