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Changing the Paradigm: From Building Performance to Health and Well Being Through IEQ
Over the past few years, I have become increasingly concerned that buildings designed to meet energy targets often fall short when it comes to supporting the people who use them. We have focused on carbon and compliance but frequently overlooked health and comfort.
That is why Indoor Environmental Quality, or IEQ, has become such a focus for me and for Raven Delta. IEQ considers the full experience of being in a space: air, light, sound, temperature, and how people interact with their environment. It is not about extra complexity. It is about shifting the goal from technical performance to human impact.
But the first challenge is visibility. Across our work, I have seen poor quality monitoring in buildings of all types. Too often, sensors are installed without validation, producing vast datasets that seem credible but are misleading. That is dangerous.
We established the Centre of Excellence for Monitoring to address this. We needed a way to certify sensors and data systems to make sure the insights they offer are reliable. With the right data, you can act. Without it, you are guessing.
BS 40102 part one was another critical step forward. It provides a clear and practical framework for assessing IEQ in real environments. At Raven Delta, we use this alongside our delivery model: identify the issue, rectify it with targeted intervention, and maintain performance through ongoing oversight.
However, monitoring alone does not improve well-being. Action is essential. And to act effectively, we need good governance. Existing certification frameworks often focus on checklists rather than outcomes. IEQ must be linked to health impacts, not just compliance. It must also reflect local realities. A hospital in the Gulf faces different challenges than a school in the United Kingdom.
We also need to build the right skills. IEQ is not just about technology. It requires people who can interpret data, understand systems, and communicate clearly across disciplines. We will see regulation emerge in time. But we do not need to wait for that. As a sector, we can lead now. Let us stop building only for efficiency. Let us start building for people.
About Dave Kieft. Dave Kieft is the Group CEO of Raven Delta, a multi-sector group focused on innovation in sustainability, building performance, and human health. He played a key role in supporting the development of BS 40102 part one and led the creation of the Centre of Excellence for Monitoring to raise standards across indoor environmental quality practice.
