Experimental investigation of the effect of surgical masks on outdoor thermal comfort in Xiamen, China

• Published in: Building and environment Vol. 229; p. 109893
• Main Authors: Zhou, Zhiqiang, Dong, Liang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2023
• Subjects: Human body; Outdoor thermal comfort; Surgical masks; Thermal sensation; Relative humidity; Global radiation; Human body; Physiologically equivalent temperature; Mean thermal comfort vote; Wind speed; Thermal sensation; Air temperature; Thermal comfort vote; Outdoor thermal comfort; Mean thermal sensation vote; Thermal sensation vote; Surgical masks; Wind speed, Ws; Mean thermal comfort vote, MTCV; Global radiation, G; Air temperature, Ta; Mean thermal sensation vote, MTSV; Thermal sensation vote, TSV; Physiologically equivalent temperature, PET; Thermal comfort vote, TCV; Relative humidity, RH
• ISSN: 0360-1323; 1873-684X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2022.109893

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed people's lifestyles, and wearing surgical masks in outdoor public spaces has become commonplace. However, few studies have explored the impact of wearing masks on outdoor thermal comfort in different seasons. From May 2021 to February 2022, a series of longitudinal experiments were conducted in Xiamen, China to examine the effect of wearing surgical masks on outdoor thermal comfort. Forty-two participants took part in the experiments with and without masks. During the experiments, the thermal perceptions of the subjects and environmental thermal parameters were collected. Differences in outdoor thermal comfort between subjects wearing masks and those not wearing masks were determined in summer, autumn, and winter. Results showed that 1) the subjects wearing masks had lower neutral temperatures, and this difference was particularly pronounced in summer and exacerbated by walking; 2) in warm environments, masks reduced thermal comfort, and discomfort associated with masks was worse when walking than when sitting; 3) wearing masks significantly worsened facial comfort and increased chest discomfort, as summer turned to winter, the impact of masks on facial comfort decreased; 4) radiation and air temperature were the environmental parameters with the greatest impact on outdoor thermal sensation. Subjects who wore masks preferred lower temperatures, radiation, and humidity, and higher wind speeds. [Display omitted] •Outdoor thermal comfort was compared between subjects with and without masks.•The effect of masks on neutral temperature is greatest in summer and least in winter.•Thermal discomfort from masks was more intense when walking than when sitting.•Wearing masks increased facial discomfort significantly.•Subjects with masks were more sensitive to Ta than subjects without masks.