Metabolism Clothing Activity

Reference data and engineering information about metabolism clothing activity for physiology applications.

metabolismclothingactivity

Overview

Engineering reference data for Metabolism Clothing Activity in physiology.

Key Formulas

Basal Metabolic Rate

$BMR \propto M^{0.75}$

Kleiber's law — metabolic rate scales with body mass.

Heat Loss

$Q = hA(T_{skin} - T_{air})$

Convective heat loss from body.

Symbol	Description	Unit
$Q$	Heat loss	W
$h$	Heat transfer coefficient	W/(m²·K)
$A$	Body surface area	m²

Heat transfer from the human body to surroundings as a function of activity level, clothing insulation, and environmental conditions.
Human Activity	Clothing (Clo)(Clo)	Comfort Temperature(°C)	Relative Air Speed(m/s)	Convection Heat Loss(W)	Radiation Heat Loss(W)	Latent Vapor Loss(g/h)	Total Heat Transfer(W)
Sitting still	Naked	28.8	0.1	36	38	40	102
Sitting still	0.5	26.2	0.1	36	37	42	102
Sitting still	1	23.3	0.1	36	35	44	102
Sitting still	1.5	20.7	0.1	36	34	46	102
Medium activity	Naked	24.4	0.1	59	65	115	204
Medium activity	0.5	19.9	0.1	60	63	120	204
Medium activity	1	15.3	0.1	60	59	123	204
Medium activity	1.5	10.9	0.1	62	57	126	204
High activity	Naked	22.1	0.3	107	67	192	306
High activity	0.5	15.7	0.3	108	64	198	306
High activity	1	9.3	0.3	110	59	202	306
High activity	1.5	3.2	0.3	113	56	205	306

Definitions

Clo is a unit of thermal insulation used to describe the warmth of clothing. The standard definition is:

1 \text{ Clo} = 0.155 \, \frac{\text{m}^2 \cdot \text{K}}{\text{W}}

This unit helps quantify how clothing affects the body's heat balance by slowing the transfer of heat through conduction and convection.

The data demonstrates the relationship between physical activity, required clothing insulation (Clo value), and the resulting thermal environment needed for comfort. As activity level increases, the body generates more metabolic heat. To maintain thermal comfort at higher activity levels, either the ambient temperature must be lower, less clothing (lower Clo value) is required, or increased air movement helps dissipate excess heat.

The total heat is the sum of heat lost through convection, radiation, and latent vapor (perspiration).

Metabolism Clothing Activity

Overview

Key Formulas

Basal Metabolic Rate

Heat Loss

Variables

Definitions

Interactive Charts

Age and Physical Growth - Weight and Height

References