Bioelectrical impedance skin as indicator of thermal sensation

Abstract

Evaluating human thermal comfort has been a difficult task, and sometimes, it has not been possible to consider several of the individual’s physiological characteristics. Nowadays, the development of electronic devices allows measuring new variables and performing a personalised assessment. Skin temperature has been the most measured variable in comfort studies due to its significant role in preserving the thermoregulation principle, which represents the action of the balance of heat flux between the environment and the body. This study aims to accurately present the bioelectrical impedance (BI) as a significant physiological variable to accurately determine thermoregulation and complement thermal sensation questionnaires. A series of environmental chamber tests were conducted. At the same time, the indoor temperature fluctuated between 20◦C and 40◦C, skin BI of the body area was measured in conjunction with skin temperature and comfort survey. The room temperature was controlled while the BI was monitored on the wrist (back), contrasting with the usual methodology for determining thermal comfort. Skin BI on the wrist (back) directly correlates with thermal comfort. The bioelectrical impedance of the skin can be used as an additional variable to identify the inhabitant’s response to space and determine thermal comfort.