Effects of thermal radiation on people: Predicting 1st and 2nd degreeskin burns

Abstract

The human body can not tolerate elevated temperatures for any long duration of time. Pain and damage to the skin, i.e. skin burns, begins to occur when the temperature at the basal layer exceeds 44 �C [1]. The amount of damage is a function of both the skin temperature and duration of time for which the temperature is elevated above 44 �C. Previous studies on the effects of thermal radiation on the skin have led to empirical models, graphical techniques, and simple algorithms to predict the temperature-time histories of the skin and the degree of damage due to a constant radiative exposure. All of the methods discussed in this chapter are limited to predicting ONLY 1st and superficial 2nd degree burns. For more severe burns engineering guidance is not currently possible due to the lack of reliable data. Although this chapter provides guidance on calculating the onset of pain from empirical studies it does not include any prediction of humane response to pain as it relates to fire safety decision.