DEVELOPING A COMPREHENSIVE INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INDEX FOR WORKPLACES

Abstract

Many service professions are performed in present-day office settings, where individual offices are progressively giving way to open-plan designs. The significant presence of individuals engaged in office work, often sharing these spaces with numerous colleagues for a substantial portion of their daily routines, underscores the critical importance of furnishing appropriate guidance to uphold the quality of office settings. Research findings indicate that while many office environments exhibit satisfactory IEQ, certain office configurations may feature elevated levels of air contaminants, hygrothermal conditions/thermal comfort issues, and inadequate levels of illuminance that do not meet established international standards and guidelines. Furthermore, the results suggest the presence of notable connections between the evaluated IEQ parameters and the potential risks of adverse impacts on the health and productivity of office workers. Specifically, airborne particles, CO2, O3, and thermal comfort have been associated with the incidence of symptoms related to sick building syndrome. Insufficient lighting and poor acoustical conditions have also been linked to feelings of discomfort and physiological stress among office employees. Likewise, enhanced levels of productivity have been observed in cases of favorable indoor air quality conditions, particularly concerning VOCs, airborne particles, and CO2 levels. This thesis presents a comprehensive analysis of the development of an Integrated Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) Index for workplaces in composite climates. The study starts with a thorough investigation of existing literature on IEQ parameters and methodologies, acknowledging the challenges and health problems encountered in composite climates with varyingtemperature, and humidity levels. A proposed framework for measuring IEQ is based on environmental psychology, building science, and sustainable design principles It involves major parameters like air quality, thermal comfort, visual comfort, acoustics, hygiene, potable waterquality,ergonomics,health,andwell-being.