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Kim, Y.K.;  Abdou, Y.;  Abdou, A.;  Altan, H. Indoor Environmental Quality Assessment and Occupant Satisfaction. Encyclopedia. Available online: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/25644 (accessed on 19 April 2024).
Kim YK,  Abdou Y,  Abdou A,  Altan H. Indoor Environmental Quality Assessment and Occupant Satisfaction. Encyclopedia. Available at: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/25644. Accessed April 19, 2024.
Kim, Young Ki, Yasmin Abdou, Alaa Abdou, Hasim Altan. "Indoor Environmental Quality Assessment and Occupant Satisfaction" Encyclopedia, https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/25644 (accessed April 19, 2024).
Kim, Y.K.,  Abdou, Y.,  Abdou, A., & Altan, H. (2022, July 29). Indoor Environmental Quality Assessment and Occupant Satisfaction. In Encyclopedia. https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/25644
Kim, Young Ki, et al. "Indoor Environmental Quality Assessment and Occupant Satisfaction." Encyclopedia. Web. 29 July, 2022.
Indoor Environmental Quality Assessment and Occupant Satisfaction
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This entry is adapted from the peer-reviewed paper 10.3390/buildings12070986

As occupants spend almost 90% of their day indoors, especially in the workplaces, Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) plays a primary role in health and wellbeing, productivity, and building energy consumption. Adopting the IEQ and Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE), data has been gathered from nine multilevel open offices within a university building located in Al Ain, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for three winter months. Physical parameters were monitored using data loggers to record the main IEQ factors.

indoor environment quality occupant satisfaction post occupancy evaluation United Arab Emirates

1. IEQ at the Workplace

Since the early 2000s, studies on IEQ display a direct relationship to outdoor environmental conditions [1][2]. Presently the outdoor environment detects a concern regarding the increasing concentration of several harmful pollutants due to global warming and climate change. Higher pollutant concentrations were correspondingly found in the indoor environment; some of which include NOx, SO2, O3, CO, volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particulate matters (PMs), as well as microorganisms [3][4][5]. These contaminants can cause a set of health symptoms in humans that vary in severity; according to each’s toxicity, concentration, and exposure time [6][7]. A common effect of these contaminants’ exposure is known as Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) [8]. SBS is experienced when people show a series of uncomfortable health-related symptoms. These symptoms include eye, nose, and throat irritations, allergies, headaches, fatigue, asthma-like symptoms, and several more [9][10]. Although people may not know the exact reasons for these syndromes, the syndrome may disappear once the affected person leaves the office or building [11].
Several studies at workplaces find that better IEQ decreases the risk of experiencing SBS and increases user comfort which in turn increases individual work productivity [12][13][14]. The increase in work productivity comes with an increase in economic benefits to companies, universities, or schools. Studies show green buildings to have significantly higher rates of occupant satisfaction when it comes to IEQ as well as allow a reduction in energy consumption [15][16][17]. Focusing on IEQ can reduce unnecessary energy costs while having a positive effect on thermal comfort which in return can optimize work productivity [18].
Several factors contribute to IEQ including ventilation and it can vary from different ventilation typologies, facility management, and occupant behaviour. How well air conditioners are being maintained and operated affects IAQ and overall IEQ [19]. For example, having a good air filtration system will help to significantly reduce the amount of PMs or fine dust that enters the building from the outside, thus providing better air quality for the occupants. This approach stresses the quality of the ventilation system used, the facility management methods, as well as the indoor occupant’s behavioural activities. Moreover, a study that focuses on assessing the IAQ and ventilation rate in schools, finds relations concerning several pollutants exposure and health symptoms experienced [20]. The most-reported health symptoms were found to be SBS and asthma. Investigations show responsible pollutants to be TVOCs, and allergens that were measured in floor dust. This IAQ assessment demonstrates how low ventilation rates increase health risks among all building occupants.
Another study compares green buildings and non-green buildings through quantitative measurements of IEQ and qualitative occupant satisfaction surveying. The study finds better quantitative performance for the green building in terms of IEQ factors and pollutant concentrations, which translates to better occupant satisfaction and fewer acute health symptoms experienced by occupants in the better IEQ conditions of the green buildings [21].
A commonly seen strategy in several previous studies on IEQ [20][22][23] includes the building’s occupant perception as a form of investigative POE study to enhance IEQ. Investigative POE is when a correlation between physical environmental measures and subjective occupants’ response measures is studied [24]. POE can be in the form of questionnaires, surveys, or interviews that focus on subjectively measuring certain IEQ criteria or satisfaction levels. Benefits of performing POE include identifying and resolving issues regarding user comfort, overall satisfaction, and productivity [25]; as well as offering documentation as direct input to create a feedback loop for future building cycles [24][26]. Challenges, however, can be linked to the instrument’s reliability and the confounding IEQ variables and correlations [27].
This briefly summarizes the findings of the literature review of previous research related to the topics of IEQ and POE. More details on each study and its, date, location, focus, and relative findings can be found in Table 1.
Table 1. Literature review findings on IEQ effects at the workplace.
Title of the Study Region Studied Study Focus Key Findings Year
Occupant productivity and office indoor environment quality. - Literature study. The literature review shows both the economic and health related benefits of good IEQ. It illustrates the significance of the impact of the IEQ on occupant comfort and productivity. 2016 [28]
Satisfaction of occupants toward indoor environment quality of certified green office buildings in Taiwan Taiwan A post-occupancy evaluation was employed in the study consisting of a field survey of subjective perception among indoor occupants and on-site environmental measurements. The overall IEQ satisfaction was statistically significantly greater in the certified green building than the conventional buildings. However, a re-visit of thermal comfort-related criteria may be required. 2014 [22]
Spatial mapping of occupant satisfaction and indoor environment quality in a LEED platinum campus building. USA POE approach with GIS-based spatial mapping method was used to analyse and visualize the survey results of building occupant satisfaction and the measured indoor environment quality. Occupants complained regarding thermal comfort, reporting it was too cold. CO2 level was also predominantly higher. Light levels in the building were found to be higher than preferred as artificial lighting was excessively used even when daylight was available. 2014 [23]
Patients and the sick building syndrome. USA Suggest physician approaches to identify disease in individual and group effects on patients and analyse the impact of indoor environmental exposure. Sick building syndrome can show several recognizable symptoms that include eye irritation, nose irritation, throat irritation, headache, fatigue, asthma-like symptoms, and more. 1994 [9]
Indoor Air Quality in the 21st Century: Search for Excellence. - Studies key principles for a new philosophy of excellence. Improved indoor air quality increases productivity and decreases sick building syndrome symptoms. Individual control of the thermal environment should be provided to increase user comfort. 2000 [12]
Comparative study on the indoor environment quality of green office buildings in China with a long-term field measurement and investigation. China This study analyses the subjective questionnaires and objective measurements of the indoor environment quality (IEQ) in green building. Results show that the green buildings in China possess significantly higher IEQ satisfaction levels than conventional buildings. This emphasises the importance of operation management and individual control methods in the building. 2015 [15]
Thermal comfort and behavioural strategies in office buildings located in a hot-arid climate. Australia The effects of indoor climate on thermal comfort levels and adaptive behaviour of office workers. Shows office workers prefer adjusting the set temperature of the building to 22.21 °C for both seasons. As opposed to the ASHRAE scale, it occurred at 20.31 °C in winter. Further research can reduce overcooling cost with a positive effect on thermal comfort and workplace productivity. 2001 [18]
Perception of indoor environment quality in differently ventilated workplaces in tropical monsoon climates. Sri Lanka The research investigates the perception of indoor environment quality (IEQ) in differently ventilated workspaces. Air conditioning (AC) and ductless mini split system air conditioning (MM) buildings were rated more satisfactory than naturally ventilated (NV) systems for overall comfort of indoor environment conditions. 2015 [19]
Indoor air quality, ventilation, and health symptoms in schools: An analysis of existing information USA investigates causal relationships between health symptoms and exposures to specific pollutants in schools Reported ventilation and CO2 data strongly indicate that ventilation is inadequate in many classrooms, possibly leading to health symptoms. 2003 [20]
Indoor environmental quality, occupant satisfaction, and acute building-related health symptoms in Green Mark-certified compared with non-certified office buildings Singapore This study compared IEQ performance in green and non-green office buildings. Adopting a cross-sectional study design between objective measurements and subjective measurements. This study offered a positive association of green buildings with qualitatively and quantitatively measured performance of IEQ. 2018 [21]
Listening to the occupants: a Web-based indoor environmental quality survey - Developing a benchmarking survey that can be used as a diagnostic tool to identify specific problems and their sources The research discusses survey guidelines to create a feedback loop for building industry professionals, so that they can learn how various building design features and technologies affect occupant comfort, satisfaction and productivity. 2004 [25]
Measured energy use and indoor environment quality in green office buildings in China. China Energy consumption and indoor environment quality (IEQ) are compared in green office buildings with common ones through energy data collection, physical parameters measurement and satisfaction survey. User satisfaction in green buildings is statistically significantly higher than those in common buildings. Especially in the field of thermal environment, IAQ, facilities and operating & maintenance. 2014 [29]

2. IEQ Factors

As stated in the Indoor Environment Handbook, IEQ includes four main factors of IAQ such as thermal comfort, lighting quality, and acoustic quality [30]. Each is measured by a set of parameters, and has several control methods and related issues; which are summarized in Table 2.
Table 2. IEQ factors, parameters, control methods, issues, threshold, and health.
IEQ Factors Parameters Control Method Issues Parameter Measures Threshold Health Symptoms
Thermal Comfort Temperature Relative humidity Air velocity User activity Air conditioning system Building design Adaptation Building integration Energy use Temperature 24–26 °C ** Respiratory problems
Relative Humidity 30–60% ** Microbial growth, skin drying, irritation of mucus membranes, and dry eyes
Indoor Air Quality Pollution sources
Ventilation rate and efficiency		 Source control Ventilation system maintenance Pollution Fine dust PM2.5 15 µg/m3 * Respiratory and cardiovascular diseases including asthma, myocardial ischemia, high blood pressure and heart disease
PM10 50 µg/m *
CO2 800 ppm * Increased risk of sick building syndrome and symptoms such as headache
TVOCs 312 ppb * Dry throat, runny nose, asthma attacks, poisoning, and cancer
Lighting Quality Luminance Reflectance Colour, temperature View, and daylight Luminance distribution Artificial lighting and daylighting integration Daylight relation to thermal comfort Energy use Lux level 300–500 lux * Headaches, circadian phase disruptions, breast cancer, sleep disorder, and depression
Acoustical Quality Sound level Absorption Sound insulation Reverberation time Acoustical control
Passive noise control Active noise control		 Vibrations and annoyance long term health effects Sound level 55 dBA * Hypertension, stress, poor concentration, memory retention and mental arithmetic
Thermal comfort is a subjective evaluation of one’s satisfaction with the thermal environment [31]. It can differ from the perception of one person to another according to a set of factors such as age, gender, activity level, clothes, etc. Generally, thermal comfort is the most responsible factor for human health, well-being, and productivity. As it has a direct effect on the body’s respiratory system. For example, too cold an environment or highly fluctuating temperature can trigger asthma and flu symptoms.
IAQ is an essential factor to assess the quality of the air within a building. health and well-being. The building’s ventilation system may be the most underestimated aspect of the indoor air pollution level. Thus, the design and maintenance of such systems are vital.
Sustaining comfortable lighting levels is another crucial factor in the work environment. Major lighting issues need to be avoided such as excessive lighting, glare, flickering, reflection, inconsistent distribution, and lack of integration of daylighting and artificial lighting. Focusing on these issues creates a comfortable workplace environment that increases work productivity. Moreover, user control further increases the lighting quality of the indoor space.
To make an indoor space perform better acoustically, control strategies can be implemented to limit unwanted noise and reverberation. Simple strategies involve using absorbing material, closing sound leaks, reducing contact sound transmission, and/or applying active noise control. Long-time exposure to disturbing noises can lead to a range of health issues such as stress, poor concentration, and productivity losses in the workplace.

References

  1. Adamkiewicz, G.; World Health Organization. WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality: Selected Pollutants; World Health Organization, Regional Office for Europe: Copenhagen, Denmark, 2010.
  2. Yassin, M.F.; Almouqatea, S. Assessment of airborne bacteria and fungi in an indoor and outdoor environment. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2010, 7, 535–544.
  3. Leung, D.Y.C. Outdoor-indoor air pollution in urban environment: Challenges and opportunity. Front. Environ. Sci. 2015, 2, 69.
  4. Destaillats, H.; Maddalena, R.L.; Singer, B.C.; Hodgson, A.T.; McKone, T.E. Indoor pollutants emitted by office equipment: A review of reported data and information needs. Atmos. Environ. 2008, 42, 1371–1388.
  5. Weschler, C.J. Changes in indoor pollutants since the 1950s. Atmos. Environ. 2009, 43, 153–169.
  6. Cincinelli, A.; Martellini, T. Indoor Air Quality and Health; Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute: Basel, Switzerland, 2017; p. 1286.
  7. Gunathilake, T.M.S.U.; Ching, Y.C.; Kadokami, K. An overview of organic contaminants in indoor dust, their health impact, geographical distribution and recent extraction/analysis methods. Environ. Geochem. Health 2022, 44, 677–713.
  8. Finnegan, M.J.; Pickering, C.A.; Burge, P.S. The sick building syndrome: Prevalence studies. BMJ 1984, 289, 1573–1575.
  9. Redlich, C.A.; Sparer, J.; Cullen, M.R. Sick-building syndrome. Lancet 1997, 349, 1013–1016.
  10. Fisk, W.J.; Mirer, A.G.; Mendell, M.J. Quantitative relationship of sick building syndrome symptoms with ventilation rates. Indoor Air 2009, 19, 159–165.
  11. Ghaffarianhoseini, A.; AlWaer, H.; Omrany, H.; Ghaffarianhoseini, A.; Alalouch, C.; Clements-Croome, D.; Tookey, J. Sick building syndrome: Are we doing enough? Archit. Sci. Rev. 2018, 61, 99–121.
  12. Fanger, P.O. Indoor Air Quality in the 21st Century: Search for Excellence. Indoor Air 2000, 10, 68–73.
  13. Candido, C.; Thomas, L.; Haddad, S.; Zhang, F.; Mackey, M.; Ye, W. Designing activity-based workspaces: Satisfaction, productivity and physical activity. Build. Res. Inf. 2018, 47, 275–289.
  14. Geng, Y.; Ji, W.; Lin, B.; Zhu, Y. The impact of thermal environment on occupant IEQ perception and productivity. Build. Environ. 2017, 121, 158–167.
  15. Pei, Z.; Lin, B.; Liu, Y.; Zhu, Y. Comparative study on the indoor environment quality of green office buildings in China with a long-term field measurement and investigation. Build. Environ. 2015, 84, 80–88.
  16. Hwang, B.-G.; Zhu, L.; Ming, J.T.T. Factors Affecting Productivity in Green Building Construction Projects: The Case of Singapore. J. Manag. Eng. 2017, 33, 04016052.
  17. Singh, A.; Syal, M.; Grady, S.C.; Korkmaz, S. Effects of Green Buildings on Employee Health and Productivity. Am. J. Public Health 2010, 100, 1665–1668.
  18. Cena, K.; de Dear, R. Thermal comfort and behavioural strategies in office buildings located in a hot-arid climate. J. Therm. Biol. 2001, 26, 409–414.
  19. Gamage, W.; Lau, S.S. Perception of indoor environment quality in differently ventilated workplaces in tropical monsoon climates. Procedia Eng. 2015, 118, 81–87.
  20. Daisey, J.M.; Angell, W.J.; Apte, M.G. Indoor air quality, ventilation and health symptoms in schools: An analysis of existing information. Indoor Air 2003, 13, 53–64.
  21. Lee, J.Y.; Wargocki, P.; Chan, Y.H.; Chen, L.; Tham, K.W. Indoor environmental quality, occupant satisfaction, and acute building-related health symptoms in Green Mark-certified compared with non-certified office buildings. Indoor Air 2018, 29V, 112–129.
  22. Liang, H.-H.; Chen, C.-P.; Hwang, R.-L.; Shih, W.-M.; Lo, S.-C.; Liao, H.-Y. Satisfaction of occupants toward indoor environment quality of certified green office buildings in Taiwan. Build. Environ. 2014, 72, 232–242.
  23. Hua, Y.; Göçer, K. Spatial mapping of occupant satisfaction and indoor environment quality in a LEED platinum campus building. Build. Environ. 2014, 79, 124–137.
  24. Abdou, A. Performance Evaluation of In Vitro Fertilization Unit in the UAE: The End User Perspective. In Proceedings of the 5th Annual International Conference on Architecture and Civil Engineering, Singapore, 8–9 May 2017.
  25. Zagreus, L.; Huizenga, C.; Arens, E.; Lehrer, D. Listening to the occupants: A Web-based indoor environmental quality survey. Indoor Air 2004, 14, 65–74.
  26. Li, P.; Froese, T.M.; Brager, G. Post-occupancy evaluation: State-of-the-art analysis and state-of-the-practice review. Build. Environ. 2018, 133, 187–202.
  27. Hadjri, K.; Crozier, C. Post-occupancy evaluation: Purpose, benefits and barriers. Facilities 2009, 27, 21–33.
  28. Al Horr, Y.; Arif, M.; Kaushik, A.; Mazroei, A.; Katafygiotou, M.; Elsarrag, E. Occupant productivity and office indoor environment quality: A review of the literature. Build. Environ. 2016, 105, 369–389.
  29. Bluyssen, P.M. The Indoor Environment Handbook: How to Make Buildings Healthy and Comfortable; Earthscan: London, UK, 2009.
  30. Institute, I.W.B. WELL v2; International WELL Building Institute: New York, NY, USA, 2018.
  31. Lin, B.; Liu, Y.; Wang, Z.; Pei, Z.; Davies, M. Measured energy use and indoor environment quality in green office buildings in China. Energy Build. 2016, 129, 9–18.
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Young Ki Kim
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Yasmin Abdou
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Alaa Abdou
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Hasim Altan
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Entry Collection: Environmental Sciences
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Update Date: 29 Jul 2022
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