ZEMCH 2015 - International Conference Proceedings | Page 850

Introduction
As people spend increasing amounts of time within their work environments, it is essential to
ensure that office environments are not detrimental towards the health and well-being of the employees. Sustainable and socially active spaces are often overlooked due to resource constraints.
The returns on investment in such spaces often require a longer timeframe thereby making it
potentially less viable for investors. However, creating healthy work environments reduces health
risks and improves levels of work performance and productivity, thereby resulting in economic savings for all parties involved (Feige et al. 2013). There is a growing body of research on the
adverse effects of indoor environments on the inhabitants. A clear understanding of unhealthy
indoor environments is an important preventive measure for designers. Thermal comfort, natural ventilation, spatial organisation and segregation of noisy environments, material selection
and acoustic design of spaces are some of the design strategies that allow efficient interior environments. Building maintenance is crucial in sustaining healthy interior environments, especially
in mechanically ventilated spaces. Integrating a cross disciplinary approach at the initial design
stages, will improve the future operation and maintenance of the building and enable healthier
indoor environments for the inhabitants.
This paper aims to understand the effects of indoor air quality, thermal comfort, and acoustic
quality within office environments and the consequent impact on the health, comfort, performance and productivity of employees. Potential improvements and solutions in achieving sustainable work environments are then discussed. The objective of this research is to highlight the
main problems within office environments. While most of the research is focused in Europe and
America, and some studies in Asian countries such as China and Hong King, common trends of
unhealthy work environments supersede geographical contexts. Considerations of these commonalities could facilitate improved strategic approaches of designers and construction professionals in achieving comfortable and healthy work environments.

Methodology
By conducting an extensive literature review, a study is conducted on issues related to the air
quality, thermal comfort, and acoustics within office environments and the consequent effects on
occupant health and performance. Research reviewed is primarily over the past decade in order
to attain recent studies in the field. Studies are mainly based within the US or European contexts.
Once this basic framework of issues related to office environments is established, possible solutions on incorporating technological advancements and efficient design practices are discussed.

Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ)
A survey conducted by the Centre of the Built Environment (CBE) at the University of California,
Berkeley, included 34000 participants in 215 office buildings across USA, Canada and Finland. As
per the ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2004 acceptable indoor air quality (IAQ) is described as conditions
in which 80% of the occupants are satisfied. However, as per the data acquired in this survey,
only 26% of the buildings achieved this classification, and merely 11% of the tested buildings had
occupant satisfaction levels of 80% or above. The study shows a strong correlation between the
occupant satisfaction and their self-assessed productivity. The main issues identified in this category were ‘stuffy/ stale’ air (74%), polluted air (67%), and odours (51%) in the air quality. The three
main reasons for odours were ‘food, carpet or furniture, and other people’ (Huizenga et al. 2006).

848

ZEMCH 2015 | International Conference | Bari - Lecce, Italy