Metabolic Heat Gain from Persons
The table below indicates sensible and latent (vapor) heat from persons. The values can be used to estimate heat loads that must be handled by air conditioning systems.
Note that the values are based on older ISO and ASHRAE standards. Later ISO and ASHRAE standards should be checked for updated values.
For full table - rotate the screen!
| Degree of Activity | Typical Application | Average Metabolic Rate - male adult (W) | Room Dry Bulb Temperature (oC) | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | 27 | 26 | 24 | 22 | 20 | |||||||||
| Heat (W) | ||||||||||||||
| Sens. | Lat. | Sens. | Lat. | Sens. | Lat. | Sens. | Lat. | Sens. | Lat. | Sens. | Lat. | |||
| Seated at rest | Cinema, theater, school | 100 | 50 | 50 | 55 | 45 | 60 | 40 | 67 | 33 | 72 | 28 | 79 | 21 |
| Seated, very light work | Computer working | 120 | 50 | 70 | 55 | 65 | 60 | 60 | 70 | 50 | 78 | 42 | 84 | 36 |
| Office work | Hotel reception, cashier | 130 | 50 | 80 | 56 | 74 | 60 | 70 | 70 | 60 | 78 | 52 | 86 | 44 |
| Standing, walking slowly | Laboratory work | 130 | 50 | 80 | 56 | 74 | 60 | 70 | 70 | 60 | 78 | 52 | 86 | 44 |
| Walking, seated | 150 | 53 | 97 | 58 | 92 | 64 | 86 | 76 | 74 | 84 | 66 | 90 | 60 | |
| Moderate work | Servant, hair dresser | 160 | 55 | 105 | 60 | 100 | 68 | 92 | 80 | 80 | 90 | 70 | 98 | 62 |
| Light bench work | Mechanical production | 220 | 55 | 165 | 62 | 158 | 70 | 150 | 85 | 135 | 100 | 120 | 115 | 105 |
| Moderate Dancing | Party | 250 | 62 | 188 | 70 | 180 | 78 | 172 | 94 | 156 | 110 | 140 | 125 | 125 |
| Fast walking | Mountain walking | 300 | 80 | 220 | 88 | 212 | 96 | 204 | 110 | 190 | 130 | 170 | 145 | 155 |
| Heavy work | Athletics | 430 | 132 | 298 | 138 | 292 | 144 | 286 | 154 | 276 | 170 | 260 | 188 | 242 |
- 1 W = 3.41 Btu/hr
Heat Generated from Human Body
The diagram below is for moderate activity- seated, very light work - computer working person.
- sensible heat = convection and radiation
- latent heat = evaporation
Related Topics
• Air Conditioning Systems
Design of Air Conditioning systems - heating, cooling and dehumidification of indoor air for thermal comfort.
• Air Psychrometrics
Moist and humid air calculations. Psychrometric charts and Mollier diagrams. Air-condition systems temperatures, absolute and relative humidities and moisture content in air.
• Physiology
Human physiology vs. air quality, comfort temperatures, activity and metabolic rates. Health effects of gases adn polutions like carbon monoxide and more.
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