Author/Editor		Hoeppe, Peter R
Title		How important is humidity for a comfortable and healthy indoor climate?
Type		članek
Source		In: Hočevar A, Črepinšek Z, Kajfež-Bogataj L, editors. Biometeorology 14. Proceedings of the 14th international congress of biometeorology. Part 2. (Vol 3); 1996 Sep 1-8; Ljubljana. Ljubljana: Slovenian meteorological society,
Publication year		1996
Volume		str. 325-34
Language		eng
Abstract		Humidity is seen as one of the basic parameters for well being in indoor conditions. Yet it is one of the most critized parameters in air conditioned buildings. In order to assess humidity effects the water losses of the human body by diffusion through the skin, evaporation of sweat and humidification of the respired air are quantified by the energy balance model of the human body, MEMI, for different climatic conditions. The results indicate that for indoor climates the influence of the air temperature and the air velocity on the water losses is at least as important as the influence of humidity itself. Besides its influence on the water loss, humidity also affects the energy balance of the body and is an important factor for the elasticity of skin and hair, the perception of air quality, electrostatic charges and th formation of mould. In the range of common indoor air temperatures the thermal sensation is only affected to a minor degree by humidity. In rooms where humidity is increased artificially by humidifiers many problems are reported resulting from microbic contamination of the water and the duct system or from biocides found in the ventilated air when the humidifier water is desinfected. At the state of art and in consideration of all the different aspects of humidity there is hardly any reason to recommend humidification of offices or residential buildings.
Descriptors		HUMIDITY AIR CONDITIONING WORKPLACE WATER LOSS, INSENSIBLE TEMPERATURE OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE