Post on 14-Apr-2017
transcript
TABLE OF CONTENT
NO. CONTENT PAGE
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BUILDING SERVICES IREPORT ASSIGNMENT
INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY IN
HEALTHCARE/OFFICE
SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING AND DESIGN
BACHELOR OF QUANTITY SURVEYING
LECTURER: MS LIM TZE SHWAN
GROUP MEMBERS:
1. LEE FONG YEN 03219762. LOO SIAH MONG 03219953. EE HUI TENG 03225484. CHAN YI FUNG 03230575. GOH SONG KIT 03220136. YEAP PHAY SHIAN 0322243
1. Introduction 3
2. Sources of Poor Indoor Environmental Quality 4-5
3. Factors Affecting Indoor Environmental Quality 6-8
4. Sick Building Syndrome 9
5. Operation and Maintenance Phase 10
6. Integrative Design Process and IEQ Management Plan 11-13
7. Basic Installation Procedures 14-16
8. Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) Enhancement System 17-23
9. Advantages of Indoor Environmental Quality 24-25
10. Disadvantages of Indoor Environmental Quality 26
11. Case Study- Introduction 27-28
12. Methodology 29-31
13, Results and Findings 32-42
14. Recommendations for Future Improvements 43-44
15. Possible Problems 45-46
16. Conclusion 47
17. Learning Outcome 48
18. References 49-51
19. Appendices 52-55
INTRODUCTION TO INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
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Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) is a crucial aspect needed to be considered in every
building structure. According to United States Environmental Protection Agency EPA
(2011), the citizens of the United States spend approximately 90% of their time indoors. The
lifestyle of Malaysians can be said to be similar. With that, indoor environmental quality
really plays an important aspect in our lives.
Indoor Environmental Quality refers to the character of the air and environment that
contribute to the health and comfort of occupants inside office buildings. In other words, it is
about the building’s environment in relation to the health and wellbeing of the people who
occupy the space in the building. There are a number of factors that determine IEQ and that
are air quality, lighting thermal comfort, humidity, ventilation rate and acoustics. Besides
that, it may include the functional aspect of space for instance whether there is sufficient
space for the occupants in a building.
Indoor environments are known to be very complex. There may be exposure to different
types of contaminants to building occupants. The contaminants are in the form of gases and
particles, coming from sources such as office machines, cleaning products, construction
activities, carpets and furnishings, perfumes, cigarette smoke, water-damaged building
materials, microbial growth (fungal / mould and bacterial), insects, and outdoor pollutants.
With a clearer picture of indoor environmental sources and influences as well as the act of
controlling it can often help reduce building-related worker symptoms. Moreover, building
managers and operators are able to increase the satisfaction of building occupants
by considering all of the aspects of IEQ rather than narrowly focusing on temperature or air
quality itself.
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SOURCES OF POOR INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
As a general fact, the state and quality of indoor environment may be affected by
temperature, dust/dirt, insects, carbon monoxide (CO), ventilation, allergens (e.g. pollen) and
chemicals (e.g. formaldehyde, household cleaners, pesticides). All of these are factors that
affect the indoor environment quality in the building. Based on these general factors
mentioned earlier, the causes of poor indoor environmental quality can be explained as
follows:
i) Inadequate Ventilation
This happens at the case whereby mechanical ventilation systems do not distribute the air to
building occupants in the building effectively. Inadequate ventilation may lead to discomfort
and dissatisfaction in building occupants. The discomfort will be elaborated further in the
upcoming points. The inefficient distribution of air to people in the building can be said to be
a crucial factor in poor IEQ in the building. Since proper distribution of air to people in the
building is important, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning
Engineers (ASHRAE) has published the Ventilation Rate for Indoor Air Quality Standard
(ASHRAE 62.1). The publication of this states the provision of indoor air quality that is
acceptable to human occupants. In addition it also minimises adverse health effect.
ii) Indoor Air Pollutants
The inside of the building itself consists of pollutants. Examples of these pollutants are
adhesives, carpeting, copy machines, pesticides as well as cleaning agents that may emit
volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including formaldehyde. Environmental tobacco smoke
can cause high levels of VOCs and other toxic compounds. All of which are harmful to
human health.
iii) Outdoor Air Pollutants
These are pollutants whereby the air outdoor enters a building, acting as a source of indoor
air pollution. The air intake vents, windows and other openings which are poorly located may
allow the entry of pollutants from motor vehicle exhausts; plumbing vents, and building
exhausts (e.g. bathrooms and kitchens) into the building.
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iv) Biological Contaminants
Biological contaminants include bacteria, fungi and viruses. Stagnant water that has been
accumulated in ducts, humidifiers and drain pans may cause these contaminants to breed.
Other possible places are ceiling tiles carpeting or insulation where the water has been
collected. Biological contaminants may lead to physical symptoms such as fever, chills,
cough, muscle aches and allergic responses. Allergic responses include mucous membrane
irritation and upper respiratory congestion.
v) Thermal Discomfort
Thermal discomfort occurs when there is a vertical air temperature difference between the
feet and the head by an asymmetric radiant field, by local convective cooling (draft). It can
also occur when in contact with a hot or cold floor. Generally, people tend to be more
sensitive to discomfort when their entire body is cooler than neutral and less sensitive to
discomfort when their entire body is warmer then neutral. Asymmetric radiant field can
cause local discomfort and minimize the thermal acceptability of the space. All of these
must be considered in determining conditions for creating acceptable thermal comfort for
building occupants.
To add on, draft is the unwanted local cooling of the body that is caused by air movement.
Draft can be felt the most when the entire body’s thermal sensation is cool (below neutral).
Air speed, air temperature, turbulence intensity, activity, and clothing are the depending
factor of draft sensation.
vi) Acoustic Discomfort
The acoustic discomfort is caused by the sound generated from the mechanical, electrical
and lighting equipment. All these have an effect on the overall acoustical environment in an
office building. The noise is transmitted through the air distribution duct systems, the
structure and the combination of paths. Thus, causing discomfort in building occupants.
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FACTORS AFFECTING INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
i) Thermal Comfort
Thermal comfort is the state of mind which expresses satisfaction with the thermal
environment. Thermal conditions indoors, along with the occupant’s activity and clothing,
determine occupant thermal comfort, which will then play an impact in the occupant’s
productivity and perceptions of air quality. The factors to be considered for thermal comfort
are air flow, temperature and humidity. Extra attention should be given to material moisture
dynamics due to the fact that building moisture from rainwater or excessive humidity is able
to facilitate mould growth. As a result of this, occupants may feel uncomfortable and there
will be poor indoor air quality. An environment that has stable thermal comfort brings a lot of
benefits besides making the building occupants feel more comfortable. These benefits
include savings on operating and maintenance over the life of a building by controlling the
temperature and humidity carefully. Moreover, buildings that are thermally comfortable are
more likely to retain employees as well as occupants, thus raising property values and
income.
With this goal in mind to be achieved, a number of published standards for thermal comfort
are used.
- ASHRAE 55-1992: Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy, sets
an 80% satisfaction quota as a target for human comfort
- Cal/OSHA Minimum Ventilation Standard, Title 8, Sec. 5142
ii) Acoustical Comfort
Sound is also part of the factor affecting indoor environmental quality. Mechanical vibration
and vibration-induced noise are most likely the major sources of occupant complaints in
modern buildings nowadays. The noise which comes from the office room is called internal
noise. The consequences of having poor acoustical qualities will lead to an increase in
stress and fatigue. Plus, it also hinders verbal communication as the verbal communication
cannot be heard and conveyed clearly. Therefore, monitoring and regulating background
noise levels with sound-dampening mechanisms (if necessary) must be done with carefully.
To allow privacy in certain spaces, sound absorption materials and acoustic barriers should
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be installed. Another aspect to consider is to avoid placing sources of sound (for example
HVAC compressors) nearby area where low acoustic levels are a concern. Internal noise
level throughout the building must be maintained at an acceptable and tolerable level.
Through the surveys of indoor environmental comfort, the results identified that acoustics is
an area of largest dissatisfaction. Actions such as sound absorption, zoning, and masking
strategies have to be taken to mitigate disturbances caused by noises.
a) Absorption
To help provide acoustic comfort, acoustic ceiling tiles, carpeting, furniture
finishes, curtains and hanging acoustical plasters can be implemented to
mitigate the distribution of sound in the building. Absorption technologies are
able to prevent sound transmission from one space to another and generally
require a relatively low cost. Take note in choosing materials with a high noise
reduction coefficient (NRC).
b) Zoning or blocking
The separation of spaces or acoustical zoning provides workers that need
concentrative quietness and some privacy to complete tasks and allow those who
need vocal interaction. Blocking sound waves prevents noise from traveling to
undesired occupants.
c) Masking
Masking strategies "cover" the unwanted sound. This is done by providing a low and
uniform level of background noise in order to provide contrast to sporadic and
distracting interruptions to the quiet workplace. Sound masking technologies can be
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electronic, with speakers providing artificial white noise. It can also be part of a well-
planned ductwork and diffuser system.
iii) Lighting
Having access to natural light is very important to human health. Spaces with natural light
tend to be gathering places because it is likely to enhance social interactions. According to
the a White Paper written by Andersen Window’s Advanced Design Research Group, group
behaviour studies repeatedly show that given a choice of occupancy, 75% of people prefer
to work in areas illuminated by natural light. As for artificial lighting with regards to the indoor
environment, the requirements for it are minimizing glare on computers, render appropriate
colour and providing adequate occupant control. Proper lighting increases productivity and
efficiency in offices.
iv) Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
The term indoor Air Quality (IAQ) refers to the condition of the air within a space. IAQ is a
measure of the building’s interior air in terms of the occupant’s potential health and comfort.
A space with good indoor air quality is low in toxins, contaminants and odours. Good air
quality can occur when the spaces are well ventilated and protected from pollutants.
Examples of potential contaminants include dust, cigarette smoke, carbon dioxide, carbon
monoxide, ozone, radon, VOCs (volatile organic compounds), and several other chemical
compounds. Numerous research studies have shown links between poor IAQ and Sick
Building Syndrome. “Sick building syndrome” is the name that has been commonly used for
illnesses that occur among building occupants due to poor indoor air quality in building.
Creating good IAQ consist of having good ventilation system, maintaining appropriate
exhaust systems, complying with ASHRAE Standard 62.1, utilizing high efficiency MERV
filters in the heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system.
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SICK BUILDING SYNDROME
Sick building syndrome (SBS) is the name used to describe a situation whereby the
occupants of a building experience acute health or comfort related effects that seems to be
linked directly to the time spent in the building. It is a result of poor indoor air quality in the
building.
SBS often manifests as cold or flu-like symptoms after breathing stale or being exposed to
contaminated air. It harms worker productivity and morale. It may also increase absenteeism
and worker turnover.
There are times when building occupants experience symptoms that do not fit the pattern of
any particular illness and it is hard to trace to any specific source. This phenomenon has
been known as sick building syndrome.
The symptoms of SBS may include:
headaches and dizziness
nausea
aches and pains
fatigue
poor concentration
shortness of breath or chest tightness
eye and throat irritation
irritated, blocked or runny nose
skin irritation
The symptoms of SBS can occur on their own or in combination with others. There are
possibilities that different individuals in the same building may experience different
symptoms. The symptoms usually improve or disappear when one leaves the building and
often return when one re-enters the building.
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OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE PHASE
It is important to be able to maintain good IEQ. This requires consistent attention towards the
building’s ACMV system. The building’s ACMV system consists of the design, layout and
pollutant source management or air filtration. The absence of proper operation and
maintenance of ACMV systems is a common issue that impact workplace IEQ. Coming back
to ACMV systems itself, ACMV systems is a source of pollutants. Ventilation air filters can
become saturated and consequently leading to potential microbial growth and odour
concerns if these systems are not maintained properly.
A post occupancy indoor air quality may be carried out to a building that is newly constructed
to assist in the reduction of indoor air quality problems and also minimizing any health issues
of building occupants that may happen from the construction process.
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INTEGRATIVE DESIGN PROCESS
A combined IEQ team can involve the workplace specialist, interior designer, facility manager, owner, occupant, maintenance staff and mechanical, lighting and acoustical engineers with an aim which is to maximize the comfort and health for occupants.
a) Facility Manager
Facility manager plays an important role in improving the overall indoor quality of a building
or space. He/she is in charge of managing occupants satisfaction surveys in order to identify
IEQ categories of greater interest, saving money and time for the benefits of the space.
Alongside with the mechanical engineer and maintenance staff, the facility manager should
ensure a process is in place to track and respond to complaints regarding occupant’s
discomfort. In addition to that, a robust tracking process can ensure green maintenance
procedures are done consistently.
b) Interior Designer
An interior designer works within the interactive team to create interior spaces that can
enhance opportunities in engaging social encounters balanced with both the designs and
functions, with the aim to create a space or workplace to support human needs. The
suitability may be in terms of the function of spaces, healthy material selection, sensory and
visual connections, and ability to maintain and control personal comfort. Therefore, in
collaboration with the mechanical, acoustical and lighting engineers as well as the architect,
they will be able to provide the highest level of human comfort and satisfaction.
c) Occupant
As an occupant’s health and productivity is directly affected by IEQ, thus, their well-being or
opinions should be considered throughout the integrative design process. Bringing the
occupant to the integrative table can help maintain a good IEQ and to ensure the
requirements needed for the lighting and acoustical are enough to meet the functions of the
space. With a good and maintained IEQ, there is no doubt that there will be a boost in the
worker’s performance and productivity as well as reducing utility consumptions.
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d) Maintenance Staff
Maintenance staffs are important in ensuring the ongoing indoor environmental performance.
It is important that they follow and implement detailed green cleaning and purchasing plans,
which includes schedules and guidelines for any necessary trainings or certifications. They
can also provide input on making systems easier to maintain such as convenient access to
filters or vales, and usage of non-absorbent materials in high traffic areas.
e) Mechanical Engineer
Providing sufficient levels of ventilation and filtration in circulation of air, as well as proper
humidity and temperature levels is the responsibility of the mechanical engineer. He/she has
to ensure that all ASHRAE standards are met and the space is safe and comfortable to be
occupied. The mechanical engineer should work closely with other members of the
integrative team to provide comfort and satisfaction to occupants.
f) Lighting Engineer
The lighting engineer plays an essential role in creating a lighting strategy that provides both
an equally distributed illumination level and additional opportunities for occupant
controllability. He/ she is trained to ensure maximum allowance of natural daylight into a
space and to prevent glare and direct exposure to sunlight, as this conditions may affect the
comfort of building occupants.
g) Acoustical Engineer
There are often complaints about occupant’s dissatisfaction with building acoustical
performance. Therefore, the acoustical engineer is in charge of creating a productive
acoustic environment through a combination of blocking designs, masking strategies and
sound absorption technologies. Distractions and sound transfers can be limited through the
co-operation with Interior Designer, Mechanical Engineer and Architect.
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h) Owner
The owner comes into the picture as what they focus most is their return on their investment
as the overall building’s market value. With a good indoor environmental quality, their
worker’s performance can be increased and property value coupled with reduction in
associated liability concerns of an unhealthy building can greatly offset any upfront
investments in IEQ renovations. Together with the integrative team, the owner will develop
the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR) to establish prioritization of important designs and
functions.
i) Workplace Specialist
Workplace Specialist is vital in the integrative team, as he/she is closely engaged with the
human behaviour aspect of creating a healthy and functional space. He/she ensures the
project is not only a nice space but also focuses on human interactions, health, and safety.
IEQ MANAGEMENT PLAN
An IEQ management plan should:-
a) Include strategies to maintain air quality during construction or renovation projects.
- Pre occupancy flush outs and proper management of building materials can limit
human exposure during use as exposure to dust particulates, VOCs and mould
can lead to health issues during occupancy.
b) Integrate a green cleaning and integrated pest management programme
- Management of indoor pests through preventative measures, monitoring and
maintenance of identified pets, as well as minimizing the use of least-toxic
chemical pesticides in targeted areas can protect human health and surrounding
environment.
c) Incorporates occupant feedback for continuous evaluation.
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BASIC INSTALLATION PROCEDURES
The establishment procedure will be distinctive for every employment, contingent upon
HVAC contractual worker, the kind of unit we buy and the home's exceptional needs and
elements. Be that as it may, there are some essential techniques we can depend on while
having our framework introduced. Getting comfortable with the procedure will help us
comprehend the work going ahead in our home. Here are some broad establishment steps
that we ought to have:
1. Dismantle and haul away existing air conditioner materials, and clear all related debris
before starting the new install.
2. Acquire proper permits and schedule required inspections from the city where we live.
3. Install new ductwork (if indicated in proposal), or prepare existing ductwork for use with the
new system.
4. Properly position and place outdoor air conditioning unit.
5. Make proper and safe connections and determine the correct sizing for the electrical and
refrigeration lines and piping.
6. Install a new thermostat or reuse the existing thermostat.
7. Charge and start the new system according to manufacturer specifications.
8. Conduct a post-installation check or inspection before final inspection.
Choosing the Right Air Conditioning System
An estimator ought to start with an ACCA (Air Conditioning Contractors of America) Manual
J Load Calculation. Utilizing the ACCA Manual J handle, they will decide add up to warmth
misfortune through outside dividers furthermore break down the warm attributes for the
dividers, floors, windows and entryways with the estimation of the warmth pick up that
occurs during warm months.
The recommendation of the installation system will be based on the home analysis, including
the configuration of a home's existing ductwork (if any). The following is a brief depiction of
the general types of air conditioning systems can be considered.
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A) Split Systems- A split framework is an air-conditioning or warmth pump framework
that utilizations refrigerant as the warmth trade liquid and has an evaporator,
compressor, and condenser as independent parts. In most present day business
applications, the compressor and condenser are consolidated into a solitary bit of
hardware called a gathering unit
On the off chance that the home as of now has a heater and ventilation work set up, a split
framework will be the most widely recognized cooling choice. With a split framework, the
condenser and compressor are housed outside. An indoor bureau has the evaporator loop.
There is additionally an air handler that is typically part of the heater. This handler sends the
warm or cool air through the ventilation work.
Bundled units have the condenser, compressor, evaporator loop, and air handler housed
together in one bureau. It is basic that the unit be level for the HVAC framework to work
appropriately and proficiently. The outside condenser unit is normally not situated close
room windows since it makes some clamor while working. It should be in a range with
sufficient wind current and far from bushes.
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Figure 1: Split/Ductless AC system
Figure above shows an example of a packaged unit HVAC System.
B) Packaged Units- A package unit is the all-in-one heating and cooling system for
homes that don't have a lot of room indoors for either a furnace and coil, or an air
handler. Package units will contain all of their parts in one outdoor unit that sits on
either the roof or to the side of a building.
Mini-split frameworks are a possibility for homes with a base sum or absence of ventilation
work or for room increases that can't suit ventilation work. These versatile frameworks have
an open air compressor:
1) One or more indoor wall mount units
2) One or more compact duct units inside.
Refrigerant is cycled through the lines from the outdoor condensing unit to the indoor unit or
vents, where air is distributed to the living space.
Adding central air conditioning inside the house is a decision that can add comfort and long-
term value to our home. Contracting the privilege HVAC expert and knowing the means
required in the establishment procedure can spare additional time and cash now and for a
considerable length of time to come.
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INDOOR ENVIRONMENT QUALITY (IEQ) ENHANCEMENT SYSTEM
Air conditioner
Air conditioner, in short AC, it is considered as mechanical ventilation. The main function of
an air conditioning system is mainly to produce cool ventilation inside the building in which
the heat is taken out from a certain location to give a chilled air effect. The main process is
that the air circulation is drawn to the condenser containing refrigerant gas.
In the business world nowadays, air conditioners have become commonplace in a lot of
places such as office, vehicles, houses, health care centre and etc. This is because most
offices/healthcare are high rise building and since the wind speed increases significantly with
altitude, natural ventilation is impractical for tall building. Therefore, installing air conditioner
can overcome ventilation problem. Although the HVAC industry has a standardized process
and calculation for properly sizing equipment, many contractors use inaccurate methods
such as sizing based on the square footage of the building, the size of previous equipment
or worse, rules of thumb. Improper sizing is one of the most common mistakes made and will
lower the efficiency of equipment and shorten its life expectancy.
Besides, air conditioners don’t just provide a comfortable temperature in an enclosed place,
but also to control the humidity of the space. There are six types of air conditioning system
that are:
a) Cooling Only Packaged System
b) Cooling Only Split System
c) Heat Pump
d) Chilled Water System
e) Packaged Terminal Heat Pump
f) Window Air Conditioners
How an air conditioner works is by allowing the heat out of the indoor air. The coolant or
refrigerant runs through the HVAC system that includes a condenser, compressor and an
evaporator. When the coolant passes the system, it compresses the gas to liquid. As the
liquid is cooled, it is turned back into gas. Through the principle of expansion and
compression of gas and liquid, there are several ways to cool the buildings, depending on
the size and condition of the building.
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The following diagram above illustrates the basic function of a HVAC system
When the air outside is brought in and pushed through the coils, it is either heated or
cooled before being released into the living area. Moreover, the air will be displaced from
the area back into the system.
The main components of this system are the condenser, compressor and an evaporator.
The condenser is the device that pushes the heat that has built up inside the refrigerant
into the outside air. The compressor acts as the system’s heartbeat. It created the
energy and thrust to move refrigerant around the system. Lastly, the evaporator is the
device that takes away heat from the space by exchanging it for a boiling refrigerant.
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Daylight System
It has been proved that daylight is desired in observations of human behaviours’ and the
arrangement of spaces/or working areas. Daylight is desired because it fulfils two very basic
requirements which are, to be able to see both a task and space well and to experience
environmental situation. Working long term in electric lighting is believed to be deleterious to
health, and working by daylight is believed to less stress and discomfort.
Benefits of Daylighting
Improved interior environment: The correct placement of daylighting and view glazing can
make an interior space more pleasing. Not only that, results has shown that there is an
increase in work productivity and performance when there is presence of daylight
Improved Health: There is strong relationship between light and health. When there is
presence of daylight, our body tend to function better, as the quality of the indoor
environmental is also good.
A daylighting system consists of not only daylight apertures, such as skylights and windows
but also comes with w daylight responsive lighting control system. When there is sufficient
lighting provided from daylight alone, this system has the ability to reduce lighting power.
These are some examples of components that may be present in a daylighting system or
design:-
- Daylight optimized building footprint
- Climate responsive window to wall area ratio
- High performance glazing
- Daylight-optimized fenestration design
- Skylights (passive or active)
- Tubular Daylight devices
- Solar Shading devices
- Daylight-responsive electric lighting controls
- Daylight optimized interior design
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Among all, Skylights and Tubular Daylight is the most common systems used in
Malaysia. As Malaysia has tropical climate and receives an average amount of
sunlight every year, these systems has been used mostly in high-rise building,
healthcare centres and other types of building.
Light pipe systemLight pipe systems are linear devices that channel daylight into the core of a building.
This system brings daylight into deep of a building without producing extreme
warmth. It is also known as tubular skylights.
Tubular daylight devise employ a highly reflective film on the interior tube to channel
light from a lens at the roof, to a lens at the ceiling plane. It tend to much smaller than
a typical skylight, yet still has the capability to deliver adequate daylight.
The light pipe systems consist of:-
- A collector
It is made of clear domes light to accept sunlight from the sky and is usually located
at roof level
- A light tube
Light tube transports light into the room to be day lighted. The tube, with 95-99% of
reflectance just like an aluminium sheet, increases the efficiency.
- A diffuser
How does it work?
1. The low-profile, durable acrylic dome captures sunlight from sunup through noon to
sundown.
2. The sunlight then travels downward through a highly reflective, mirror-like tube.
3. The light rays bounce back and forth inside the tube with 98% efficiency until the rays
reach the diffuser which disperses the sunlight evenly throughout the room.
4. Occupants will get light without heat of incandescent bulbs or interior colour fading
associated with windows.
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Picture above shows the collection of sun throughout the day.
Diagram shows how a tubular skylight works
Names of the components of the light pipe daylighting system
Fibre Optic Skylight System
Fibre-optic daylighting systems have been shown to be a promising and effective way to
transmit sunlight in the interior space whilst reducing electric lighting energy consumption.
This technology has the ability to bring sunlight much deeper into buildings without impacting
space layout or inviting the glare, lighting variability and heat gain issues that complicate
most daylighting strategies.
Fibre Optic Skylight System consists of:-
- A solar collector to capture direct sunlight and channel it into one or more optical
fibres
- Reflectors
- Filters
- Lenses to direct light to the fibre optic cables
- Fixture to distribute the light
The daylight is gathered and concentrated by collectors using parabolic mirrors or Fresnel
lenses that track the sun as it moves through the sky. UV and IR light is filtered as the
visible light is collected and transmitted into the building. The system may provide stand-
alone daytime lighting or be part of a hybrid solar lighting system that is integrated with
electric lighting and controls to make the same fixtures usable at times of low or no daylight.
Benefits of fibre Optic Daylighting system
Filling our indoor areas with healthy sunlight brings positive effects to our health and
wellbeing.
Flicker-free natural sunlight that contains the full visible spectrum
Filters out all non-visible radiation, reducing the need for cooling our indoor
environments
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How does it work?
Sunlight is captured on the outside of the building. Optical fibres transfer the sun light
through the building structure and into the indoor environment. Inside, natural sunlight flows
out of the fixtures.
1. On the roof or an outside wall, there’s a collector with separate lenses that track the sun
as it moves across the sky.
2. The collector uses electricity to operate this tracking, which is controlled by a photo sensor
and microprocessor.
3. Each of the lenses concentrates the sunlight into a tiny optical fibre which is aggregated
into cables. These cables bring natural light to interior space quite distant from roof or
windows.
4. In the spaces where light is to be delivered, various fixtures are available. These include
spotlights, fairly conventional-looking ceiling fixtures, and some hybrid fixtures that include
both daylighting and high-efficiency fluorescent lighting. Some fixtures are served by just one
optical cable; others by two or four.
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Diagrams above explains how does a fibre optic daylighting system works.
The components of a fibre optic lighting system and how is it installed
ADVANTAGES OF INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) is most simply described as the conditions inside the
building. It includes air quality, but also access to daylight and views, pleasant acoustic
conditions, and occupant control over lighting and thermal comfort. It may also include the
functional aspects of space such as whether the layout provides easy access to tools and
people when needed and whether there is sufficient space for occupants. Building managers
and operators can increase the satisfaction of building occupants by considering all of the
aspects of IEQ rather than narrowly focusing on temperature or air quality alone.
1. Increase comfort
- By the chance of having a better indoor environment quality in any healthcare/ office
will leads to a better comfort zone in the building.
2. Decrease absence rates
- With the better Indoor Environment Quality in healthcare/ office, workers would tend
to have higher working performance which leads to the decrease of absence rates.
3. Increase work performance
- By optimize the level of thermal comfort helps in maximizing productivity and working
performance.
4. Pollutant inside building can be diminished
- When indoor environment quality is maximized, the pollution shall automatically
decrease as it controls the pollutions from entering the building.
5. Maintain optimum temperature for workers
-The purpose of having indoor environment quality is to maintain the finest
temperature to the workers as well as deceasing sick building. As the lower rate of
sick building will leads to higher rate of the indoor environment quality.
6. Improve overall thermal comfort
- The factors that affect overall thermal comfort includes temperature, humidity, air
movement, radiation and subjective factors. Thermal comfort is the condition of mind
that expresses satisfaction with the thermal environment.
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7. Decrease sick building syndrome
- As we all know that, Sick building syndrome is occurred when more than 20% of
the occupant feels discomfort within the same room. By having a better indoor
environmental quality, the risk of getting sick building is decreased as indoor
environmental provides a better comfort to the people in the building.
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DISADVANTAGES OF INDOOR ENVIRONMENT QUALITY
1. Cost of construction will be high
-Due to the need of specific design from architect and engineer and material are
required to complete of indoor environment quality is also very high.
2. Maintenance cost is high
-Maintenance is a very important factor to be considered before constructing the
indoor environment quality in the building. Maintenance is usually needed to
maintain there is no malfunction part for indoor environment quality in
healthcare/office.
3. Hard to satisfy everyone’s desired temperature
-Sometimes, having an optimum temperature in the building is always not enough as
it is hard to satisfy everyone at the same time. For example, personal factors such as
clothing insulation may be a primary cause of heat stress even if the environment is
not considered warm or hot of an individual could feel discomfort at certain
temperature.
4. Once the building is built, changing the existing construction is very hard
-When the designer failed to create the best possible indoor environmental quality for
the users, it is hard to redesign the existing construction once it is built.
26
CASE STUDY
i) Taylor’s University Lakeside Campus
Taylor’s University Lakeside Campus is a private university located in Subang Jaya,
Selangor, Malaysia. It offers a variety of courses in tertiary education, from foundation,
undergraduate studies, post-graduate studies to professional programmes. The construction
of this campus is commenced in 2007 and completed in 2010. The university had received a
number of achievements and recognition such as recognition from the Malaysia Legal
Profession Qualifying Board, Champion of the 2016 Research Chefs Association Student
Culinology Competition, ranked Top 200 University in Asia and received Gold award in the
“Education& Learning” category in Putra Brand Awards 2016.
Taylor’s University Lakeside Campus consist a total of 6 blocks, 1 commercial block, 2 office
blocks and education blocks. It also has a 5.5 acre man-made lake. Other than education
facilities such as the anatomy laboratories, design studios, wine lab and moot court, it also
provides a variety of service facilities such as the career services centre, counseling and
psychological services centre, experimental theatre, gym and hostel for students.
27
ii) Assunta Hospital
Assunta Hospital was founded in 1954 by a group of missionary sisters from the Franciscan
Missionaries of Mary (FMM). It first started out to serve the underprivileged for their
healthcare needs. It is located in Jalan Templer, Petaling Jaya. The hospital had received
numerous accreditations and awards over the years for its high quality and professional
service such as MSQH Hospital Accreditation Performance Award Full Certificate for 3
Cycles, ISO 9001:2008, Hospital Management Asia 2010 & 2013 and Brand Laureate Award
2008 & 2009.
The building is divided into two parts namely Old Wing and New Win. Thus, it has a total
capacity of 300 beds. It offers a wide variety of medical services to its patients such as
anesthesiology, cardiology, dermatology and radiology. It also provides various facilities and
services such as 24-Hour Accident & Emergency Centre, Outpatient Specialist Clinics,
Clinical Laboratory and Maternal and Child Care Services.
28
METHODOLOGY
We have conducted a survey at two of the locations stated above to study about the indoor
air quality of healthcare and office. A survey form is distributed out to the users of the
building, 15 each to both male and female at each location. A total of 60 survey forms were
filled in this case study. The questionnaire consists of 15 questions as below:
Worker Gender:
MALE
FEMALE
Job duration at work place:
Morning to afternoon
Morning to evening
Morning to night
Afternoon to evening
Afternoon to night
1. The symptom that you face: headache, drowsiness, dizziness and irritation, cause by the
working environment?
Yes
No
2. Existence of odour within the building?
Yes
No
3. Inadequate Ventilation within the building?
Yes
No
4. Uneven temperature within the building?
Yes
No
29
5. Blocked vents due to dust, files, and etc.?
Yes
No
6. Air Freshness within the building consider acceptable?
Yes
No
7. Is the indoor temperature in the building regulated by thermostats?
Yes
No
8. Is there any discomfort of heat radiation from visual display unit and window surfaces?
Yes
No
9. Are there furniture, finishing, carpets that emit noticeable odours or chemical and
contaminants?
Yes
No
10. Has there been any renovations that were carried out throughout the building?
Yes
No
11. Is the building adequately cleaned?
Yes
No
12. Are there any office equipment giving off gases or furnishes such as copying machines,
blueprint machines, and other office machines?
Yes
No
30
13. Is outdoor air actually getting into the building?
Yes
No
14. Is there a regular schedule for cleaning and maintenance of the air-conditioning system
in the building?
Yes
No
15. Overcrowding during peak season causes the rise of the temperature in building?
Yes
No
31
32
DATA ANALYSIS:
Healthcare
Office
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
15
15
15
15
FEMALE Column1
Morning to afternoon Morning to evening Morning to night Afternoon to evening Afternoon to nightr0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
Office
Male Female
Morning to afternoon Morning to evening Morning to night Afternoon to evening Afternoon to nightr0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Healthcare
Male Female
Figure 1.1 Job Duration
33
Yes No0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Office
Male Female
Yes No0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Healthcare
Male Female
Figure 1.2: Symptom that cause by working environment
Yes No0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Office
Male Female
Yes No0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Healthcare
Male Female
Figure 1.3: Existence of odour within the building
Yes No0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Office
Male Female
Yes No0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Healthcare
Male Female
Figure 1.4: Inadequate ventilation within the building
34
Yes No0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Office
Male Female
Yes No0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Office
Male Female
Figure 1.5: Uneven temperature within the building
Figure 1.6: Blocked vents due to dust, files, and etc.
Yes No0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Healthcare
Male Female
Yes No0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Healthcare
Male Female
Yes No0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Office
Male Female
Figure 1.7: Acceptable of air Freshness within the building
Yes No0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Healthcare
Male Female
35
Figure 1.8: The indoor temperature in building regulated by thermostats
Yes No0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Office
Male Female
Yes No0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Office
Male Female
Yes No0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Healthcare
Male Female
Yes No0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Office
Male Female
Yes No0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Healthcare
Male Female
Figure 1.9: Discomfort of heat radiation from visual display unit and window surfaces
Yes No0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Healthcare
Male Female
36Figure 2.0: The furniture, finishing, carpet that emit noticeable odours or chemical contaminants
Yes No0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Healthcare
Male Female
Yes No0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Office
Male Female
Yes No0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Office
Male Female
Yes No0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Healthcare
Male Female
Figure 2.3: Any office equipment giving off gases or furnishes
Yes No0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Office
Male Female
Yes No0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Healthcare
Male Female
Figure 2.1: Any renovation been taking place
Figure 2.2: Is the building adequately cleaned
37
Figure 2.5: Cleaning and maintenance of the air-conditioning system in the building
Figure 2.6: Overcrowding during peak season
Yes No0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Office
Male Female
Yes No0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Office
Male Female
Yes No0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Healthcare
Male Female
Figure 2.4: Is the outdoor air actually getting into the building
Yes No0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Healthcare
Male Female
Yes No0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Office
Male Female
Yes No0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Healthcare
Male Female
Based on the survey that we have conducted, sick building syndrome do exist in both building Block C level 5 and Hospital Assunta level 4 (Mariam ward). This is because more than 20 percent of workers suffer from SBS symptoms caused by the working environment. For Block C level 5 office, 43.3 percent of lecturers suffer from SBS symptoms compared to Hospital Assunta level 4 (Mariam ward) which has 26.7 percent. The reason for both of the
buildings to have more than 20 percent of workers to suffer from sick building syndrome is because buildings that are equipped with air-conditioning will be more likely to have workers complaining about discomfort due to the working environment. The other reason for hospital
38
Overall Result:
Does sick building syndrome exists in both office and healthcare?
Healthcare
NoYes
26.7%
73.3%
Office
NoYes43.3%
56.7%
to have 26.7 percent of workers suffering from sick building symptom is because of the odour that consists of the mixture of medicine and food, both of our group members who visited the hospital felt emesis while conducting the survey in the ward.
The reason why the percentage of workers suffering from sick building syndrome in hospital
is lesser compared to office is because the workers in the hospital do fulfill the requirement;
the workers themselves can resist the odour and has been through training in order to work.
On the other hand, the reason that the office will have high percentage of lecturers suffering
from sick building syndrome is due to the fact that the indoor environmental quality is not in
its best condition and the lecturers work in the office for a long period of time. Moreover,
some of the lecturers themselves don’t have good health conditions. Due to all these
reasons, it would trigger sick building syndrome and sick building symptom within the office.
39
Discussion
Worker
Block C level 5 is an office for lecturers. The lecturers spent most of their time walking in and
out the office or having discussions with other lecturers. Most of the lecturers that had
conducted this survey work from morning to evening. Part time lecturers spend lesser
amount of time in the office compared to full time lecturers.
In Assunta Hospital old wing Mariam ward, most of the workers spend their time walking in
wards, checking the patient’s condition, delivering food to patient wards, sitting in the front
desk to do some paper work and so on. Most of the workers tend to work from morning to
evening and only a minority of them works from morning to afternoon due to time shifting
reason. There are a few male workers who tend to work from morning to night due their job
responsibility and safety reasons.
Block C level 5 Office
Block C level 5 office is an office for lecturers in Taylor University. More than half of the
lecturers didn’t feel any discomfort caused by the working environment. Most of the male
lecturers feel that the odour exists within the building, but it’s the other way round for the
majority of females as they can’t really feel the existence of the odour within the building.
Ventilation within the building is inadequate for male lecturers but for the female lecturers
they felt that the ventilation within the office is adequate. Majority of the male and female
lecturers feel that there is an even temperature within the building and their remark is the
office is too cold. A number of male lecturers didn’t notice the vents are blocked due to dust,
files and etc. However, the female lecturers did notice that the vents contain dust and are
block by files.
An amount of male lecturers feel that the indoor temperature is regulated by thermostat but
majority of the females felt that the indoor temperature wasn’t regulated by thermostats.
Based on our observation, there is a thermostat but the temperature fixed was too low.
Nearly an equal amount of lecturers from both genders felt that there is no discomfort of heat
radiation from visual display unit and window surfaces. Majority of the lecturers didn’t smell
any noticeable odour or chemical and contaminants emit by furniture, finishes and carpet.
However, minority of the lecturers did smell some noticeable odour. There isn’t any major
renovation that took place in the office, perhaps just some minor renovation such as drilling
or nailing. Almost all of the lecturers agree that the building is adequately cleaned because
there are cleaners to clean the building.
40
Office equipment or furnishes rarely give off gases that will make the lecturers in the office
experience discomfort. The outdoor air was not ventilating in the office due to the office
height and there are constructions going on near the campus. Only lecturers with their own
office room will obtain ventilation from outdoor. Most of the lecturers are aware that there is a
regular schedule for cleaning and maintenance of air-conditioning system in the office, which
is why the air-conditioning did not create any noises and overheating issues. Majority of the
females were able to accept the air freshness within the building but there are some male
lecturers felt that the air freshness within the building was not considered fresh. Most of the
lecturers felt that the overcrowded office during peak seasons did not cause the rise of the
temperature in the office.
Assunta Hospital Old Wing Level 4 (Mariam Ward)
Mariam ward is located in Assunta hospital in old wing level 4. Majority of the male and
female worker didn’t face any discomfort symptom cause by the working environment. Most
of the male workers felt the existence of odour within the building. On the other hand,
majority of female workers did not really feel the existence of the odour within the building.
Two of our group members (a male and a female) went in the ward for survey purposes. The
result is that both of them do feel the existence of the odour within the ward. Based on our
observations, the odour comes from the food and medicine in the ward. More than half of the
male and female workers agree that the ventilation within the ward is adequate. Majority of
the male and female workers complain that there is an uneven temperature within the ward.
The remarks made include the fact that the temperatures in the wards are usually cold. The
vents in the ward are not blocked by dust, files and so on. The number of vent in the wards
is considered less. A huge amount of male and female workers are able to accept the air
freshness within the ward because those workers have been working in the ward for a period
of time.
On the other hand, a few workers aren’t used to the air freshness due to their high sensitivity
towards the air quality. The temperature is regulated by thermostat throughout the building.
A large amount of workers didn’t feel the any discomfort caused by the heat radiation from
visual display unit and window surfaces. The reason behind is because the workers in the
ward are usually walking around for work purposes, they don’t really face the visual display
in the front desk for hours and the window surface are usually located in the ward room,
open space of the ward and outside of the ward. Majority of the male and female workers
41
didn’t feel any odour that comes from the furniture, finishing and carpet that may emit
noticeable odours or chemical and contaminants. This is because the furniture, finishing and
carpets used by hospital has to fulfill the requirements. There has been a renovation taking
place in the new wing at level 6 Mawar ward. The building is adequately cleaned because
dusty and unhygienic environment is strongly unacceptable in hospitals as it will affect the
health condition of the patients.
Most of the male workers didn’t feel any office equipment giving off gases or furnishes such
as copying machines, blue print machines and other office machines but the female worker
didn’t feel the same way as make do. This is because the male workers rarely work with
those office equipment, they usually do menial jobs and for female worker they usually do
paper work. Majority of male workers feel that the outdoor air didn’t get into the building but
majority of the female workers didn’t feel the same as the male workers. We believe this is
because of the male workers move around ward to ward very frequently and that is why they
don’t feel it but female workers usually stay in the ward. The air-conditioning systems in the
building are regularly scheduled for cleaning and maintenance because the hospital cannot
afford to let the air-conditioning systems fail and allow unclean air to the ward. Almost all of
the male and female workers do agree that overcrowding during peak seasons causes the
rise of temperature in the building, which is during visiting hours in the afternoon.
42
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE IMPROVEMENTS
Taylor’s University Lakeside Campus Block C Level 5
The followings are suggestions for future improvements:
1. Upgrade thermostat
The thermostat in the office is used to control the temperature and the workers adjust it. We
have received complaints from the lecturers that the office is always too cold. However, they
are always reluctant to adjust the thermostat because they don’t stay in the office for long
hours as they leave the office to conduct lectures from time to time. Moreover, the lecturers
are too occupied with their daily tasks that they don’t have time to look at or adjust the
thermostat. Upgrading the thermostat to automatic system could solve this problem. The
automatic system would increase the temperature accordingly if the office is too cold or too
hot and will bring thermal comfort of the occupants.
2. Installation of more windows
After conducting our survey, we discovered that the windows in the office are insufficient to
provide adequate air ventilation. The office should not rely fully on mechanical ventilation, as
it would cause the growth and accumulation of bacteria in the space. The bacteria would
cause unpleasant odour in the office. Installation of more operable windows or vents to allow
outdoor airflow into the office is needed. Window frames that come with trickle ventilation
would be ideal. Windows installed should not have any obstacles blocking its ventilation and
cross ventilation. Other than that, natural air ventilation could help to save electricity, as
mechanical ventilation is not needed during days with fair weather. For instance, the office
can open the doors and windows to allow natural air ventilation during raining season. This
could also work as backup ventilation if the air-conditioning system or electricity breaks
down.
3. Installation of air purifier
From the survey that we have conducted, it is reported that the office had unpleasant odour.
This may be due to some lecturers eating in the office, as the smell of the food will be stuck
on the carpet and the air-conditioner. Therefore, the installation of air purifier in the office is
required to clear the odour by filtering out the odour particle in the air. Air purifier can also
prevent the transmission of sickness through air.
43
ASSUNTA HOSPITAL OLD WING LEVEL 4 (MARIAM WARD)
1. Upgrade thermostat
The temperature in the hospital should thermostat system to automatic. It will help to control
the temperature to fit workers thermal comfort as workers in ward complaint uneven
temperature, the complaint are usually too cold. With automatic thermostat systems, it will
control the temperature depending on the environment of the ward, for example when it is
crowded during peak seasons. By upgrading automatic thermostat systems, it can overcome
the condition of uneven temperature easily.
2. Odour control
In the ward, odour is mainly transmitted from the food. The smell from the food tank
insulation is very strong. As such, it would be better if the in charge department can upgrade
their food distribution system and wash the food tank insulation regularly to prevent
transmission of food odour.
3. HVAC System
According to our observations made after conducting a survey in Assunta Hospital, we’ve
noticed the inadequacy of HVAC system in the building. HVAC system plays an important
role in maintaining indoor air quality. The lack of HVAC system in buildings can cause
serious indoor air pollution. Therefore, improvement of HVAC system is recommended.
Regular cleaning and increasing of HVAC system can increase the frequency of air
regulation. Consequently, dust, bacteria and germs trapped can be removed almost
immediately. Patients receiving treatment in this hospital will no longer be at risk of inhaling
polluted air.
44
POSSIBLE PROBLEMS IN THE SYSTEM
Block C Level 5 office
Transmission of Sickness – Block C Level 5 office is mainly depend on mechanical
ventilation, air-conditioning. The only way to let the air flow is through the door and the
window in the office. The amount of air flow is too small. There is a possibility that if a
lecturer having sickness, the sickness might transmit through the air. The transmission of
sickness within the office is very common. This will cause the efficiency of the worker to
drop.
In addition, possible problem that lead to sick building syndrome is the lack of cleaning.
Maintenance and regular housekeeping is the key to ensure effectiveness of this system.
However, irregular cleaning in personal spaces had greatly reduced the indoor air quality by
providing a dusty environment the reason is due to the cleaner do not have the permission to
touch the belonging of lecturers. Objects that are not in used and are set aside for a long
time are the sources of dust collection. Dust consists of particles in the atmosphere that
come from various sources like soil and pollution. Needless to say, the air flow into our
buildings consist of dust. Unengaged objects therefore will be overlaid by dust. For instance,
assignment boards created during group or individual assignments that are left aside once
the assignments are over will turn out to be dusty.
Furthermore, sick building syndrome is also caused by existing machineries in office
buildings. Photocopy machines are essential in the modern office. However as we focus on
the machines’ high performance functionality and good quality printing, we neglect to
consider how potentially risky they can be to our health. Photocopy machines emits ozone to
the atmosphere which is highly reactive, unstable and colorless gas with distinctive odour.
As it is highly reactive, any sites of initial contact like the respiratory tract, the lungs and eyes
will be affected. Powder form toner used can escape and get into the air and hence causing
an issue to human health. Photocopiers raise the temperature of a room and indirectly
increasing the stress on nearby workers.
45
Assunta Hospital
Besides, ongoing constructions at nearby places or the building itself results in Sick Building
Syndrome. High levels of formaldehyde off gas are formed from particle board. Carpeting is
another major source of VOCs in many buildings since a large number of chemicals are
used in their manufacture in the form of glues, backing materials, flame retardants, and
dyes. Individuals nearby that inhale the contaminated air might cause lungs infection hence
experience difficulty in breathing. Some cases may cause death especially in hospitals
where all the patients have lower immune system. The construction process will cause noise
pollution and it will disturb the patient mentality. Hence, patient that are on their recovery
pathway will feel uneasy and stress. For the time ahead, if any health care centre have
planned to renovate their places, they would have to make better arrangements in terms of
ventilation and also quarantine their patients from renovating areas.
In addition, flaws in the HVAC system can lead to SBS. Heating, ventilation and air
conditioning (HVAC) is the one of the most intricate systems to provide thermal comfort and
acceptable indoor air quality. HVAC system is designed based on the principles of
thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer. According to survey, malfunction of
HVAC system had increased indoor air pollution. Dirty filters and poor maintenance of HVAC
system reduces air ventilation in the building. Hence, trapping dust, bacteria and germs.
46
CONCLUSION
Based on the survey that we have conducted, sick building syndrome do exist in both
building Block C level 5 and Hospital Assunta level 4 (Mariam ward). This is because more
than 20 percent of workers suffer from SBS symptoms caused by the working environment.
For Block C level 5 office do have 43.3 percent of lecturers suffer from SBS symptoms
compared to Hospital Assunta level 4 (Mariam ward) only have 26.7 percent. The reason for
both of the building to have more than 20 percent of worker to suffer from sick building
syndrome because buildings that are equipped with air-conditioning will be more likely to
have workers complaining about discomfort because of the working environment. The other
reason for hospital to have 26.7 percent of worker suffer from sick building symptom
because of the odour is the mixture of medicine and food, both of our group member do felt
emesis while conducting the survey in the ward. Why is the percentage of worker that suffer
from sick building syndrome in hospital is lesser compare to office because the worker in
hospital do fulfill the requirement that the worker itself can resist the odour and been through
training in order to work. On the other hand, the reason office will have high percentage of
lecturers suffer from sick building syndrome because of the indoor environment quality
wasn’t on it best condition and lecturers work in the office for a long term of period. Some of
the lecturers itself are sensitive to bad indoor environment quality or not in the good
condition of health. Due to all the reasons it would trigger sick building syndrome and sick
building symptom within the office.
47
LEARNING OUTCOME
Upon completion of this Building Services I assignment, we have gained new insights about
our selected topic, that is Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ). Thus, we have a better
understanding of how the IEQ of the building can affect building occupants. From the
knowledge that we have studied about IEQ, we were able to apply our understanding and
relate it to our case study. It has given us an exposure of how IEQ works in real life
situations as we went to our selected healthcare centre and office to understand the location
as well as to be more familiar with it. As such, we are now able to explain what IEQ is all
about better.
Throughout this assignment, we have also gained soft skills. Stronger interpersonal skills
were developed within us as we learned to respect one another’s opinions and perspectives.
Carrying this group assignment also strengthened our team working skills such as
leadership and motivating others. Furthermore, our productivity increased as we were able
to achieve so much more as a whole rather than doing it individually.
48
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Quality. Retrieved on 26th October 2016 from
https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/introduction-indoor-air-quality
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24. Us. General Services Administration Federal Government. (2016). Integrative Design
Process. Retrieved on 20th October 2016 from
http://www.dosh.gov.my/index.php/en/chemical-management/indoor-air-quality
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function.html#.WC7ZIiN96SM
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APPENDICES
Photos taken in Block C level 5 office:
Air-conditioning vents in C5 office
Windows in C5 office room
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Pathway in C5 office
Photos taken in Hospital Assunta old wing level 4 (Mariam ward) and new wing level 6 (Mawar ward)
Air conditioning system in Mariam ward
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Air-conditioning vents in Mariam ward
Window in patient room for Mariam ward
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Windows in the open space for hospital
Renovation material in Mawar ward
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