Assessing thermal comfort in industrial environments is fundamental from the point of view of Occupational Safety. After all, the temperature of the shed needs to be pleasant at all times in order for the place to remain healthy. In this content, we will talk about this evaluation and about the solutions that enhance thermal comfort in the factory. Read on and see how to bring more quality of life to the industrial environment!
After all, what is thermal comfort in industry?
Thermal comfort is the quantity that represents the bodily and mental satisfaction of the human being in relation to the temperature of a given environment. In this sense, there needs to be a balance between "cold" and "hot" so that the individual does not suffer the impacts of extreme temperatures.
The work in the industrial sector requires great caution in relation to thermal comfort, because working in a cold shed or under excessive heat certainly compromises the well-being of employees and, consequently, the productivity of the teams. Therefore, doing a thermal comfort evaluation is a constant need in this segment.
What are its benefits?
In addition to physical and mental well-being, the benefits of thermal comfort include lower energy consumption and appreciation of the industrial enterprise. Let us explain: if the temperature inside the hangar is adequate, it is not necessary to demand too much from air conditioners or heaters, for example. This represents significant energy savings for the industry's coffers.
As for the company's value, this happens because thermal comfort is directly related to industrial sustainability. And, as we know, factories that operate in a sustainable way are preferred by consumers and achieve better market positioning.
And what is thermal discomfort?
Thermal discomfort, in turn, is caused precisely when there is an imbalance in ambient temperature, that is, when the house is too cold or too hot. When this occurs, the human body needs to "work harder" to promote thermoregulation and thus stabilize body temperature. As we have seen, this leads to a decrease in the productivity of the teams and may violate health regulations.
What needs to be evaluated to ensure thermal comfort in industrial environments?
Regularly assessing thermal comfort is the best way to ensure that industrial environments are always pleasant for the teams. In this aspect, we emphasize that other issues - in addition to temperature - should be observed, such as air velocity inside the shed and its cooling capacity, the level of humidity of the site and the degree of insulation of the employees' uniforms.
What solutions can help improve thermal comfort?
Natural ventilation solutions have been the greatest allies of managers in the search for thermal comfort in industry. These intelligent systems bring advantages not only related to thermal comfort, but also in relation to the optimization of the production chain and the factory's budget resources.
This has to do with the benefits brought by natural ventilation solutions, such as industrial shutters and louvers, which operate at high performance at zero electricity cost. In other words, these sustainable solutions ensure an always pleasant temperature inside the factory and, at the same time, generate energy savings.
A natural ventilation system that combines industrial blinds and louvers also enhances the quality of the air in the shed, since this process is accomplished through two physical phenomena, the "chimney", where the hot air, being less dense, rises to the highest point of the building, exiting through the louver.
The other phenomenon is the "venture effect" that occurs through the dimensions of the air inlet and outlet. This effect, which is driven by the louvers, causes an increase in air velocity, increasing the amount of air exchange per hour.
Nowadays, there are innovative methodologies for natural ventilation systems to be dimensioned as accurately as possible, thus ensuring maximum performance of the solutions. Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) is one such methodology.
With this resource, it is possible to evaluate in virtual reality all the criteria that affect the air circulation in the manufacturing environment. Thus, with the aid of computer engineering, the project can be sized more accurately, based on the exact rate of air renewal required for each type of warehouse.
How to guarantee thermal comfort in industrial environments according to the law?
It is the duty of Occupational Safety professionals to evaluate thermal comfort in industrial environments in accordance with the standards in force in Brazilian legislation. One of them is Regulatory Standard-17, which concerns ergonomics in the corporate environment.
One of the key elements in relation to ergonomics is thermal comfort, because, as we said, inadequate temperatures compromise the well-being and performance of employees. Some classic symptoms of this problem include dehydration, headaches, and physical and mental fatigue.
According to NR-17, a thermally comfortable environment - for Brazilian climate standards - should remain between 20°C and 23°C of temperature in the winter and between 23°C and 26°C during the summer.
Investing in natural ventilation systems helps industries to comply with the regulations, besides bringing other gains already mentioned, such as energy savings and the appreciation of the factory as a sustainable company. Therefore, if you want to optimize your production line and ensure the well-being of your employees, know that the return on this investment is guaranteed.
For more details on how natural ventilation solutions work, download our complete guide and learn about the technologies involved in this intelligent system!
