scholarly journals An Assessment of Indoor Environmental Quality in School Buildings in the State of Kuwait

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 5
Author(s):  
Jamal Al-Hubail ◽  
Abdul-Salam Al-Temeemi
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Indoor Environment ◽  
Measured Data ◽  
The State ◽  
School Buildings ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
Environment Quality ◽  
Design Engineers ◽  
Indoor Environment Quality ◽  
The State Of Kuwait

In this study, indoor quality and environmental comfort were investigated in secondary school buildings located in the State of Kuwait. Comfort variables such as temperature and relative humidity (thermal comfort), noise (acoustic comfort), illumination (visual comfort), as well as allocated classroom floor area per student (spatial comfort) were measured. Data was collected over a 7-month period on a spot basis during school hours in student-occupied classrooms at 46 selected schools. The measured data was then compared to international guidelines and standards related to indoor environment quality. The data for noise and allocated space were shown to be in the comfort ranges in all the schools. However, 11% of the schools are not adequately illuminated, 33% had temperatures not within the recommended limits, and 22% of the schools had humidity levels either higher or lower than the recommended levels. Also, 9% of the schools had low illumination readings.In addition, during the data monitoring, a survey was conducted by which the student occupants completed a questionnaire so that subjective and objective evaluations could be compared. The findings of the questionnaire displayed significant correlations between the measured data and some ailments and other complaints experienced by the students.Ultimately, the results found in this research will provide a baseline for comparison with future indoor environment quality assessments in buildings. Furthermore, recommendations are suggested in order to improve the environmental quality problems encountered in some of the schools, which may be beneficial for policymakers, facilities managers, and design engineers. 

scholarly journals Indoor Environmental Quality in Latin American Buildings: A Systematic Literature Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 643 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Valderrama-Ulloa ◽  
Lorena Silva-Castillo ◽  
Catalina Sandoval-Grandi ◽  
Carlos Robles-Calderon ◽  
Fabien Rouault
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Systematic Literature Review ◽  
Indoor Environment ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
Indoor Environments ◽  
Environment Quality ◽  
Indoor Environment Quality

The amount of time people spend inside buildings is significant. Indoor environment quality deficiencies in some of these buildings may affect the health of its users. Therefore, a systematic literature review has been conducted to assess the quality of indoor environments in existing buildings in Latin America. The objectives of this review are (1) identifying countries and building types whose indoor environment quality has been analyzed the most, (2) identifying most used evaluation strategies, (3) identifying comfort types and most evaluated variables, and (4) determining whether or not Latin American buildings are comfortable and what local factors contribute to that effect. From the 100 selected papers for this analysis, it was noted that Brazil and Argentina led the studies on residences and schools. It was also noted that hygrothermal comfort was the most analyzed comfort type, with temperature and humidity leading the number of studies. Finally, this review shows a lack of studies including buildings whose users are sensitive to indoor environmental quality, such as nurseries, senior homes, or health facilities. Additionally, there is a sustained discrepancy between objective measuring methods and user perception. Furthermore, a detailed analysis of 88 buildings shows that in Latin America, 67.5% of buildings are uncomfortable; thus, it is necessary to improve the designs and regulatory standards, to educate users, and to improve building monitoring management at the operational stage.

Assessing the Risk Relative to Indoor Environment Quality in Education Buildings

2013 ◽  
Vol 649 ◽  
pp. 81-84
Author(s):  
Mihai Eugen P. Codreanu ◽  
Tania Hapurne ◽  
Irina Baran ◽  
Irina Bliuc
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Indoor Environment ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
Assessment Methodology ◽  
Environment Quality ◽  
Integrated Risk Assessment ◽  
Factors Analysis ◽  
Indoor Environment Quality ◽  
Quality In Education ◽  
Risk Assessment Methodology

The study involves the risk factors analysis for indoor environment quality in education buildings with high occupancy, in terms of the occupants’ vulnerability, but also in terms of the effects of environmental factors on the constructive elements. Integrated risk assessment methodology for environment quality has to establish clear assessment methods, verification and validation of models, identifying factors that influence the environment quality and the possibility of improving their effects. This paper presents the application results of risk assessment methodology concerning the health and intellectual performance of occupants caused by indoor environmental quality for an education building. Are taken into account the results obtained from systematic measurements, over a specified period, of higrothermal parameters and of CO2 content in atmosphere, in a classroom. The analysis conclusions allow some recommending solutions for the risk reduction through constructive measures and improvement of way it is used.

scholarly journals Effect of Inlet Airflow Direction on the Indoor Environment of a Naturally Ventilated Room using CFD

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 580-591 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Velocity Vector ◽  
Indoor Environment ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
Human Comfort ◽  
Design And Optimization ◽  
Environment Quality ◽  
Air Stream ◽  
Indoor Environment Quality ◽  
Inlet Angle ◽  
Vent Location

The present study emphases the numerical investigation of the change in the overall indoor environment of a mechanically heated room, due to alteration in direction of the cold air stream at the inlet. This study is important to find the correlation between the configuration of altered geometry on the indoor environment quality and human comfort. Different case studies have been studied by altering the direction of the flow of the unidirectional velocity vector (U) by turning clockwise around the Z-axis and keeping other geometry parameters unaltered. Numerically simulated observations have been analyzed to study the effect of changed airflow direction at the inlet on indoor environmental quality Slight variations in the indoor environment were observed due to changed inlet angle set from 0°-60°, but for the largest angle setting of (80°), considerable changes were observed ins temperature and flow patterns. When the inlet vent angle increased from 0°-80°, the airflow and thermal pattern in room changes. More swirls and circulation observed in the case of higher inlet angles. PPD values for subsequent cases were found under control for all the set of inlet angles. The lowest PPD and PMV values observed for an 80° inlet angle setting. The outcomes of the research would be valuable for the design and optimization of local buildings and more energy can be hoarded by proper installations of equipment and inlet vent location

Developing a Green Building Assessment Tool for Schools (Case Study in Mosul City)

2012 ◽  
Vol 433-440 ◽  
pp. 5821-5827
Author(s):  
Hafsa Al Omari ◽  
E. Luma Al Dabbagh
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Indoor Environment ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Green Building ◽  
Local Context ◽  
School Buildings ◽  
Environment Quality ◽  
Indoor Environment Quality ◽  
Building Assessment ◽  
The City

The green building or green architecture has come to light as a strong architectural movement at the end of 1990's and as a main trend in architectural practice. The architectural green is a modern architectural philosophy which deals with the competent relationship between the functional constructive systems and its vital environmental, by controlling the inputs and outputs of this system with the least negative effects on the environment and occupant's health, and the least energy consumption during the various stages of the building ( construction, operation, maintenance and destruction ) to achieve the functional activities and the inventive and efficient architectural structures. The importance of this movement lies in trying to achieve the sustainable development in its environmental, social and economic aspects because of the problems that developed and developing countries ( e.g. Iraq ) face such as energy consumption and pollution. Several international standards of different classifications, depending on local context of each country, has been appeared. Some of these tools are (BREEAM, LEED, CO-CHPS Colorado, GBTool, CASBEE) which aim to assess the performance of the building from green Architecture's perspective. Although there is a similarity in the classification levels including the sustainable location, how to use (water, energy and atmosphere, materials, resources) effectively, indoor environment quality and the design's innovation, they differ in other aspects that its importance relies on the environmental and local context. The problem of our research was the absence of the practical evaluation tool of the green building ( school buildings ) for the Iraq's local context in general and Mosul in particular, compatibly with the city climate. The research aims at making theoretical construction to identify the assessment indicators of the school buildings from green architecture's perspective, in order to create suitable and general assessment tool for schools building in Mosul city which can help improving the performance of these schools, decreasing the effect on the health, sparing energy coasts, and other benefits in the stages of the project ( pre-construction, construction, post-construction ). The research supposes that the multi-dimensional designing strategy is an active tool used in establishing the tool classification of assessment. For reaching goals, the research adopts the theoretical method and questionnaire. Finally, the research provides an assessment tool for school building in Mosul from the green architecture's perspective (AGBS) Green Building Assessment Tool for school ) in conformity with the local context of the city for enabling the designer to follow it in order to achieve the investment within his school architectural products. Results indicate six categories for assessment tool. First Sustainable Sites category (SS) which have the greatest weight 25.7%, , then Indoor Environment Quality(IEQ) 24.35667%. then Materials & Resources (M&R), Energy & Atomosphere (A&E), Water Efficiency(WE),and Innovotion in design (ID), have 17.32% ، 10.5% ، 3.987181% , Respectively.

scholarly journals Climatic, Cultural, Behavioural and Technical Influences on the Indoor Environment Quality and Their Relevance for a

2021 ◽  
pp. 201-214
Author(s):  
Edeltraud Haselsteiner ◽  
Marielle Ferreira Silva ◽  
Željka Kordej-De Villa
Keyword(s):  
Indoor Environment ◽  
Optimal Level ◽  
Rational Approach ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
Environment Quality ◽  
Scientific Disciplines ◽  
Indoor Environment Quality ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
Indoor Comfort ◽  
Temperature Heating

AbstractResearch about indoor comfort in future years will increasingly be guided by the pressing need for decarbonizing the built environment due to climate change. Health, efficiency, and satisfaction of work and the feeling of comfort are largely determined by the interior criteria. The sustainable indoor environment is a result of complex factors: air conditioning (ventilation), indoor temperature, heating methods, lighting, and acoustic. This chapter explores and analyzes climatic, cultural, and behavioral factors that play an important role and have an influence on technology for an indoor regenerative environment. This chapter is based on an explorative literature review and reflects indoor environmental quality, users’ expectations, and users’ behavior from the perspective of different scientific disciplines. Current standards are based on a rational approach to thermal comfort, and indicators are determined on the measured subjects’ reactions during stabilized conditions in climatic chambers. It is concluded from these results that people in different environmental conditions react similarly to everyday life. Nevertheless, survey results suggest that achieving the optimal level of the indoor environment is possible when climatic, cultural, and social context is taken into account.

scholarly journals PROPOSAL OF A PRODUCT INDICATOR AS A TOOL FOR A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF WINDOWS

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 266
Author(s):  
Beatriz Arranz ◽  
César Bedoya-Frutos ◽  
Sergio Vega-Sánchez
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Environmental Quality ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
Electromagnetic Environment ◽  
Environment Quality ◽  
Great Saving ◽  
Indoor Environment Quality ◽  
Acoustic Comfort ◽  
Window Design

Windows are elements of great incidence on building consumption and therefore with great saving potential. When designing high-energy efficiency windows, it is possible to negatively influence the indoor environment quality. To ensure indoor environmental quality, hygrothermal comfort, acoustic comfort, luminous comfort, physical-chemical and microbiological contaminants in the air, and the electromagnetic environment must be considered.  Of all these aspects, windows intervene in four of them:  hygrothermal comfort, luminous comfort, acoustic comfort and air quality. In order to carry out a comprehensive design, designers should study in detail the variables mentioned for each particular case and, consequently, act. This, due to the means and the deadlines with which the prescriber usually counts on, is currently not viable. This research responds to current deficiencies by proposing the development of a product indicator through an integrative procedure for window design that simultaneously contemplates indoor environmental quality, energy efficiency and cost, integrating environmental and socio-economic aspects. The indicator proposed here provides information substantially superior to that currently available to technicians, to be used as a decision making tool.

A Report on The Acoustic Conditions of IEQ Laboratory Using ISO 3382-3

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-26
Author(s):  
Jason Obadiah
Keyword(s):  
Indoor Environment ◽  
Environment Quality ◽  
Indoor Environment Quality ◽  
The Future ◽  
Open Plan ◽  
Acoustic Conditions

Recently, many facilities have completed new laboratories that may be used to assess various measures of Indoor Environment Quality (IEQ) in office spaces. Also recently, a new standard, ISO 3382-3, was released for assessing the effects of speech on IEQ in open plan offices. The aim of this report is to assess one room of the IEQ lab using the ISO 3382-3 standard. It is expected that the data gained will be of help to researchers using the facility in the future. Keywords: ISO 3382-3, Indoor Environment Quality, Acoustics

scholarly journals Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Indoor Dust Collected during the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown in Saudi Arabia: Status, Sources and Human Health Risks

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 2743
Author(s):  
Sultan Hassan Alamri ◽  
Nadeem Ali ◽  
Hussain Mohammed Salem Ali Albar ◽  
Muhammad Imtiaz Rashid ◽  
Nisreen Rajeh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Weight ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Indoor Environment ◽  
Indoor Dust ◽  
Environment Quality ◽  
Indoor Environment Quality ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic

To control the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Saudi Arabia’s government imposed a strict lockdown during March–July 2020. As a result, the public was confined to indoors, and most of their daily activities were happening in their indoor places, which might have resulted in lower indoor environment quality. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were analyzed in household dust (n = 40) collected from different residential districts of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, during the lockdown period. PAHs’ levels were two folds higher than the previously reported PAHs in indoor dust from this region. We detected low molecular weight (LMW) with two to four aromatic ring PAHs in all the samples with a significant contribution from Phenanthrene (Phe), present at an average concentration of 1590 ng/g of dust. Although high molecular weight (HMW) (5–6 aromatic ring) PAHs were detected at lower concentrations than LMW PAHs, however, they contributed >90% in the carcinogenic index of PAHs. The estimated daily intake (EDI) of specific PAHs was above the reference dose (RfD) for young children in high-end exposure and the calculated Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk (ILCR) was >1.00 × 10−4 for both Saudi adults and young children. The study highlighted that indoor pollution has increased significantly during lockdown due to the increased indoor activities and inversely affect human health. This study also warrants to conduct more studies involving different chemicals to understand the indoor environment quality during strict lockdown conditions.

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