International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) Volume: 09 Issue: 05 | May 2022
www.irjet.net
e-ISSN: 2395-0056 p-ISSN: 2395-0072
Improvement of air quality for office buildings in northern Indian cities Ar. Rachna1, Ar. Akshay Gupta2 Faculty of architecture and planning, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul kalam technical university, Tagore Marg campus, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, 226007, India. ---------------------------------------------------------------------***--------------------------------------------------------------------1,2,3
Abstract - In this era, a human spends most of their time indoors. Office buildings are such cold hermetic spaces that are formal and create a lot of psychological stress and pressure on minds. It is also one of the most important spaces where people spent their time indoors. The need is to study the alternative active and passive solutions in the existing structure which improve the indoor air quality of the building without changing the existing structure and function of the space. The extent of the study is limited to the interior space of the air-conditioned office building in northern Indian cities. Way to introduce the solutions from the building codes and research solutions. This condition is regarded to be one of the factors impacting employee job productivity and stress levels. Nonetheless, this study was able to provide more insight and important information on how indoor air quality influences the psychological performance and health of office building occupants. Recommendations are provided to improve indoor air quality performance to provide a comfortable working environment for employees. Key Words: Indoor Air Quality, IAQ Pollutants, Building Codes, Recommendations….
1. INTRODUCTION Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a general term that describes the conditions inside buildings that may have an impact on people's health, comfort, and productivity. The number of contaminants in indoor air and temperature and humidity are all factors in IAQ. Indoor air quality isn't just a health hazard; it also affects employee productivity, leaving a company reliant on a sick workforce. Sick leave and absenteeism, productivity, decision-making, and staff retention are all factors that affect office operations. Improving indoor air quality not only benefits your inhabitants' health, but it also benefits you in terms of productivity and profits. Air quality has deteriorated in most portions of the Indo-Gangetic plain, including major cities in North India such as Delhi, Lucknow, and Kanpur, due to a combination of unique geology and rising pollutants. Air pollution kills 4.2 million people per year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), with the majority of these fatalities occurring in poor nations. Carbon monoxide (CO), Sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), ozone (O3), and respirable particulate matter (RPM) are the principal air pollutants that characterize the air quality over an area (PM2.5 and PM10). According to the EPA, IAP is one of the top five environmental health threats to the public. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), IAP kills 14 times more people than outdoor pollution. 15% reduction of employees’ productivity by low indoor IAQ. When employees complain that the office is too hot, too cold, too humid, or too dry, or that their eyes, throats, and skin are constantly dry and irritated, poor air quality can have measurable consequences such as: •
Diminished concentration
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Diminished problem-solving abilities
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Lack of focus
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Decreased energy
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Decreased job satisfaction and morale
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Decreased work efficiency and productivity
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Increased use of sick days
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