The effects of air temperature and velocity and of various flooring materials on the thermal sensations and skin temperature of the feet

Abstract

When complaints of cold feet are made in rooms with concrete floors, there is a tendency amongst people to attribute the discomfort directly to the concrete. It is, of course, obvious that to a bare foot concrete feels very much colder than a cork or wood surface; but it is not so apparent how a floor of comparatively high thermal conductivity such as concrete can appreciably affect the feelings of warmth when the feet are shod. Even the light footwear usually worn by women, being composed of more than one layer of material, must offer considerable resistance to heat loss. In addition, the area of the sole of the shoe in actual contact with the floor is small.