Post Occupancy Evaluation of Indoor Air Quality in Green Rated Commercial Interiors

Abstract

Good indoor air quality is crucial for the health, happiness, and satisfaction of the occupants. Since we spend so much time indoors, it is essential to maintain a reasonable level of indoor air quality. One of the elements contributing to the decline in indoor air quality was the interior materials. Having acknowledged this, green building rating systems have incorporated the use of low-emitting materials as a credit that may be gained. A system for assessing commercial interiors with a focus on interior materials exists and has been used by several commercial offices. This study aimed to understand the indoor air quality in green-rated commercial interior spaces that have won points for the use of low-emitting materials and indoor air quality. A post-occupancy review was conducted on an IGBC rated green commercial interior office space, in which various pollutant concentrations were measured and observations were made regarding space usage, cleaning processes, and maintenance. Almost 41.9% of the areas that were studied had CO2 values that exceeded the threshold. Additionally, the concentration of PM 2.5 was elevated in all locations, particularly during partial occupancy. The findings indicate that the use of low-emitting materials and finishes in office interiors helped to reduce the concentration of pollutants in the indoor environment. However, the concentrations of these various pollutants also depended on several other factors, such as the ventilation system, the use of electronic equipment, the frequency of cleaning practises, etc.