Heat Stress as A Measure of Human Level of Comfort in A Semi-Arid Zone, Maiduguri, Nigeria
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Date
2012
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Research | Reviews | Publications
Abstract
This study examined thermal stress and physiological comfort in Maiduguri, Nigeria using thermal heat stress index as a
measure of human comfort. Dry-bulb temperature, Relative humidity, and Air velocity were measured in three
observatory sites (class room, under neem (azadirachta indica) tree and under direct sunlight) within the Faculty of
Engineering University of Maiduguri, Nigeria between the hours of 7.00 am and 5.00 pm on some days from October to
December 2010 in order to establish the physiological responses to thermal stress and disorder. The data were analyzed
using Effective Temperature (ET) and Relative Stress Index (RSI). The mean ET mean ET obtained vary from 23.58oC to
31.18oC, while the RSI values vary from 0.12 to 0.49 for the period just after the raining season. And for the hammatan
period, the mean ET mean ET vary from 19.31oCto 29.09oC , while the RSI values vary from-0.01 to 0.38. The results
showed that the three locations are generally comfortable during the morning hours and become uncomfortable as the
day progresses. The class room was found to be the most comfortable during the period of the investigation while the
location under the sun recorded the highest level of discomfort in both seasons.