Description of impact
The final report F2039 of the HESO-project published in 2012 has a very high download number. Compared to other report of the German Federal Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. The numbers of the years 2017, 2018 and 2019 are available (Bux, K. email 2020-02-17)The report was downloaded:
2017: 4114 downloads
2018: 7354 downloads
2019: 4090 downloads
As a consequence of global warming, German office workplaces which have not been exposed to heat so far will be faced with a higher heat load in the future. The German Ordinance on Workplaces calls for a “room temperature conducive to health” taking into account the working process, the physical strain of the workers and the specific use of the room during working hours. This requirement is depicted in the German Technical Rules for Workplaces ASR A3.5: Room Temperature which constitutes that the air temperature shall not exceed 26 °C. In the case of high outside temperatures a step model defines the requirements for acceptable higher room temperatures.
In a realistic office environment the impact of a high room temperature on the performance of 20 subjects carrying out office work during 4 ¼ hours exposure and during elevated outside temperatures was determined. The room air temperature was controlled within three ranges (23-26 °C as reference temperature range, 29-32 °C and 33-35 °C, comparable with the temperature ranges of the step model of the German ASR A3.5). During the exposure physiological parameters and the subjective state of the subjects were recorded and different performance tests were conducted.
Skin temperature, skin moisture and heart rate proportionally increase with the room temperature but stay in a physiologically inoffensive range. The consumption of drinks increases with the room temperature, too. Contrary to expectations, alertness, verbal and numerical thinking do not show significant changes at higher room temperature. However, the subjective acceptance of higher room temperature is significantly reduced, the subjects feel less relaxed and the willingness to exert effort decreases. The results are summarised in an operative guideline.
Impact date | 2019 |
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Category of impact | Public policy impact, Quality of life impact |
Impact level | Engagement |
Related content
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Publications
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Subjective and Objective Assessment of Office Performance and Heat Strain at Elevated Temperatures - The HESO-Study.
Research output: Contribution to book/anthology/report/conference proceeding › Article in proceeding › Research › peer-review
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Workplace Temperature Requirements in the German Workplace Ordinance: Revising the Rule
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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Revisiting overheating indoors.
Research output: Contribution to book/anthology/report/conference proceeding › Article in proceeding › Research › peer-review
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Laws, regulations and their interpretation - The case of high indoor temperatures in Germany: extended abstract
Research output: Contribution to conference without publisher/journal › Conference abstract for conference › Research › peer-review
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Hitzebeanspruchung und Leistungsfähigkeit in Büroräumen bei erhöhten Außentemperaturen - HESO. Abschlussbericht. (Heat strain and performance in offices at elevated outside temperatures. Final Report)
Research output: Book/Report › Book › Research › peer-review
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Considering training effects in performance tests – the case of the d2-attention test.
Research output: Contribution to book/anthology/report/conference proceeding › Article in proceeding › Research › peer-review
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Zur Neufassung der Arbeitsstättenregel ASR A3.5. Raumtemperatur
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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The New German Rule on Workplace Temperature Requirements
Research output: Contribution to book/anthology/report/conference proceeding › Article in proceeding › Research › peer-review
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Büroarbeit - was passiert an heißen Sommertagen - aus Ergebnissen einer aktuellen Studie.
Research output: Contribution to book/anthology/report/conference proceeding › Conference abstract in proceeding › Research › peer-review
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Impacts
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HESO Project: Impact 2018: 7354 downloads of "Heat strain and performance in offices at elevated outside temperatures. Final Report F2039"
Impact: Public policy impact, Quality of life impact
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HESO Project: Impact 2017: 4114 downloads of "Heat strain and performance in offices at elevated outside temperatures. Final Report F2039"
Impact: Quality of life impact, Public policy impact
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Publication of the new SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) German occupational safety rule
Impact: Public policy impact
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Projects