WBGT Heat Stress Index Calculator
The Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), defined in ISO 7243, is the composite heat-stress index used worldwide. It combines air temperature, humidity, radiant heat and air movement into a single number. Enter the natural wet-bulb (Tnwb), globe (Tg) and dry-bulb (Tdb) temperatures and the tool returns WBGT plus a safety band keyed to the NIOSH / US military flag system (white / green / yellow / red / black) — the standard used in construction, marathons, military training and occupational safety.
Enter valid temperatures (−30 to 60 °C). Outdoor mode requires all three readings.
WBGT index
27.7
°C WBGT
Caution
Heat-stress band
< 27.8 Caution
27.8–29.5 High
29.5–31.1 Very high
31.1–32.2 Extreme
≥ 32.2
Formula: outdoor WBGT = 0.7 Tnwb + 0.2 Tg + 0.1 Tdb; indoor = 0.7 Tnwb + 0.3 Tg (ISO 7243). Bands follow NIOSH / NWS / US military flag thresholds.
Formula
Outdoor (with solar): WBGT = 0.7·Tnwb + 0.2·Tg + 0.1·Tdb. Indoor / no solar load: WBGT = 0.7·Tnwb + 0.3·Tg.
- · Tnwb (natural wet-bulb) captures evaporative cooling capacity — at high humidity sweat cannot evaporate, hence the heaviest weight (0.7).
- · Tg (globe) captures radiant heat load — under direct sun a black globe runs 10–15 °C above air temperature.
- · Tdb (dry-bulb) captures convective heat exchange — outdoors with wind, dry-bulb gets the smallest weight (0.1).
- · NIOSH / NWS / US-military flag bands: white < 27.8 °C | green 27.8–29.5 | yellow 29.5–31.1 | red 31.1–32.2 | black ≥ 32.2 °C.
- · Hong Kong Labour Department's "Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work" guideline (2023) uses the HKO Heat Index (HKHI) alongside WBGT principles, with light / moderate / heavy work-rest schedules.
- · Acclimatisation matters enormously: unacclimatised individuals can be at risk at WBGT 28 °C; long-time outdoor workers can function at WBGT 31 °C. NIOSH recommends a gradual 7–14 day exposure ramp-up for new workers.
- · References: ISO 7243:2017; NIOSH Criteria Document 2016-106; ACSM "Exertional Heat Illness" Position Stand (2007); USMC Heat Stress Flag MCO P5100.19E.
Frequently asked
How does WBGT differ from the Heat Index (HI) or "feels-like" temperature?
These three indices measure different things and shouldn't be conflated. The Heat Index (US NWS) uses only air temperature + relative humidity and approximates "how a person standing in the shade subjectively feels" — designed for general public street-level forecasts. WBGT incorporates temperature, humidity, radiant heat and air movement, capturing the actual physiological heat load on someone exerting in the sun — the gold standard in occupational safety and sports medicine. Example: 32 °C and 60 % humidity gives a scary-sounding Heat Index of ~38 °C, but WBGT in shade might be only 29 °C (green flag). Conversely, 28 °C with 80 % humidity under intense sun and no wind gives a mild-sounding HI of ~32 °C, but WBGT can reach 31 °C (red flag) because the black globe is baked to 45 °C+ and radiant load is huge. For marathons, construction sites and military PT, WBGT is mandatory. For general public walking through malls or transit stations, HI is enough. Hong Kong Observatory's HKHI sits in between — it adopts WBGT-style multi-factor thinking but with simplified instrumentation.
I don't have a black-globe thermometer — can I estimate WBGT?
Yes, with caveats. The most common estimator is the Liljegren (2008) model, which derives WBGT from air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and solar radiation to about ±1.5 °C accuracy. Apps such as NOAA's WBGT Heat Stress App or Heat Index Calculator implement this and are handy for outdoor activity planning. But watch out: (a) if the task is regulatory (UK HSE inspection, US OSHA investigation), you must use a physical WBGT meter conforming to ISO 7243; (b) app estimates are unreliable in mixed sun/shade microclimates; (c) crude formulas using just air temp + humidity (e.g. WBGT ≈ 0.567·Tdb + 0.393·e + 3.94, where e is vapour pressure) often underestimate and shouldn't be used for critical safety calls. Best practice: purchase a portable WBGT meter (Kestrel 5400 or TSI QUESTemp, roughly USD 200–500) — they give live readings and built-in logging, and are standard kit on construction sites and sports schools.
Does a red or black flag WBGT mean activity must be cancelled?
It depends on the activity, acclimatisation and protective measures. NIOSH / ACSM recommend assessing three axes: (1) Workload — at red flag, sedentary work (e.g. outdoor security) can continue; heavy work (bricklaying, running) must stop or be drastically slowed. (2) Clothing burden — full firefighting kit, military LBV, or chemical protective suits add 5–10 °C of equivalent WBGT through retained body heat; red flag becomes effectively black flag for those wearers. (3) Acclimatisation — workers / athletes through a 14-day heat ramp can briefly tolerate red flag; unacclimatised visitors or new hires are at immediate risk. Practical protocols: (a) Red flag → switch to 1:1 work-rest, mandatory water every 15 min, suspend high-intensity training. (b) Black flag → cancel non-essential activity, minimum staffing for unavoidable tasks, deploy ice towels / cooling vests, on-site medical team. (c) Major marathons (Boston, Tokyo) measure WBGT pre-race and cancel at the black-flag threshold — runners' metabolic heat adds ~5 °C of core temperature and hydration alone can't save them. Bottom line: red flag is "strong warning"; black flag is "strongly stop".
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