[Evaluation of active equipment protecting distal parts of hands and feet against cold]

Abstract

Experimental studies covered thermoregulatory reactions of feet and hands, when using equipment protecting distal parts of hands and feet and using "active" heating (electric heating and thermochemical heater). Findings are that "active" heaters with output range 4-8 watt, as electrically heated inserts in gauntlets and welts, at air temperatures of -5 to -10 degrees C maintained average skin temperature of hand at 17-20 degrees C; using "active" heaters with output of 12 watt increased heat insulation of gauntlets and shoes up to 0.609-0.609 degrees C x m2/watt--that enables to conduct averagely hard work at cold climate up to 2 hours in all climate regions--IA (special), IB (climate zone IV), II (climate zone III) and III (climate zone II). Using 2 thermochemical heaters in gauntlets prevented local cooling, and heat insulation of the gauntlets therefore increased 1.6 times--that enables to widen temperature range of safe usage of equipment protecting hands against cold up to climate region II (climate zone III) during continuous physical work of average hardiness in cold climate up to 2 hours.