A new predictive index for evaluating both thermal sensation and thermal response of the human body

About 20 years ago, Ring and de Dear [Ring JW, de Dear R. Temperature transients: A model for heat diffusion through the skin, thermoreceptor response and thermal sensation. Indoor Air 1991; 1(4):448–56] introduced a thermal response index (R) for evaluating the cutaneous thermoreceptor response and thermal sensation. Although the mentioned index possesses the advantages of simplicity and sensitivity, it has not been commonly used over the years. The main reason for this infrequent using is that the mentioned index is not in conformity with the ASHRAE standard thermal sensation scale. To remedy this deficiency we try to present a new predictive index by finding a relationship between the thermal response index (R) and ASHRAE thermal sensation scale. In the present study, a new thermal response index, TRESP, is introduced on the basis of Ring and de Dear model. The TRESP index has been verified by extensive comparisons with the published analytical and experimental results where a good agreement was found under both steady-state and transient conditions. Results indicate that the new index can accurately predict the thermal sensation with average absolute errors of 0.19 and 0.28 under steady-state and transient conditions, respectively.