Cooling performance measurements of different types of cooling vests using thermal manikin

Abstract

This study compared the effectiveness of five commercially available cooling vests using three distinct thermal manikin test protocols. In addition, the constraints associated with each test protocol were elucidated, facilitating the identification of suitable evaluation methods for the different cooling vests. The cooling performances of the vests were evaluated using three thermal manikin test scenarios, incorporating the adaptations from Ciuha et al. (Ergonomics 64:625–639, 2021) and ASTM F2371-16, along with a modified protocol simulating the hot and humid weather in a South Korean summer. The results revealed substantial variations in the cooling performance across different test protocols, highlighting the importance of carefully selecting thermal manikin test methods. Moreover, the specific cooling vests exhibited immeasurable performance in certain test methods, which presents the limitations inherent in each testing scenario. For example, when evaluated with a non-sweating thermal manikin, the air-cooling vests exhibited the worst cooling performance, showing an average cooling rate of 1.0 W and cooling durations of five minutes. In contrast, the same vests demonstrated superior performance when assessed using the ASTM F2371-16 method, revealing an effective cooling rate of 114.8 W and sustained cooling durations exceeding eight hours. These results emphasize the lack of a one-size-fits-all evaluation method for cooling vests and the need for accessible guidelines to inform decision-makers aiming to enhance workplace safety and comfort.