Overview
EN ISO 7726:2025 - Ergonomics of the thermal environment - Instruments for measuring and monitoring physical quantities (ISO 7726:2025) specifies the minimum characteristics of instruments and the methods for measuring physical quantities that characterize a thermal environment. Published under CEN as a harmonized European/ISO standard, it standardizes how to record parameters used to assess thermal comfort, heat stress and cold exposure in hot, moderate, comfortable or cold environments. The standard is a reference for manufacturers, practitioners and contracting parties when specifying measurement equipment or services.
Key Topics and Requirements
- Instrument characteristics: Defines minimum performance and design characteristics for instruments measuring basic quantities (air temperature, radiant temperatures, relative humidity, surface temperature, air velocity, globe temperature, wet bulb temperatures, dew point).
- Derived quantities: Covers calculation and measurement guidance for derived metrics such as mean radiant temperature, operative temperature, radiant temperature asymmetry, humidity ratio and partial vapour pressure.
- Measurement and monitoring methods: Specifies methods for spatial and temporal measurement, integrating instruments, monitoring procedures, and requirements for documenting measurement campaigns.
- Uncertainty and data processing: Addresses measurement uncertainty, recommended processing of results, and presentation formats including spatial maps of measured data.
- Annexed measurement guidance: Informative annexes provide practical methods for measuring air temperature, radiant temperatures, humidity, air velocity, surface temperature, operative and wet-bulb temperatures.
- Use cases for accuracy: Intended as minimum characteristics only - devices that meet or exceed the specified performance can be used; instrument selection is left to user judgment and market availability.
Applications and Who Uses It
EN ISO 7726:2025 is used by:
- Ergonomists and occupational health professionals assessing thermal comfort, heat strain or cold stress.
- HVAC designers and building services engineers for commissioning and verifying thermal conditions.
- Manufacturers and suppliers of environmental measurement instruments to define product specifications.
- Research laboratories and consultants conducting field measurements or controlled-environment studies.
- Regulatory bodies and contract managers who need standardized measurement criteria in procurement or compliance checks.
Practical applications include workplace comfort assessments, indoor environmental monitoring, thermal risk assessments in industry, and validation of climate control systems.
Related Standards
Normative and related references used with EN ISO 7726:2025 include:
Using EN ISO 7726:2025 ensures consistent, comparable measurements of thermal environment parameters across projects and products.