Comfortable Temperatures

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30737, 29 April 1965, Page 10

Comfortable Temperatures

Most people appreciate that temperature has a direct effect on their comfort. They realise that an air temperature in the middle sixties is neither too hot nor too cold. But not many would be able to guess how much below or above that range a distinct sense of disco mfo r t would be noticed.

According to the “Handbook i on the Insulation and Heating of Buildings,” an English surIvey has provided some interi esting answers to this question.

The survey was carried out during winter in 12 factories, variously warmed and ventilated. Most of the people studied were seated while working, and all were employed at very light tasks.

The survey showed that the preferred temperature was 65 degrees and that 88 per cent of the subjects were reasonably comfortable when the air temperature ranged between 60 and 68.

“As always in investigations of this kind involving the human element, there were some dissenters some of those questioned preferred temperatures outside the 60-68 I range," says the handbook. The author displays some asperity with this quirk of human nature.

These figures apply to an English winter climate. In America, much higher temper-

matures are popular—76 to 78 is not uncommon, especially in air-conditioned offices and i apartments. New Zealanders who spend a winter in Britain and North America are generally of the opinion that the British range of indoor temperatures is acceptable, but that the American range is uncomfortably high. The handbook says that if consideration is given to attaining a comfortable temperature in all rooms of the house, without recourse to whole-house heating, the following may be taken as the lowest temperatures aimed at. Lounge 65 Bedrooms . • 55 Kitchen .. .. 60 Bathroom .. 60 Lavatory .. 55