Behagskala

Behagskala is a Swedish term that translates to "comfort scale" or "scale of comfort." It is a subjective measure used to assess an individual's perception of thermal comfort in a given environment. This scale is typically used in research related to building design, HVAC systems, and the study of human physiology in relation to temperature.

The behagskala is often presented as a set of descriptive words or phrases that correspond to different levels of thermal sensation. For example, a typical behagskala might range from very cold, cold, cool, slightly cool, neutral, slightly warm, warm, hot, to very hot. Participants in a study are asked to indicate where they feel they are on this scale, providing a qualitative assessment of their thermal experience.

The purpose of using a behagskala is to gather data on how people perceive their thermal environment, which can then be correlated with objective measurements like air temperature, humidity, and air velocity. This helps researchers understand the complex interplay between environmental factors and human comfort. The data collected from behagskala assessments can inform decisions about building insulation, ventilation strategies, and the design of heating and cooling systems to optimize occupant comfort and energy efficiency. It is a tool that acknowledges the individual and subjective nature of thermal perception.