TS EN ISO 13731

TS EN ISO 13731 is a terminology standard for the ergonomics of the thermal environment. It identifies the physical quantities used in this field, together with their corresponding symbols and units, so that thermal-comfort and heat-stress concepts are expressed consistently across related standards and technical publications.

A common language for thermal-environment ergonomics

Thermal-environment ergonomics focuses on how people exchange heat with their surroundings. In practice, this area draws on quantities such as air temperature, mean radiant temperature, humidity, air movement and the influence of clothing. The value of this standard is that it brings the naming, symbols and units for such quantities into one reference framework, supporting consistent use in future standards and publications.

What this standard covers

• Defines physical quantities used in the ergonomics of the thermal environment.
• Lists the symbols corresponding to those quantities.
• Also provides the associated units.
• Serves as a vocabulary and symbol reference for future standards or other publications in this field.

It therefore functions more like a controlled vocabulary and notation reference than a test method document. For thermal-comfort work, that distinction matters: measurement procedures and acceptance criteria may be set elsewhere, but using the same terms here helps keep technical communication precise and comparable.