An implementation choice of assessment parameters for indoor air quality (IAQ) in air‐conditioned offices

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a screening test for indoor air quality (IAQ) assessment by auditing only a few “dominant” contributors for preliminary measurements in air‐conditioned offices.

Design/methodology/approach

In Hong Kong, up to ten common indoor air pollutants have to be audited in determining the IAQ acceptance for typical air‐conditioned offices. Indeed, parameters could not be uniformly contributed to the assessed “IAQ satisfaction”. The study reviews the past ten‐year assessment experiences in Hong Kong and investigates the “dominant” contributors of unsatisfactory IAQ for screening tests.

Findings

When compared with the “full” assessment of all ten listed parameters, a screening test with assessment parameters reduced by half would correctly identify 96 per cent unsatisfactory and 95 per cent satisfactory cases.

Research limitations/implications

The screening test was developed with the reported patterns of the ten common air pollutants from on‐site measurements and survey studies in typical air‐conditioned offices in Hong Kong. Therefore, the test application may require adaptation for use in other countries.

Practical implications

The study shows the usefulness of a regional database in developing a screening strategy for IAQ and so it would be a useful reference for policymakers in evaluating a cost‐justified IAQ assessment protocol.

Originality/value

The paper proposes a simple screening test which can identify the probable unsatisfactory IAQ in offices by assessing only a few “dominant” contributors, with selection of representative assessment parameters based on experiences.

Citation

Wong, L.T., Mui, K.W., Hui, P.S. and Chan, W. (2009), "An implementation choice of assessment parameters for indoor air quality (IAQ) in air‐conditioned offices", Facilities, Vol. 27 No. 5/6, pp. 202-210. https://doi.org/10.1108/02632770910944934