EN ISO 28803:2012

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-julij-2012
Ergonomija fizikalnega okolja - Uporaba mednarodnih standardov za ljudi s
posebnimi potrebami (ISO 28803:2012)
Ergonomics of the physical environment - Application of international standards to people
with special requirements (ISO 28803:2012)
Ergonomie der physikalischen Umgebung - Anwendung Internationaler Normen für
Personen mit speziellen Anforderungen (ISO 28803:2012)
Ergonomie de l'environnement physique - Application des Normes internationales aux
personnes ayant des exigences particulières (ISO 28803:2012)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 28803:2012
ICS:
13.180 Ergonomija Ergonomics
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD
EN ISO 28803
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
March 2012
ICS 13.180
English Version
Ergonomics of the physical environment - Application of
international standards to people with special requirements (ISO
28803:2012)
Ergonomie de l'environnement physique - Application des Ergonomie der physikalischen Umgebung - Anwendung
Normes internationales aux personnes ayant des Internationaler Normen für Personen mit besonderen
exigences particulières (ISO 28803:2012) Bedürfnissen (ISO 28803:2012)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 14 March 2012.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European
Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national
standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN member.

This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the same
status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland,
Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and United Kingdom.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels
© 2012 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 28803:2012: E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
Foreword .3

Foreword
This document (EN ISO 28803:2012) has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 159 "Ergonomics"
in collaboration with Technical Committee CEN/TC 122 “Ergonomics” the secretariat of which is held by DIN.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an identical
text or by endorsement, at the latest by September 2012, and conflicting national standards shall be
withdrawn at the latest by September 2012.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. CEN [and/or CENELEC] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the following
countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.
Endorsement notice
The text of ISO 28803:2012 has been approved by CEN as a EN ISO 28803:2012 without any modification.

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 28803
First edition
2012-03-15
Ergonomics of the physical
environment — Application of
International Standards to people with
special requirements
Ergonomie de l’environnement physique — Application des Normes
internationales aux personnes ayant des exigences particulières
Reference number
ISO 28803:2012(E)
©
ISO 2012
ISO 28803:2012(E)
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from either ISO at the address below or ISO’s
member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
Case postale 56 • CH-1211 Geneva 20
Tel. + 41 22 749 01 11
Fax + 41 22 749 09 47
E-mail copyright@iso.org
Web www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2012 – All rights reserved

ISO 28803:2012(E)
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction . v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 General factors requiring consideration when designing or evaluating environments for people
with special requirements . 2
5 Considerations related to design and evaluation of the thermal environment . 3
5.1 Factors requiring special consideration for design and evaluation . 3
5.2 Moderate thermal environments and people with special requirements . 4
5.3 Hot environments and people with special requirements . 5
5.4 Cold environments and people with special requirements . 6
5.5 Supporting standards for evaluation of thermal environments . 6
5.6 Thermal disabilities . 7
6 Considerations related to design and evaluation of the acoustic environment . 9
6.1 General factors requiring consideration when designing and evaluating environments for
people with special requirements . 9
6.2 ISO 7731, Ergonomics — Danger signals for public and work areas — Auditory
danger signals . 11
6.3 ISO 11429, Ergonomics — System of auditory and visual danger and information signals .12
6.4 ISO 9355-2, Ergonomic requirements for the design of displays and control actuators — Part
2: Displays .12
6.5 ISO 9921, Ergonomics — Assessment of speech communication .12
6.6 IEC 60268-16, Sound system equipment — Part 16: Objective rating of speech intelligibility by
speech transmission index .13
7 Assessment of visual and lighting environments .13
7.1 General .13
7.2 Contrast sensitivity .14
7.3 ISO 8995, Lighting of indoor work places .14
7.4 Lighting for older people .14
8 Considerations related to air quality .14
9 Considerations related to assessment of other environmental components .15
9.1 General .15
9.2 Vibration environments .15
9.3 Interaction of environmental components .16
10 Environmental design and adaptive opportunity .16
Bibliography .18
ISO 28803:2012(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies
(ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO
technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the International
Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an
International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO 28803 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 159, Ergonomics, Subcommittee SC 5, Ergonomics
of the physical environment.
iv © ISO 2012 – All rights reserved

ISO 28803:2012(E)
Introduction
This is one of a series of International Standards concerned with the ergonomics of the physical environment.
This International Standard complements others in the series concerned with specific components of the
environment, such as thermal environments, acoustics, lighting or air quality, building upon them to allow an
assessment of human response to the total environment. This International Standard is particularly concerned
with extending the scopes of other International Standards — see 5.2.2, 5.3.2 to 5.3.5, 5.4.2, 5.5, 6.2 to 6.6, 7.3
and 9.2 — so that they can be applied to as wide a range of people as possible. The background information
it provides on the responses and needs of groups of persons with special requirements will contribute to
accessible environmental designs that will complement other activities in the field of ergonomics.
This International Standard includes a description of the range and variety of responses and adaptations
to physical environments of people with special requirements, and the consequences for measuring and
evaluating those environments. It considers the application of indices and methods for people with special
requirements where health and safety, comfort and well-being are considerations. It provides a description of
the nature of the particular characteristics of people with special requirements in the context of their responses
to environments (e.g. restricted sensation, reduced perception or ability to respond). It is not a database of
characteristics of people with special requirements, but uses data from ISO/TR 22411 to provide methods and
criteria that will in turn provide accessible environments.
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 28803:2012(E)
Ergonomics of the physical environment — Application of
International Standards to people with special requirements
1 Scope
This International Standard describes how International Standards concerned with the ergonomics of the
physical environment can be applied for people with special requirements, who would otherwise be considered
to be beyond the scope of those standards. It has been produced according to the principles of accessible
design provided in ISO/IEC Guide 71 and using the data provided in ISO/TR 22411.
It is not restricted to any specific environment but provides the general principles that allow assessment and
evaluation, and can contribute to the development of standards concerned with specific environments. It is
applicable to built environments as well as to other indoor, vehicle and outdoor environments. Nor is it restricted
to specific environmental components; it includes assessment of acoustic environments, thermal environments,
lighting, air quality and other environmental factors that could be considered to influence the health, comfort
and performance of people with special requirements in an environment.
It is applicable to all occupants of such environments who can be considered to have special requirements.
NOTE This will depend upon context and can, for example, include babies, infants, men or women, people with
disabilities, older or ill people. A person could have a special requirement in one type of environment but not in another.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document
(including any amendments) applies.
ISO 13731, Ergonomics of the thermal environment — Vocabulary and symbols
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 13731 and the following apply.
3.1
accessible design
design focussed on principles of extending standard design to people with some type of performance limitation
to maximize the number of potential customers who can readily use a product, building or service which may
be achieved by
— designing products, services and environments that are readily usable by most users without any
modification,
— making products or services adaptable to different users (adapting user interfaces), and
— having standardized interfaces to be compatible with special products for persons with disabilities
NOTE 1 Terms such as design for all, barrier-free design, inclusive design and transgenerational design are used
similarly but in different contexts.
NOTE 2 Accessible design is a subset of universal design where products and environments are usable by all people,
to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.
[ISO/IEC Guide 71:2001, definition 3.2]
ISO 28803:2012(E)
3.2
assistive technology
technology that is used to increase, maintain or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities
3.3
assistive device
piece of equipment, product system, hardware, software or service that is used to increase, maintain or improve
functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities
3.4
user
person who interacts with the product, service or environment
3.5
alternative format
different realization or presentation which may make products and services accessible by the use of another
modality or sensory ability
3.6
impairment
limitation in body function or structure, such as a significant deviation or loss of capability, which can be
temporary (for example, due to injury) or permanent (slight or severe and can fluctuate over time)
EXAMPLE Deterioration due to aging.
3.7
standard
document, established by consensus and approved by a recognized body, that provides, for common and
repeated use, rules, guidelines or characteristics for activities or their results, aimed at the achievement of the
optimum degree of order in a given context
NOTE Standards should be based on the consolidated results of science, technology and experience, and aimed at
the promotion of optimum community benefits.
[ISO/IEC Guide 2:2004, definition 3.2]
3.8
international standard
standard that is adopted by an international standardizing/standards organization and made available to the public
[ISO/IEC Guide 2:2004, definition 3.2.1.1]
3.9
International Standard
international standard where the International Standards organization is ISO or IEC
3.10
adaptive opportunity
opportunity for a person to alter the environment to which he or she is exposed by behavioural (move away, adjust
posture, adjust clothing, etc.) or other means (open window, close door, adjust environmental controls etc.)
4 General factors requiring consideration when designing or evaluating
environments for people with special requirements
People with special requirements are people who generally fall outside the scope of most International
Standards. Standards for environmental design and assessment are often valid only for people with specific
characteristics who are frequently referred to as “normal” or “typical”. Environmental design for a wider
2 © ISO 2012 – All rights reserved

ISO 28803:2012(E)
population can require different conditions from those given in a standard, in order to provide comfort or avoid
unacceptable stress on the body.
NOTE Existing thermal International Standards cover a range of conditions, types of people and so on, which are
identified in the scope of those documents, thereby providing information for people who fall outside the scope and who
should be treated as people with special requirements.
One reason for standards to have a restricted scope in terms of user population, is that knowledge is incomplete
for people who might have special requirements in environmental design. These people often include children,
people with disabilities and older people. Although knowledge about such populations is incomplete, advice
can still be provided to ensure accessible design of environments.
Clauses 5 to 9 describe the assessment of the thermal, acoustic, visual, lighting, air quality and other
environments. For each environmental component, guidance is provided on how to apply the relevant
International Standards for people with special requirements.
General considerations include factors which affect a person’s response to the particular environmental
component. For example, body size and shape or the ability to move around can be important. The relevant
International Standards are then considered in terms of these general considerations. For example, if someone
with a spinal injury cannot sweat below the lesion, then a heat stress standard based upon sweat rate will
require appropriate modification. General advice can then be provided in terms of modifications to the relevant
International Standard in order to make it more valid for a wider range of people.
A characteristic of people who are not “normal” or “typical” is the wide variation in response across the
population; often, individual characteristics would have to be considered. In such cases, or where unacceptable
strain or threat to health are involved, then medical advice needs to be sought. In such cases, the information
provided in Clauses 5 to 9 should be brought to the attention of the medical advisor.
One particular consideration is the degree to which a person can modify exposure to environments by behavioural
measures. People with special requirements could have restricted behavioural opportunities (to move around,
change clothing, control the environment, etc.) and this will be important for all environmental components.
5 Considerations related to design and evaluation of the thermal environment
5.1 Factors requiring special consideration for design and evaluation
The following factors shall be considered when assessing the thermal environment.
a) Sensory impairment and paralysis
Some physical disabilities and methods of treatment (e.g. drugs) affect thermal sensation and requirements
for thermal comfort and health. Examples of drugs that can affect body temperature regulation are beta
blockers, diuretics, laxatives, anticholinergics, antihistamines, neuroleptics, methydopa, MAO inhibitors,
tricyclic antidepressants, serotoninergic agonists, phenothiazines and vasoconstrictors.
Additional issues include methods for collecting valid and reliable data on the responses of people with
special requirements, e.g. pregnant women, older people or babies.
b) Difference in the shape of the body
The loss or atrophying of a limb makes the application of the Dubois’ surface area formula difficult and
prone to error. Consequently, it will have some influence on the concept of mean skin temperature. Infants
and babies will have somewhat different body proportions compared to average adults. This influences the
projected surface area available for heat exchange from different parts of the body and hence the impact
of thermal radiation, convection and evaporation.
c) Impairment of sweat secretion
It is not uncommon for more than 80 % of the sweat-secreting skin area to be impaired in quadriplegic
persons (high-level spinal cord injured persons) and some other paralytic diseases. This will affect the
ISO 28803:2012(E)
interpretation of thermal environment indices for hot environments, especially rational ones in which a
“normal” level of sweating is assumed and the concept of wettedness plays an important role.
d) Impairment of vasomotor control
Impairment of peripheral vasomotor control, often found in such groups as the aged, spinal-cord injured or
persons taking vasodilator drugs, affects adaptability to both cold and hot environments and often requires
special consideration when considering thermal conditions.
e) Differences in metabolic rate
People with physical disabilities who use technical aids such as wheelchairs often have low metabolic
rates due to their sedentary activity level. Conversely, others (such as those suffering athetosic cerebral
palsy) require greater energy to perform tasks and hence have a higher metabolic rate due to the greater
effort involved. Older persons are often less active and have a lower metabolic rate than average adults
but there are large individual differences.
f) Influence of thermal stress on other physiological functions
Cerebral apoplexy and cardiovascular attacks are often evoked by thermal stress in (cold) winters
and unusually hot summers. Sweat secretion can cause some cutaneous chronic diseases such as
epidermolysis bullosa hereditaria. Cold environments may cause frequent urination. Strain is greater after
exhaustive work, night work, “jet lag”, etc.
5.2 Moderate thermal environments and people with special requirements
5.2.1 General considerations
Thermal conditions that are “normally” considered as moderate and providing thermal comfort, may not be
moderate or acceptable to people with disabilities. People with paralysis due to injury to the spinal cord, for
example, may report thermal sensation even on the paralyzed part of the body, which will also affect overall
body sensation and comfort. Peripheral vasomotor disorders will affect heat exchange with the environment and
studies have reported deterioration of thermal sensation and slow thermoregulatory responses in older people.
To evaluate whether an environment is acceptable or not, in addition to taking sensation votes, some simple
physiological measurement (of oral temperature, using a clinical thermometer, heart rate, etc.) can be necessary
on a regular basis. When at work, most people with special requirements are likely to be in what are, for the
average healthy person, moderate thermal environments.
5.2.2 ISO 7730, Ergonomics of the thermal environment — Analytical determination and
interpretation of thermal comfort using calculation of the PMV and PPD indices and local thermal
comfort criteria
The PMV (predicted mean vote) and PPD (predicted percentage of dissatisfied) indices were statistically derived
from a theoretical comfort equation and experimental data obtained from a large number of subjects, mainly
healthy young adults, although some older persons were considered. The method given in ISO 7730 could
require modification for adequate prediction of the thermal sensation or dissatisfaction of people with disabilities
and older people with thermoregulatory impairments. The method given is not intended for predicting the thermal
sensation of persons, but rather to predict which thermal conditions (temperature, humidity, air velocity, clothing,
activity) are acceptable or preferred. Both laboratory and field studies suggest that the PMV/PPD indices may
adequately predict mean thermal responses for the majority of people with disabilities; however, they also show
a wide variation in responses, demonstrating that consideration of individual requirements is necessary.
The PMV comfort equation seems to be useful for evaluating moderate thermal environments, i.e. the effect of
the thermal environment on various persons with and without special requirements.
One problem with the structure of the comfort equation is the physiological background of the comfortable
evaporative heat loss related to activity level. Further examination is necessary to determine if the equation for
comfortable evaporation is appropriate for people with disabilities with impaired nervous control of sweating.
4 © ISO 2012 – All rights reserved

ISO 28803:2012(E)
When estimating the mean radiant temperature, differences in body shape can be taken into account, but this
is only of importance in environments with large directional differences in radiant temperature.
Persons with physical disabilities (e.g. spinal cord injury) often have vasoconstriction disorder and impaired
sweating. This means their thermoregulation system does not compensate well if the ambient temperature
deviates from the neutral temperature. Therefore, it is important for people with disabilities that the ambient
temperature be close to the neutral temperature. Most studies show that the preferred neutral ambient
temperature is the same as for people without disabilities and so the method in ISO 7730 can be used. People
with physical disabilities often also have lower activity levels. They may not easily be able to change their
activity or clothing level. Furthermore, the insulation of a wheelchair (0,1 to 0,2 clo) must be taken into account.
Under the same clothing and activity conditions, older persons may prefer the same neutral temperature
as younger people. Nevertheless, many older people have a lower activity level (spending more hours of
each day seated) than younger persons with a corresponding elevation in the neutral temperature. Due to
lack of vasoconstriction and decreased thermal sensation, ambient temperatures on the cool side of thermal
neutrality should be avoided. The designer should select an acceptable temperature range corresponding to
0 < PMV < + 0,5.
Many of the above factors will be taken into account in the PMV/PPD method, as they affect estimates of the
six basic parameters (inputs to the method). Additional modification is often required, however, especially when
deviating from thermal neutrality and where individual characteristics are important.
5.3 Hot environments and people with special requirements
5.3.1 General considerations
Except in tropical countries, normally only a limited number of people with special requirements will work
in hot environments. But they may be exposed to severe conditions in their home, during outdoor activities,
sport activities or traveling. ISO 12894 provides a list of contraindications that would make people particularly
vulnerable to exposure to heat and hence require special consideration. See also Table 1.
5.3.2 ISO 7243, Hot environments — Estimation of the heat stress on working man, based on the
WBGT-index (wet bulb globe temperature)
ISO 7243 was developed for estimating heat stress during work in hot environments based on the WBGT-index.
Reference values should naturally be re-established to allow for a maximum rectal temperature but taking into
consideration the physiological tolerance and reactions of the persons with special requirements concerned.
The WBGT-index may underestimate the effects of heat stress on persons with disorders of sweat secretion
because of their reduced ability to cool themselves by evaporation of sweat.
The effects of age on responses to heat stress are varied and directly relate to fitness. Fit, healthy and thin
older people will have similar tolerance levels when compared to younger people. However, older people are
often not as fit as younger people and reduced limits for unacceptable heat stress will be required.
5.3.3 ISO 7933, Ergonomics of the thermal environment — Analytical determination and
interpretation of heat stress using calculation of the predicted heat strain
The required sweat rate may be used as an index for hot environments for people with special requirements but
it will require careful modification and application. Impairments of sweat secretion must be considered when
applying ISO 7933 to older adults and people with disabilities and comparing estimated and measured values
for sweat rate.
For several types of the disabled, such as spinal-cord-injured persons whose sweat-secreting skin areas are
reduced, the formula for calculating the maximum evaporation rate should be modified to take account of the
reduced surface area for sweating. For example, for a spinal cord injury in the mid-spine region, the maximum
capacity to cool by sweating should be halved.
ISO 28803:2012(E)
Using ISO 7933, heat balance and heat content of the body may be calculated by using individual parameters
for the estimation of body surface and body mass. The taking account of, and adjusting for, slow and dull
thermoregulatory responses , which are often found in older persons or persons with disabilities, is not
straightforward and would require detailed investigation of an individual’s condition.
5.3.4 ISO 9886, Ergonomics — Evaluation of thermal strain by physiological measurements
The selection of measurement methods should be carefully considered for people with special requirements
due to, for example, abnormal action like athetosic motion and paralyzed sensations.
Some of the limit values should be modified corresponding to the types of disability. For example, maximum
heart rate can be lower for disorders of circulatory organs and allowable body mass loss smaller for impaired
kidney function.
Measurement of blood pressure should be added for persons with circulatory disorder.
5.3.5 ISO 13732, Ergonomics of the thermal environment — Methods for the assessment of human
responses to contact with surfaces
ISO 13732-1 and ISO 13732-3 address temperatures that will cause damage to skin on contact with hot or cold
surfaces. Increased reaction times and longer contact times are specified for people with special requirements.
Reduced temperature sensitivity should be considered when specifying surface temperatures if it is possible
for the surfaces to be touched by older adults and people with some types of disability. Special considerations
can also be required for babies and children. Lower temperature limits can be necessary. Not only hot and cold
surfaces, but those with higher moderate temperature might be dangerous, as they can cause so-called “low
temperature burn” after long contact, owing to lost or deteriorated sensation and decreased skin blood flow.
This must be considered when using heated surfaces like radiators, convectors and wall heating for space-
heating purposes.
[31]
NOTE A maximum surface temperature of 41 °C is specified in EN 12182 .
5.4 Cold environments and people with special requirements
5.4.1 General considerations
Normally, only a limited number of people with special requirements work in cold environments. Nevertheless,
they can be exposed to severe conditions in their homes, during outdoor activities, sporting activities or transport.
5.4.2 ISO 11079, Ergonomics of the thermal environment — Determination and interpretation of cold
stress when using required clothing insulation (IREQ) and local cooling effects
Physiological factors such as metabolic rate‚ sweating and heat loss should be considered when applying
ISO 11079 to certain kinds of people with special requirements. It is recommended that the neutral IREQ be
used which might differ according to the disorders of the circulatory system.
5.5 Supporting standards for evaluation of thermal environments
5.5.1 ISO 7726, Ergonomics of the thermal environment — Instruments for measuring physical
quantities
ISO 7726 is concerned with instruments and methods for measuring the physical quantities of thermal
environments and therefore requires only limited modification.
For selecting measuring points, the size and posture of the person should be considered. It should be noted
that the projected area factors used in ISO 7726 for calculation of mean radiant temperature are based on the
data from adults with symmetrical body shapes.
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ISO 28803:2012(E)
5.5.2 ISO 9920, Ergonomics of the thermal environment — Estimation of thermal insulation and water
vapour resistance of a clothing ensemble
As the insulation values are given per square metre of body surface area, the values in ISO 9920 can also be
used for persons whose body surface area differs from that of a “standard” person.
As many persons with special requirements are sedentary, it is important to take into account the insulation of
chairs (0,1–0,3 clo) and especially wheelchairs (0,1–0,2 clo).
5.5.3 ISO 8996, Ergonomics of the thermal environment — Determination of metabolic rate
For the athetosic disabled, such as those suffering from cerebral palsy and the metabolic disability Basedow
disease (thyreotoxicosis), the tables in the annexes of ISO 8996 for levels 1 and 2 estimation cannot be used,
as the efficiency of consumed energy for useful work is considerably lower for people with these disabilities
than for most people. Only the measured metabolic rate is applicable for such people who are working today
and for whom the above-mentioned consideration is necessary for both their work and rest environments.
Many other persons with special requirements, including people with physical disabilities, older people,
pregnant women and infants, etc., have a different size, shape and/or posture of the body from that of the
standard person. The surface area might then not always be calculated with sufficient accuracy using Dubois’
surface area formula.
5.5.4 ISO 10551, Ergonomics of the thermal environment — Assessment of the influence of the
thermal environment using subjective judgement scales
ISO 10551 will be useful for all people, including those with special requirements. Nonetheless, when analysing
the responses, special requirements such as a disorder of thermal sensation should be considered. Additional
considerations for the collection of subjective data could be required.
5.6 Thermal disabilities
5.6.1 Outline
Table 1 presents a list of significant thermal disabilities, together with their corresponding primary disabilities
and thermal conditions. Various diseases also show disorder in body temperature control, thermal sensation
and other thermo-physiological homeostasis, as well as the influences of the thermal environment on the
deterioration caused by the disease, recovery and/or control of pain. However, only a few examples of chronic
diseases where patients seek social integration outside hospitals are given in Table 1.
5.6.2 Important disabilities and diseases accompanying thermo-physiological disabilities
a) Spinal-cord injury
This includes paraplegia and quadriplegia. In many cases of this type of disability, sweat secretion and
thermal vasomotor control, as well as thermal sensation, are lost at the skin surfaces of the paralyzed
parts of the body, i.e. that part of the body governed by the spinal cord below the point of injury. For a
person with paraplegia, when the position of the spinal cord injury is relatively low, the thermal responses
of the upper part of the body surfaces remain healthy and the disorder of thermo-regulation is generally
not very severe. Even so, a disorder of micturition is often serious (cooler environments should be avoided)
and many hot and cold materials are dangerous because of lost sensation.
People with severe quadriplegia have significant disorders to their thermo-regulatory and thermal sensation
systems. Disorder of micturition is common to all levels of spinal-cord injury. Even a person with partial
quadriplegia whose spinal cord is injured at the neck but retains some sensation and mobility of the hands and
feet, has some loss of sweat secretion and peripheral vasomotor control which is often complete. This might in
some cases cause heat disorders (heat stroke, heat exhaustion) in summer and hypothermia in winter.
Spinal cord injuries are common among people with disabilities in modern society as this kind of disability
is caused by accidents from traffic, labour, sports, etc. Many people with paraplegia and some partially
ISO 28803:2012(E)
quadriplegic persons do mental and light physical work. Even people with severe quadriplegia perform
mental work aided by technical aids.
b) Cerebral palsy
People with cerebral palsy are often wheelchair users and are also often able to walk to various levels of
walking handicap. Many people with cerebral palsy are athetosic and use much more energy for certain
working tasks (including daily behaviour) than an average person. They usually eat more, sweat more and
prefer cooler environments because of a higher metabolic rate.
A too-low temperature is also unsuitable for people with cerebral palsy as the palsy grows worse in such
environments. Dry and/or dusty air is more harmful to many of them who are forced to breathe through the
mouth deeply because of a disorder of the breathing motion. Thermal sensation and thermo-regulation are
not usually impaired. However, spinal-cord injury occurs in some cerebral palsy sufferers of above-middle
age, caused by the repetition of strong convulsions.
Cerebral palsy is not progressive and many disabled persons of this type are working and want to work.
Modern developments in electronics make the integration of severer cerebral palsy sufferers into various
work markets easier. Many people with disabilities wish to be integrated into normal social life (going out
shopping, to restaurants, concerts, the theatre, etc.) whether they are working or not.
c) Aftereffects of acute anterior poliomyelitis
The thermo-regulating function is usually retained in this type of disability; however, as the original disease
is a kind of infectious diseases with intestinal viruses, the intestines are still weak even after its acute period.
Persons with this condition easily suffer from diarrhoea and often have an abnormal cold sensation over the
lower half of their body. Cooler environments should be avoided, particularly for the lower part of the body.
For people with severe poliomyelitis, the use of respiratory aids such as iron lungs or exposure to dry
and/or dusty air is harmful.
Although, owing to advances in disease control, only a few new poliomyelitis cases appear each year,
there are still many people with acute anterior poliomyelitis living in the world who work, want to work, and
who want to join in social activities.
d) Diseases of circulatory organs
Hemiplegia is a major disability caused by cerebral infarction, cerebral haemorrhage and other cerebrovascular
diseases. Myocardial infarction causes permanent deterioration of heart capacity and hence work capacity.
There is usually a high risk of another (often fatal) attack of the disease, which can easily be caused by too-
cold or extremely hot environments, as well as by exposure to rapid changes of temperature.
Some other diseases of the circulatory organs, such as chronic nephritis, also grow worse in cooler
environments. Persons who have hypertension and/or arteriosclerosis are more vulnerable to such
diseases and also have a high risk of attacks under cold, hot and changing environments.
Vasodilating drugs are often prescribed for hypertension and/or coronary diseases and these sometimes
cause hypothermia because of their side effect of suppression of thermal vasoconstriction.
e) Normal aging
Even among healthy older persons, shifts of thermal circadian rhythms, and hence body temperature,
are frequently found. Vasoconstriction against cold environments, and vasodilatation and sweat secretion
against hot environments, are weaker and start later in an older person than young adults. Thermal
sensations become dulled in older persons. Many cases of spontaneous hypothermia are reported in
older adults.
8 © ISO 2012 – All rights reserved

ISO 28803:2012(E)
Table 1 — Significant thermal disabilities and their primary disabilities
Thermal effect of Thermal environment of Original disabilities, diseases
Thermal disabilities
disabilities
...