Reproduced with permission of Stephen G.

Hardcastle, CanmetMining, Natural Resources Canada

© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Natural Resources, 2015

The Assessment Of Specialized Clothing Worn By Underground

Miners And Its Heat Stress Management Implications
Stephen G. Hardcastlea, Martin P. Poirierb, Brian J. Friesenb, Ryan McGinnb, Rob Meadeb,
Andreas D. Flourisc, Cheryl Allend, Glen P. Kennyb
a
CANMETMining, Natural Resources Canada, Sudbury, Canada
b
Human and Environmental Physiology Research Unit, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
c
FAME Laboratory, Department of Exercise Science, University of Thessaly, Trikala, Greece, 42100
d
Vale, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada

Clothing plays an important role in heat stress management; if it prevents adequate heat exchange between the
human body and the ambient environment when working, the body will store heat causing elevated core
temperatures and potential health risks. This paper summarizes a series of tests performed on clothing that could be
worn by underground miners in Canada. These evaluations, undertaken using a human calorimeter, were each
believed to be the first of their kind addressing human heat storage directly as opposed to using indirect
thermometry. These studies initially assessed standard coverall arrangements and popular activewear for prolonged
continuous work, continued with tests simulating intermittent work in hot-dry and warm-wet (or humid)
environments, and concluded with the recent intermittent work evaluation of arc-flash or flame resistant (AFR)
clothing. Throughout the studies, young, healthy, un-medicated, non-acclimated male volunteers were subjected to
exercise/recovery test protocols lasting up to 120 minutes. The subjects exercised at 360-400 W rates of metabolic
heat production, verging on American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienist’s (ACGIH) “Heavy”
classification, in environments ranging from approximately 23 to 29°C wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT). The
results emphasize the benefits of direct calorimetry in providing a more accurate depiction of heat storage
compared to indirect thermometry. The latest AFR tests confirmed the previous findings that coverall
arrangements, currently typical of the Canadian industry, may be detrimental to miners' health, as caused by
elevated body temperatures. This is as a consequence of reduced heat loss to the environment compared to single-
layer, closer-fitting alternatives that promote evaporative cooling. However, in regard to AFR clothing ensembles
needing special consideration, or the requiring a clothing adjustment factor when applying the ACGIH heat stress
screening criteria, this could not be confirmed. Despite the additional protective properties of the fabrics, the results
tend to indicate within each clothing category, i.e. coveralls, or work-pant/long-sleeved t-shirt, that there were no
significant differences between comparable AFR and non-AFR options in terms of the progression of increasing
core temperature or overall heat storage. Consequently, the closer fitting long-sleeved shirt ensembles tested, as a
whole, through allowing greater evaporation, could reduce the rate of increasing body temperatures allowing for
longer or more intense activity before core temperatures thresholds are reached.

Keywords: Heat stress, Clothing, WBGT, Arc-flash, Flame resistant, Snellen calorimeter

1. Introduction activity in both hot-dry and warm-wet (humid)

Miners wear a variety of clothing ensembles based
on durability or specific safety requirements. The fabric
material, and any treatment or layering thereof, can
adversely affect a worker’s core temperature and
therefore increase the risk of heat stress. Full coveralls,
often worn in conjunction with a full under layer, are the
norm in the Canadian mining industry. Furthermore,
there is increasing interest in the widespread use of arc-
flash or flame resistant (AFR) clothing normally limited
to electricians and mine rescue personnel. The Deep
Mining Research Consortium (DMRC) identified
clothing requirements and heat stress concerns as
knowledge gaps that need to be addressed to ensure
miner safety. Moisture-wicking garments, similar to
those promoted for sporting activities, have been shown
to be beneficial in mitigating heat storage and or
elevated core body temperatures for both continuous
activity in a hot/dry environment and for intermittent
_______________________________________________________________________________
Author’s email: Stephen.Hardcastle@nrcan.gc.ca
environments. However, their adoption has been limited
due to worker preference, other safety concerns, such as
protection from cuts and lubricating oils etc. plus the
operational considerations of wide scale introduction
including cost without a comprehensive benefit analysis.
There is also anecdotal belief within industry workers
that AFR clothing, such as Nomex® coveralls, results in
greater thermal discomfort.
In mining, factors such as rock and ground water
temperature as well as artificial heat sources, such as
powered machinery, along with ventilation air auto-
compression are major determinants in an underground
environment’s temperature and humidity. In Canada,
where mines are reaching 3 km below surface, the effect
1
 Table 1. Screening Criteria for TLV® and Action Limit (AL) for heat stress exposure (to nearest 0.5°C WBGT) [after 1,2]
Demand Category Light
(Median) 180 W
Allocation
Work/Recovery TLV AL
75%-100% Work 31.0 28.0
50%-75% Work 31.0 28.5
25%-50% Work 32.0 29.5
0%-25% Work 32.5 30.0
of auto-compression superimposed over summer
climatic conditions can be significant. Also, despite
Canadian mines being highly mechanized there are
certain regular tasks that have high metabolic demands.
Consequently, with increasingly adverse thermal
environments, the same level of work activity may not
be sustainable. For occupational tasks involving physical
activity, the risk of heat stress becomes greater as the
level of heat rejection required to maintain thermal
homeostasis increases and as metabolic heat loss
mechanisms reach their limit. Below mean skin
temperatures of ∼34-36°C, the body can reject heat
through both dry and evaporative heat transfer
mechanisms. Above this mean skin temperature, the
direction of dry heat transfer is reversed and evaporative
heat rejection becomes the primary heat loss mechanism.
Hence, efficient and useful evaporation of sweat is
critical, and clothing becomes a significant moderator.
The wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) is one of
the most widely used empirical indices in the
management of heat exposure and the heat stress to
which workers may be exposed. In Canada, the WBGT
threshold limit value (TLV) criteria for heat stress and
strain, as published by the American Conference of
Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) [1,2], are
the basis for virtually every province’s occupational
health and safety regulations or guidelines for thermal
stress management. The WBGT combines the ambient
dry-bulb air temperature (Tdb, °C), the relative humidity
(RH) combined with air movement as a natural wet-bulb
temperature (Tnwb, °C), and radiant heating effects,
where applicable, through a globe temperature (T g, °C)
into a single environmental measure. The premise behind
the threshold limits is to prevent the body’s core
temperature from exceeding 38.0-38.5°C. The
environmental temperature exposure limits, Table 1, are
based upon work-rate, the ratio of continued effort to rest
periods (work:recovery ratio) and worker acclimation.
Other considerations in the application of WBGT based
TLVs include temperature adjustments for the clothing
worn and body weight corrections to the metabolic work
rate categories that are based upon a 70 kg subject.
The insulative effects of clothing ensembles ranging
from the standard work coverall, including a modest
second layer, through specialized clothing with AFR
fabrics, and semi permeable or impermeable suits, as
required for particular occupations, have the potential to
Moderate Heavy Very Heavy
300 W 415 W 520 W
TLV AL TLV AL TLV AL
28.0 25.0
29.0 26.0 27.5 24.0
30.0 27.0 29.0 25.5 28.0 24.5
31.5 29.0 30.5 28.0 30.0 27.0
limit evaporative cooling to some degree. The number
clothing of layers, the fabric, their fit and extent,
proximity to the skin, spacing and venting also control
effective moisture evaporation. Even tasks performed
with a low level of activity or clothing insulation value,
or both, can present a significant heat stress risk if they
are performed under hot environmental conditions [3].
Conversely, insulative clothing and high activity tasks,
such as mine rescue, can present risks at low
environmental temperatures. This was evident with core
temperatures approaching 39°C in a mine rescue
simulation that required an average metabolic work rate
of 538 W, “Very Heavy” according to the ACGIH
classification, in an environment with an equivalent
WBGT of ~16°C (assumes Tdb ≈ Tg and the
psychrometric wet-bulb temperature, Twb ≈ Tnwb) [4].
To accommodate the effects of clothing, the
application of the WBGT criteria incorporates Clothing
Adjustment Factors that range from 0°C for cotton
coveralls worn over modest undergarments through to an
11°C downward adjustment of the TLV value for
encapsulating vapor barrier clothing [1]. With respect to
AFR clothing, depending upon the fire retardant rating
and the clothing ensemble, downward corrections
ranging from 0.5 to 3.2°C have been proposed [2,5].
However, work based on determining the point where
there is a clear loss of thermal equilibrium found no
significant difference between fire retardant ensembles
and cotton work clothes and has proposed a 0°C
adjustment [6].
These clothing adjustment factors can have a
significant impact. For example, upon applying an
adjustment of 2.0-3.0°C to the WBGT screening criteria
in Table 1 when wearing specialized clothing, activities
previously pertaining to “Light” work with a 75-100%
work allocation may now be limited to a 0-25% work
allocation, Furthermore, where “Heavy” work was
undertaken at a 25-50% allocation, the same order
correction would now only accommodate “Light” to
“Moderate” work. In deep mines, increasing ventilation
rates and/or introducing mechanical cooling could be
used to negate the loss of productive time, or the
downgrading of maximum work intensity. However, the
associated capital and operating costs can be significant,
potentially to the point of the operation being
uneconomic. Therefore, a better understanding of
clothing factors and their appropriateness is imperative.
2
 Table 2. Subject characteristics for the three clothing evaluations performed in the modified Snellen calorimeter.
Age Height
(yrs) (m)
Evaporative
Test 1 20 ± 1 1.76 ± 0.02
Properties
Work:Rest
Test 2 22.9 ± 0.4 1.78 ± 0.03
Hot: Humid
AFR
Test 3 23 ± 1 1.73 ± 0.03
Clothing
BSA – Body Surface Area
2. Clothing Tests
The study reported here continues the evaluation of
clothing ensembles in a “gold standard” modified
Snellen direct air human calorimeter [7]. This testing
capacity, at the University of Ottawa, is essentially a
precisely controlled and monitored environmental test
vessel that can accommodate the testing of human
subjects, contained within another precisely controlled
and monitored environmental chamber. It provides the
rates of whole-body evaporative and dry heat losses (or
gains), as well as the change in body heat content (and
therefore the level of thermal strain), in humans by
performing simultaneous minute-by-minute
measurements of the individual heat balance
components. As will be described, this sequence of work
started with an evaluation of several clothing
arrangements against a semi-nude condition for
continuous activity. This was used to identify a clothing
ensemble with the best evaporative cooling potential
under hot conditions. The second study introduced
intermittent work to better represent the mining activity
observed in field observations [8] plus exploring any
differences between hot-dry and warm-wet environments
with a common WBGT for standard and modified
clothing combinations. The third and latest study
explored the added detriments, if any, of those
ensembles providing additional AFR protection.
Throughout these studies, 6-8 young healthy non-
smoking male test subjects were used. Their
characteristics (mean ± SE), as given in Table 2, shows
the similarity between the test subject groups used. For
continuity a semi-nude control condition and certain
standard clothing arrangements were also common to all
three sets of tests.
2.1 Measurements
Throughout the clothing tests, the prime assessment
of clothing effects were indirect measurements to
determine the change in body heat content ΔHb, from the
heat balance equation given below, and direct
measurements of deep body (core) and mean skin
temperatures.
The standard form of the heat balance equation for
the human body is:
W (1)
Weight Body Fat BSA VO2max
(kg) (%) (m2) (mlO2/kg/min)
79.5 ± 3.7 16.4 ± 3.5 1.97 ± 0.05 53.6 ± 1.4
77.3 ± 2.9 15.7 ± 1.6 58.3 ± 2.1
79.5 ± 6.8 17.7 ± 2.9 1.93 ± 0.09 46.9 ± 4.4
where, S is the rate of body heat storage; M is the rate of
metabolic energy expenditure; W is the rate of external
work; R, C and K are the rates of radiant convective and
conductive heat exchange, respectively, which combined
constitute the dry heat exchange; and E is the rate of
evaporative heat exchange.
While heat storage is determined indirectly, its
derivation should be considered more direct than that of
using a two-compartment model based upon core and
skin temperatures. Although the measurement of a
temperature is direct, the determination of a mean skin
temperature through the application of weighting factors,
plus applying multipliers to combine the core and mean
skin temperatures renders the two-compartment model
approach less direct.
2.1.1 Body Heat Content (ΔHb)
The differential form of Equation 1, with respect to
time, provides the change in body heat content ΔHb. The
individual components of Equation 1 were determined
through a combination of direct and indirect calorimetry.
The evaporative (E) and combined dry (R+C+K) heat
exchange of test subjects were established every minute
within a modified Snellen direct air calorimeter. This
apparatus uses differential air temperature and humidity
measurements of the influent and effluent flows to
determine the air mass flow rate and then measure total
heat loss/gain with an accuracy of Δ ±2.3W. External
work (W) was regulated to predetermined levels through
subjects performing seated pedaling on a constant load
eddy current cycle ergometer. The rate of metabolic (M)
heat production was calculated from minute-average
values of oxygen consumption and respiratory exchange
ratio based on inspired and expired air oxygen and
carbon dioxide gas contents and a ventilometer derived
flow rate measurements.
2.1.2 Core Temperature and Other Measurements
Although not reported throughout, the following
measurements are often typical of such calorimeter
based studies. Esophageal (Tes) and rectal (Tre) deep
body temperatures were measured every 15 seconds
through suitably positioned thermocouple probes. Mean
skin temperatures were obtained from the weighted
average of four, regional thermocouple temperatures.
Heart rate was monitored with a Polar coded transmitter.
3
Fig. 1. Semi-nude control (CON), activewear undergarments, standard coverall with undergarment (SWU) and work-pant activewear
long-sleeved shirt (MWU) clothing ensembles.

Additional measures, as considered relevant to each
study or an associated research aim, included blood
plasma volume and stress marker changes, urine specific
gravity, and subject provided thermal sensation and
perceived exertion ratings.
storage during exercise and lower heat loss during
recovery. With a longer exercise period, the coverall
arrangements would have resulted in core temperatures

Coveralls plus activewear

2.2 Prior Calorimeter Clothing Studies Summaries Coveralls (SWU)

2.2.1 Evaporative Properties

This initial study [9,10] compared the performance of
a standard mining work uniform (SWU) polyester cotton
(65:35%) coveralls worn over full cotton or activewear Activewear
undergarments, against polyester spandex (93:7%) Control: Semi-nude
activewear undergarments worn alone, and a semi-nude
control (CON). A sub-analysis also evaluated a polyester
cotton (65:35%) work pant with activewear top
combination termed modified mining work uniform -
(MWU), see Figure 1. The test protocol involved the
subjects performing 60 minutes of upright seated cycling
Fig. 2. Average change in rectal temperature example from the
at a constant rate of metabolic heat production ~400 W, evaporative property assessment of mining work-wear
considered the onset of a “Heavy” work demand
according to the ACGIH [2]. This was followed by a
60 minute seated rest period. For both activity regimes
the air supply to the calorimeter was regulated to 40°C
and 15%RH (equivalent to ~26°C WBGT).
The study showed that the effect of the activewear
undergarments worn alone were negligible as they were
comparable to the semi-nude condition. Their heat
storage and loss, core temperature and heart rate changes
were similar; the semi-nude and activewear conditions
also showed a trend towards temperature stabilization as
activity progressed. An example of the different effects
of such clothing is demonstrated in Figure 2 which
shows the change in rectal temperature starting to
plateau at 37.4°C for the semi-nude and activewear
undergarments. In comparison, both of the coverall
ensembles caused rectal temperature values to
continually increase towards 37.7°C until exercise was
terminated. The coveralls also resulted in higher heat

4
 38.2
Ex 1/ Ex 2/ Ex 3/ Ex 4/
Rec 1 Rec 2 Rec 3 Rec 4
38.0
Esophageal Temperature ( C)
37.8
37.6
37.4
37.2
37.0
36.8
0 15 30 45 60 75
Time (min)
SWU - WW MWU - WW
SWU - HD MWU - HD
Fig. 3. Average esophageal temperature example from the
intermittent work two environment assessment of mining
work-wear (SWU & MWU) versus the semi-nude control
condition
in excess of accepted limits. The sub-analysis of an
activewear top with work pants showed it to be more
favorable than the coveralls with cotton undergarments
with respect to producing smaller changes in rectal
temperature and heart rate during exercise.
2.2.2 Intermittent Work & Environment
This follow-up study [11,12] explored the effects of
three clothing ensembles (CON, SWU and MWU) under
a more realistic intermittent work regime while also
comparing hot and humid environments with a common
WBGT. The 75:25 work test protocol involved the
subjects performing six repetitions of 15 minutes of
exercise followed by 5 minutes of rest/recovery. The
constant cycling exercise metabolic work rate was ~360
W. The hot-dry (HD) and warm-wet (WW), or humid,
environmental conditions, were 46°C/10%RH and
33°C/60%RH, respectively, and had a common
equivalent WBGT ~29°C.
This second study demonstrated significantly less
evaporative heat loss, up to ~50% less, for the humid
condition compared to the dry condition through the 6
exercise:recovery cycles, minor dry heat loss for the
humid condition and significant dry heat gain for the hot
conditions. These losses and gains were all related to the
environment’s ability to absorb moisture or the
temperature difference between the environment and
skin temperature. In terms of changes in body heat
content, the insulative effect of clothing, increasing
through CON, MWU and SWU, produced escalating
Ex 5/ Ex 6/ changes in body heat content under both environmental
Rec 5 Rec 6 conditions. Also, it was found that the change in body
heat content was consistently greater under the humid
condition. The control ensemble (CON) demonstrated a
minimal, and possibly diminishing, rate of increased
esophageal and rectal temperatures through the 120
minute evaluation. The SWU ensemble caused
esophageal and rectal temperatures to continually
increase at a faster rate through the 120 minute
evaluation. The MWU ensemble demonstrated
temperature changes between that of CON and SWU
ensembles but more comparable to semi-nude CON. An
example of the different effects of the clothing, as given
in Figure 3, highlights the change in esophageal
temperature, here the SWU resulted in a ~37.8°C
maximum whereas the maxima for the MWU and CON
90 105 120 conditions were all <37.6°C. The study also indicated
the humid condition could produce greater mean skin
CON - WW temperature increases for each clothing ensemble, and
CON - HD
that across conditions the MWU caused the least change
in mean skin temperature. These results demonstrate a
greater likelihood of workers reaching core temperature
limits earlier when wearing the SWU ensemble than if
wearing the MWU.
2.3 Arc-Flash and Flame Resistant (AFR) Clothing
To reduce the risk of serious injury there is an
increasing interest within Canada for the more
widespread use of AFR clothing beyond that used by
electricians and mine rescue personnel. The AFR fabrics
employed to provide greater protection can come at a
cost for human heat balance, as they can be thicker,
heavier, less permeable, less moisture absorbent, and
looser fitting. As such, there is a belief within the mining
industry that these types of clothing may cause greater
thermal discomfort and pose a higher heat stress risk in
deep mines. As mentioned in the Introduction, there has
been research into developing suggested clothing
adjustment factors for AFR clothing based upon limiting
core temperature change, however it is believed that this
is the first study to evaluate such ensembles in terms of
body heat storage using a calorimeter.
In this most recent study [13,14] several AFR
combinations were compared against the more typical
work uniforms (Figure 4) and a semi-nude control as
follows:
 The standard polyester cotton work-pant with
either a polyester micro-fiber activewear long-
sleeve shirt or an AFR long-sleeved shirt (Arc
Thermal Performance Value, ATPV 8.1, flame
resistant, 70% modacrylic, 15% lenzing, 15%
rayon).
 Standard cotton coveralls worn over cotton
undershirt.
5
Fig. 4. Cotton polyester work-pants with activewear and AFR long-sleeved tops; Standard cotton, fire-rated and Nomex® coveralls
over AFR top, and full AFR jacket, top and pant clothing ensembles

 AFR coveralls (ATPV 9.5, 65% modacrylic, 33% exercise/recovery cycles. However, of more significance
aramid, 2% carbon nylon antistatic) worn over a is that the graph shows the net change in body
cotton undershirt. temperature, as derived from calorimetry, is significantly
 Nomex® coveralls (ATPV 4.5, flame resistant greater than that predicted from 2-compartment
100% Nomex) worn over a cotton undershirt. thermometry. Or, conversely thermometry drastically
 AFR ensemble of an AFR jacket (ATPV 8.7, underestimates the amount of heat being stored and
flame resistant, 88% cotton, 12% high tenacity thereby the potential risk. Such underestimation had
nylon) worn over a cotton undershirt along with previously been shown for semi-nude male and female
AFR pants (ATPV 10.1, flame resistant, 45% subjects to be 15-35% after 90 minutes of exercise [15]
modacrylic, 35% lyocell, 15% polyamide-imide, but could be in the order of ~95% after only 10 minutes
5% aramid). of exercise. As describe above, this clothing study
element used 15 minute activity periods.
Here, the evaluations used a 50:50 work/recovery
regime across 120 minutes that included four repetitions Figure 6 is a similar presentation of mean body
of 15-minute cycling activity (at ~400 W) followed by a temperature changes for cotton and Nomex® coveralls
15-minute recovery. The air supply entering the worn over cotton underwear. This figure shows a similar
calorimeter was controlled to 35°C and 15%RH (~23°C stepped effect regardless of the fabric, through the four
WBGT). At this lower ambient temperature, dry heat exercise/ recovery cycles. But again, the magnitude of
gain from the environment is negligible the determined changes is significantly different
depending on their derivation.
Figures 5 through 7 provide an early indication of the
average results obtained from the AFR clothing trials.
These figures focus on comparing the change in mean
body temperature as derived from the calorimeter
determined change in body heat content versus that from
core and skin temperatures. Further and more exhaustive
analysis is pending peer review for medical publication.
This includes additional clothing ensembles for other
industry sectors, assessing the progression of evaporative
heat loss in relation to the total heat load, hydration,
heart rate, physiological strain, thermal sensation and
rating of perceived exertion. Consequently, for a more
complete understanding of this research, it is highly
recommended that the reader review the full results as
being published elsewhere [14].
Figure 5 compares the change in mean body
temperature of the work-pant long-sleeved shirt
combinations, with and without AFR properties, as
predicted from rectal (core) and skin thermometry (i.e. a
2-compartment model) or calculated from calorimetry
determined body heat storage. Both methods tend to
show a staged increasing change through the four

6
 1.80
Ex 1 Ex 2 Ex 3 Ex 4 In both Figures 5 and 6, the calorimetry results show
more clearly an overall effect of ever increasing mean
Change in Mean Body Temperature ( C)
1.60

1.40 body temperatures with each exercise and recovery

cycle, and no sign of attaining any level of equilibrium.
1.20 Rectal & Skin
Considering this trend, although the 38.0°C core
1.00 Calorimetry
temperature TLV criteria was not attained within 120
0.80 minutes, it could be a possibility for longer duration
0.60
activity and would more likely occur earlier for coverall
ensembles.
0.40
Figure 7 provides an inter-comparison of the
0.20
cumulative change in mean body temperature through
0.00 the 120 minute protocol by clothing type. It also
Non-AFR

Non-AFR

Non-AFR

Non-AFR
AFR top

AFR top

AFR top

AFR top
generally supports the previous calorimeter based
shirt

shirt

shirt

Fig. 5. Mean change in mean body temperature from direct
calorimetry and indirect temperature measurement for the
standard work-pant with non-AFR and AFR tops
2.00
Ex1
Change in Mean Body Temperature ( C)
shirt
clothing studies that indicated coverall ensembles were
more detrimental to heat loss compared to the work pant
long-sleeved shirt ensembles. However, it also shows
that any discrimination between clothing types and even
the semi-nude condition may not have been possible
using indirect thermometry.
The potential to reach a temperature limit is
Ex2 Ex3 Ex4
demonstrated more quantitatively elsewhere in terms of

1.80
evaporative heat loss [14]. The results presented there
1.60
generally showed that through the 120 minute
1.40
Rectal & Skin
assessment, in relation to the 400 W heat loss required to
1.20
Calorimetry
maintain thermal equilibrium, heat loss peaked at ~350
1.00 W for the semi-nude control condition, at ~320 W for
0.80 the work-pant combinations and was ~300 W for the
0.60
coverall ensembles.
0.40 Throughout, upon comparing the styles of clothing,
0.20 these calorimeter based mean body temperature change
0.00
results along with those detailing the evaporative cooling
[14], continue to indicate coverall ensembles to be more
Cotton

Cotton

Cotton

Cotton
AFR

AFR

AFR

AFR

limiting with respect to heat transfer so causing a greater

rate of increasing core temperatures.

Fig. 6. Mean change in mean body temperature from

calorimetry and thermometry for the cotton and AFR coveralls 3. Discussion
worn over cotton underwear
Regardless of these initial results tending to show no
1.40 decrements from wearing AFR equivalent clothing, with
Cumulative Change in Mean Body

Rectal & Skin ATPV values reaching ~10 kcal/cm2, when compared to
1.20
Calorimetry their existing work wear, other factors still need to be
Temperature ( C)

1.00 considered. As shown by Table 2, the test subjects were

0.80 young, they were also healthy, non-smoking and un-
medicated, plus not hydrated prior to commencing each
0.60
test. They were also heavier with a larger body surface
0.40 area than the “standard” worker assumed in the WBGT
0.20 criteria. The same cannot be said for the mining
workforce, in the evaluation of miners and their work
demands at a Canadian mine [8], the average age was
0.00
Work pant
Non-AFR Top
Semi-nude

Work pant
AFR Top

Nomex® Coveralls

AFR Coveralls
Cotton Coveralls
Cotton Undershirt

Cotton Undershirt

Cotton Undershirt

1 2 3 4 5 6

42 yrs and their average weight at 85 kg; both are even

further from the standard than the test subjects. In an
underground mine based assessment simulating mine
rescue activities, the average age was 47 yrs and average
weight 87 kg nude and 109 kg dressed and equipped [4],
Fig. 7. Mean cumulative change in mean body temperature the latter is nearing a weight 50% greater than the
from calorimetry and thermometry across the control, non-AFR
standard. With age, growing health concerns and being
and AFR clothing arrangements
increasingly overweight leads to the general acceptance
that the body’s capacity to cool itself effectively can be
compromised. Calorimetry based studies using semi-
7
nude healthy males in 35°C with 60 & 20%RH
environments have showed that the older males (~57 yrs)
exhibit greater thermal and cardiovascular strain
compared to both middle-aged (~44 yrs) and younger
males (~26 yrs) which were comparable [16]. However,
when clothed in work-wear, young and old healthy
males, under common air velocity conditions, tended to
exhibit comparable dehydration, hydration shifts and
stress marker changes [17,18].
4. Conclusion
The results presented from the AFR clothing study
generally support the need to use a calorimeter to fully
understand clothing and its direct impact on human
thermoregulation. Calorimeter based studies continue to
show significantly more heat storage during activity that
needs to be managed to ensure worker safety.
Thermometry based decisions may not be sufficient.
Coverall arrangements continue to be shown as more
detrimental to human thermoregulation than a work-
pant/long-sleeved shirt ensemble. Higher mean body
temperatures result from the heavier clothing
arrangements that limit heat loss to the environment.
However, in regard to the primary focus of this study, it
appears within each clothing category that arc-flash or
flame resistant clothing may not significantly affect heat
storage when compared to its non-treated equivalent.
Consequently, close fitting long-sleeved shirt ensembles
with enhanced evaporative/wicking performance remain
a viable option to maximize evaporative cooling of
workers in mines.
Nevertheless , as this paper can only provide a
generalized overview of the multi-year DMRC clothing
research program, for more specific information the
reader is directed to the peer reviewed journal articles
referenced with each study, and to Dr. Kenny, the
medical lead researcher.
Acknowledgments
In addition to their funding, the authors would like to
thank the DMRC for the opportunity to perform this
suite of clothing research studies and publish the results.
The financial support of the numerous graduate students
from other agencies, too many to mention, is greatly
appreciated.
Our gratitude is also extended to Vale, Agnico-Eagle
and Xstrata Nickel for providing the clothing and mining
personal protective equipment throughout the studies,
and lastly to the subjects who volunteered for the often
demanding calorimeter tests.
References
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