Comparison of mean radiant and air temperatures in mechanically-conditioned commercial buildings from over 200,000 field and laboratory measurements

•Assessed the difference between tr¯ and ta from over 200000 pairs of measurements.•Median absolute difference between tr¯ and ta is 0.4 °C.•ta is an appropriate estimate of tr¯ in mechanically-conditioned offices.•Spatial and temporal variations in air temperature can be greater than ta−tr¯.•Operative temperature sensors would not likely benefit thermal comfort.