The metabolic rate, as a conversion of chemical into mechanical and thermal energy, measures the energetic
cost of muscular load and gives a numerical index of activity. Metabolic rate is an important determinant of the
comfort or the strain resulting from exposure to a thermal environment. In particular, in hot climates, the high
levels of metabolic heat production associated with muscular work aggravate heat stress, as large amounts of
heat need to be dissipated, mostly by sweat evaporation.
This International Standard specifies different methods for the determination of metabolic rate in the context of
ergonomics of the climatic working environment. It can also be used for other applications ¿ for example, the
assessment of working practices, the energetic cost of specific jobs or sport activities, the total cost of an
activity, etc.
The estimations, tables and other data included in this International Standard concern an ¿average¿ individual:
a man 30 years old weighing 70 kg and 1,75 m tall (body surface area 1,8 m2);
a woman 30 years old weighing 60 kg and 1,70 m tall (body surface area 1,6 m2).
Users should make appropriate corrections when they are dealing with special populations including children,
aged persons, people with physical disabilities, etc.
Behandelt wird die Bestimmung des Energieumsatzes im menschlichen Körper, die Ermittlung jener Wärmeerzeugung, welche zur Bestimmung von Komfort und Wärmebelastung benötigt wird. Diese Norm enthält Verfahren zur Bestimmung des Energieumsatzes und kann damit auch für die Bewertung von Arbeitsverfahren sowie zur Ermittlung des Energieaufwandes für spezielle Aufgaben oder Sportaktivitäten sowie des Gesamtenergieaufwandes einer Tätigkeit uam angewendet werden.