2007, Piran, Slovenia

Thermal comfort
limit of exposure duration. The results of this control test were used to set the three conditions
under which subjects were given various socks.
Conditions: Each subject was exposed individually, either during the morning (8:30-10:30) or
the afternoon (14:00-16:00), but always at the same time. Subjects donned a standard
ensemble (0.6 clo assessed from Heatman® thermal manikin) and, depending on the
condition, a pair of insulative socks. Subjects were then equipped with the 13 skin sensors.
Ten of these were located on the body, with one on the lateral side, one on the big toe and one
on the sole.
The experiments consisted first of reference period (30 min) at 20°C environmental
temperature. In this condition, PMV was expected to be -1, leading for a long term exposure,
to a somewhat cool overall thermal sensation. After this, both feet were placed in the cold
box, randomly, at either 5°C, 0°C or -5°C, depending on the experimental condition linked to
the sock thermal insulation. The duration of the cold exposure was fixed at 30 min, because
the local skin foot temperatures should not drop below 14°C to avoid unbearable sensations.
Recordings and statistics: Sublingual oral temperature was measured before and after cold
exposure. Skin temperatures were recorded each minute. Seven questionnaires concerning the
local foot thermal sensation (from extremely cold to extremely hot) and the overall thermal
sensation were presented every 5 min. Variables were checked using ANOVA; when the
sphericity condition was not satisfied, MANOVA was used (alpha was set at p