Effect of renovating an office building on occupants' comfort and health

An intervention study was performed in a mechanically ventilated office bui lding in which there were severe indoor climate complaints among the occupa nts. In one part of the building a new heating and ventilation strategy was implemented by renovating the HVAC system, and a carpet was replaced with a low-emitting vinyl floor material; the other part of the building was kep t unchanged, serving as a control. A comprehensive indoor climate investiga tion was performed before and after the intervention. Over a 2-week period, the occupants completed a daily questionnaire regarding their comfort and health. Physiological examinations of eyes, nose and lungs were performed o n each occupant. Physical, chemical and sensory measurements were performed before and after the intervention. The renewal of the flooring material wa s performed after a sensory test of alternative solutions in the laboratory . Before the floor material was installed in the office building, a full-sc ale exposure experiment was performed in the laboratory. The new ventilatio n strategy and renovation of the HVAC system were selected on the basis of laboratory experiments on a full-scale mock-up of a cellular office. The se verity of occupants' environmental perceptions and symptoms was significant ly reduced by the intervention.