3 Tips for Creating a Proper TCZ (Thermal Comfort Zone) in Your Office

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The healthy living experts at Humidifiers.Selection4less.com (http://humidifiers.selection4less.com) explain the importance of maintaining a TCZ (Thermal Comfort Zone) in the workplace. Stray too far from it, and the deviation can affect workers’ performance and stress levels.

A person wearing a normal amount of clothing for a typical office who feels comfortable in that particular temperature is in his or her “TCZ.” An appropriate TCZ can be achieved only when the room’s humidity, air movement, and air temperature are within a specific range. People’s temperature preferences vary greatly, so there isn’t one temperature that can satisfy everyone. Likewise, some people enjoy the moving air from a fan and others don’t.

Workers feel tired in an office that’s too warm. A chilly office causes the occupants’ attention to drift and makes them easily distracted and anxious about when the temperature will warm up so they can feel more comfortable.

Humidity level within an indoor environment is one comfort factor that people more readily agree upon. Where there’s little or no air movement and the relative humidity level can be kept at about 50%, ambient temperature becomes the most critical factor for maintaining thermal comfort inside an office.

Here are three tips to create the optimum TCZ in your workplace:

1. TEMPERATURE. Maintain a constant temperature; don’t fluctuate widely within a single day.

When outside temperatures are 73°F or below, 68-75°F is appropriate. During the summer months when outside temperatures are higher than 73°F, a setting of 73-79°F minimizes the discrepancy between outdoor and indoor temperatures. This helps to avoid the “walk-in chill” often felt when entering an extremely cool building from the hot outdoors.

These recommended ranges should be acceptable for sedentary office workers or people with minimal activity level, and usually will satisfy at least 80% of individuals — meaning you’ve created an optimal TCZ for them. (Note: These guidelines are recommended by ASHRAE, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating & Air Conditioning Engineers.)

2. AIR MOVEMENT. Studies have shown that air velocities below 50 feet per minute don’t create significant distraction (even in tasks requiring sustained attention). During air conditioning weather a strategically placed fan, combined with appropriate humidity levels, can lower cooling costs by optimizing ambient temperature.

3. OPTIMUM HUMIDITY. The human body appreciates a relative humidity level of about 50%. When humidity in the workplace is kept at that level, workers generally have fewer respiratory problems and an increased feeling of well-being.

Humidity levels lower than 50% dry out mucous membranes, contributing to respiratory illnesses. Also, excessively dry office air can cause electrostatic charges on office equipment. In sealed buildings, humidity levels much higher than 50% can make the workplace feel stuffy and contribute to bacterial growth.

Thermal comfort is important both for overall well-being and for work productivity. Here’s a summary of how to create the optimum TCZ in your workplace.

• Maintain a constant temperature.

• Supplement with fans when requested.

• Maintain a relative humidity level of 50% all year ’round.

To check humidity in your home or workplace, purchase an inexpensive hygrometer (humidity measuring device) at your local hardware store or online. Recommendation: Humidifiers.Selection4Less.com.

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About Selection4Less.com:
Selection4Less.com was founded in 2009 and aims to bring the best in healthy living products within easy reach of online shoppers. The company’s founders believe that information is the key to making good personal buying decisions. They carefully research each Selection4Less.com product category and present their findings online for the benefit of their shoppers. For more information, e-mail press@selection4less.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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