Originally Posted by
shawk
Assuming that explosive decompression renders the heating system ineffective resulting in a cabin temperature of -20C, the crew and passengers will freeze to death in a few minutes. NIH lists survival time as 8.5 minutes at -20C.
I think you badly misread your source. 8.5 _minutes_ survival time does not even pass the smell test. At -20C in room-temperature clothing and without complicating factors (e.g. wind chill or rain), survival time is going to be on the order of 12 hours.
However, if you combine -20C temperature with hypoxia, things are going to turn badly much faster.