Effect of Ventilation on Heat Stress in the System of Short-Sleeve T-Shirt-Combat Uniform-Chemical, Biological, and Radioactive Protective Clothing

This study establishes basic data for the development of a new Chemical, Biological, and Radioactive (CBR) protective clothing by selecting the ventilation position to optimize thermal comfort on the basis of the opening and closing of each part. Participants were eight men in their 20s who had previously worn CBR protective clothing. After vigorous exercise and perspiration, the microclimate of the clothing and skin temperature was measured. Results revealed that when the ventilation zipper was opened after exercising, the skin and clothing microclimate temperatures, which had increased during the exercise, decreased in the chest and shoulder blade regions. The clothing microclimate humidity decreased in the chest area. The change was greatest in the chest region; the skin temperature decreased by 0.2°C, the clothing microclimate temperature by 2.7°C, and the clothing microclimate humidity by 3.2%RH through ventilation. Thus, the opening that allows the exchange of accumulated heat and moisture while wearing the CBR protective clothing is efficient.