Thermal parameters for assessing thermal properties of clothing

1. The thermal parameters for describing clothing were summarized first (i.e., clo and tog unit, permeability index, evaporative transmissibility, permeation efficiency factor, index of water permeability). Their applications were then outlined for the calculation of heat exchange between human body and its environment, and for the prediction of the physiological variables under heat stress conditions.2. Nevertheless, the human body is not frequently exposed under steady-state condition, instead it is subjected to changes in environmental variables, clothing and activity. The transient thermal response of the human-clothing system plays a major role during transients. The heat exchange between the body and the environment may be affected significantly by the dynamic response of the clothing. The thermal comfort property of a clothing system during dynamic conditions should be assessed based on moisture vapor pressure alteration within the clothing, surface temperature of the clothing and heat loss from the body.3. There is a trend to develop overall thermal parameter to describe the transient thermal and moisture transfer properties of clothing system.