Noise

1
Visual comfort
Noise
Ergonomics
Thermal comfort Humidity
Air quality
What is comfort?
2
Definition of comfort and health

• The condition of an occupant in a building,
  expressed by dissatisfaction with the
  environment, building related symptoms and/or
  illnesses, also named Indoor Environment Quality

3
COMFORT AND HEALTH SITUATION(in office
buildings)

• Occupants are dissatisfied with their working
  environment
• Absence due to sickness 20 related to indoor
  environment
• Increase of vacant office buildings
• Good indoor environment
• ? increase productivity with 5 to 15

4
COMFORT AND HEALTH SITUATION(in dwellings and
schools)

• Percentage of people having asthma and allergies
  is still increasing
• The strict guidelines for energy savings still
  causes indoor environmental problems
• Number of dwellings, apartment buildings and
  schools that need refurbishment and/or renovation
  are increasing.

5
WHO IS INVOLVED?
6
CAUSES FOR UNHEALTHY BUILDINGS

• Different motives/incentives for example
• Society safety and health, sustainability,
  regulations
• Construction market cost effectiveness, market
  potential, integration building process
• End-user quality and comfort, flexibility
• Research society knowledge (no. publications)

7
CAUSES FOR UNHEALTHY BUILDINGS

• Communication
• Lack or miscommunication between different
  stakeholders
• Incomplete or lack of specific education/
  dissemination programme for each of the
  stakeholders (investment, maintenance, regulation
  and construction markets, and occupant)

8
CAUSES FOR UNHEALTHY BUILDINGS

• Gaps in knowledge for example
• IAQ pollutants effects, ventilation
  requirements, pollution source control
• Holistic approach effects of all environmental
  parameters together
• Energy measures in relation to indoor environment
  quality
• Performance criteria for healthy buildings

9
CAUSES FOR UNHEALTHY BUILDINGS

• Regulation
• Incomplete or non-existing for indoor environment
  quality
• Existing regulations for other issues can be in
  contradiction for example possible effects of
  energy regulations on indoor environment quality

10
WHAT CAN WE DO IN ENERBUILD?

• Collect knowledge available on Indoor
  Environmental quality in previous and current
  projects
• Inventory existing regulations and regulations on
  other issues that might contradict with Indoor
  Environment Quality
• Identify the gaps of knowledge
• Formulate topics of research for new programmes
• Define a strategy for reaching each of the
  stakeholders
• OPEN FOR DISCUSSION