Effects of localized radiant heating on gender differences in skin temperature, thermal sensation, and comfort

Thermal conditions represent a key component of indoor environmental quality, influencing occupants’ comfort, well-being, performance, and health. Thermal responses vary across body regions and between individuals, with gender differences being among the most widely reported. These differences often lead to discomfort. Localized heating devices have shown potential for improving comfort. In this study, gender-based differences in local and overall thermal sensation, thermal comfort, and skin temperature were examined under slightly cool indoor conditions using localized radiant heating. Custom radiant heating devices were used to conduct 270 controlled experiments. Skin temperature at multiple body regions was continuously recorded, and participants filled out questionnaires about their thermal sensation and comfort. Welch’s t-test and Cohen’s d were used to assess statistical and practical gender differences. Localized radiant heating substantially reduced gender differences in thermal responses. Most of the skin temperature differences between genders were not statistically significant. Effect sizes were negligible to small for most body parts, although moderate to large values remained for the chest, face, and upper leg. ... mehrAcross all body parts, both local and overall thermal sensation showed no significant gender differences, and effect sizes were small or negligible. Similar results were found for thermal comfort, with only the lower arm showing a moderate effect size in local thermal comfort. Applying localized heating to a single body part increased whole-body comfort levels for both genders. Among all tested body parts, heating the pelvis and chest produced the strongest improvements in whole-body sensation and comfort, and these regions also showed the lowest variability in comfort votes, identifying them as particularly influential targets for localized heating strategies. Overall, the findings demonstrate that localized radiant heating is an effective strategy for narrowing gender-based gaps in thermal responses, particularly under cooler conditions where women typically experience greater cool discomfort.