OUTDOOR AIR TEMPERATURE, THERMAL COMFORT, HEALTH AND PERFORMANCE AT A BUILDING CONSTRUCTION SITE IN ABUJA, NIGERIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17501/24246735.2022.7114Keywords:
thermal comfort, health, productivity, outdoor air temperature, field experimentAbstract
Results from previous research shows that high outdoor air temperature can be
detrimental to thermal comfort, health and productivity. However, are the results
applicable to building construction workers in Nigeria? In view of this question, this study
investigated the effect of outdoor air temperature on the thermal comfort, health and
performance of a sample of Sandcrete block layers at a building construction site in Abuja,
Nigeria. The study involved literature review and a field experiment. The field experiment
examined the thermal comfort, health and performance of a sample Sandcrete block layers
at LT 28.50C and HT 37.010C. (LT) and (HT) are the lowest and highest naturally
occurring outdoor air temperatures in the construction site during the study. Paired t-test
and Wilcoxon-signed ranked test was used to analyse the data from the field experiment.
Result from analysis of data shows that: the thermal comfort of the samples was
significantly affected at HT 37.01
0C in comparison to LT 28.50C. Also core body
temperature significantly increased at HT 37.010C in comparison LT 28.50C. Furthermore,
sensation of skin burn, fatigue and negative mood significantly increased at HT 37.010C in
comparison LT 28.50C. No significant change in symptoms of headache and dizziness was
observed. Lastly, performance of the sandcrete block was slightly low at HT 37.010C in
comparison to LT 28.50C. The conclusion from this study is that, high outdoor temperature
(37.010C) is detrimental to the thermal comfort, health and performance sandcrete block
layers in Nigeria. The result from this study complements the findings of another related
research. Broadly, results from this study provides empirical data that may stimulate
strategies of mitigating the effect of high outdoor air temperature on the thermal comfort,
health and performance of workers during high outdoor temperatures at construction sites
in Nigeria.
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Copyright (c) 2022 EO Odugboye , CY Makun , S Ahmed
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