ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Abstract Objective: To co-ordinate the work of the main European research teams in the field of thermal factors in order to develop and improve significantly the methods presently available for assessing the risks of heat disorders encountered during work in hot condi-tions. Method: Each item from the required sweat rate model was reviewed on the basis of the most recent lit-erature. A database with 1,113 laboratory and field ex-periments, covering the whole range of hot working conditions, was assembled and used for the validation. Results: Influence of clothing ensemble on heat ex-change: methods and formulas were developed that take into account the dynamic effects associated with forced convection and the pumping effect associated with body movements and exercise. Prediction of the average ski