Occupant Reactions to IEQ in Offices

Glare, noise level, and cold drafts during winter months were top concerns of building occupants surveyed in an Australian study regarding indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in office buildings.

Results of the survey will be shared this week in Baltimore at the Atlanta-based American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) IAQ 2007: Healthy and Sustainable Buildings conference.

Occupants of two new buildings in Melbourne were asked about their satisfaction with design features and IEQ including temperature, airflow, air contaminants, sound pressure level, view, lighting, and workspace configuration.

Researchers at the University of Melbourne (Victoria, Australia) found that occupants' complaints dealt with areas related to building operation processes, lack of personal control, and noise level. "The study," says Maxwell Ashibuogu Chiazor, a doctoral student at the University of Melbourne, "confirms that it is useful for understanding how design and environmental quality design features impact occupants." He adds, "the study shows that well-being and physiological discomfort are the two factors that account for occupants' reactions to design and environmental quality. This information is useful for decisions about workplace configuration and building energy-efficient design features."

For more information, visit (www.iaq2007.org).