Attenuating measures for occupational exposure above the WBGT limit in industrial buildings

• Autor(a) principal: Camargos, Bruno Henrique Lourenço
• Data de Publicação: 2024
• Outros Autores: Souza, Henor Artur de, Oliveira, Raquel Diniz, Gomes, Adriano Pinto, Dias, Luma de Souza, Dias, Thalita Cardoso
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: PARC (Campinas)
• Texto Completo: https://periodicos.sbu.unicamp.br/ojs/index.php/parc/article/view/8672111
• topic: Natural ventilation; Heat source spaces evaluation; Industrial workplace; Ventilação natural; Avaliação de espaços com fonte de calor; Ambiente de trabalho industrial

Occupational assessments are essential in ensuring employees' wellness, health, and productivity in industrial buildings. This study aims to evaluate the effects of heat exposure in industrial buildings equipped with internal heating sources in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Using EnergyPlus numerical modeling, the analysis encompasses buildings with and without ridge vents, resulting in 12 distinct models with varying opening areas, internal source power and ridge vent heights. As a primary objective, compliance with the Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) index limit, as specified by NR-15/2021, was determined for indoor thermal conditions. As a result, roof ridge vents and shading devices significantly impact airflow, particularly regarding the increase in work hours that fulfil the WBGT limit. Additionally, the results revealed an enhancement of the chimney effect by internal heat, which led to a temperature reduction of up to 5.1°C through the ridge vent. Thus, by adjusting the ridge vent height, the WBGT can be further reduced by up to 3.3°C. Therefore, even during the hottest summer days in Belo Horizonte (Brazil), the maximum temperature remains at 28.5°C, with 36% of all annual hours exceeding the WBGT limit. As a key finding, a larger area of air outlets in industrial buildings equipped with internal heat sources increases indoor thermal comfort. In summary, similar cases can benefit from these strategies when designing new industrial facilities or retrofitting existing buildings.