RP-525 -- Indoor Air Quality Evaluations of Three Office Buildings PDF

A resesarch project was undertaken to investigate construction materials and techniques for the improvement of indoor air quality within office buildings, to evaluate the indoor air quality in an office building built with these special construction techniques and to compare its air quality with two other similar office buildings, and to compare available indoor air contaminant measurement techniques. In order to accomplish these objectives, the indoor air quality of three different, specially selected office buildings was evaluated using three main parameters: (1) ventilation effectiveness, (2) human health and comfort factors, and (3) contaminant concentrations. This study was conducted in the Atlanta, GA, metro area during the spring season of 1987. It was found that the indoor air quality in Building 1 was superior to that in Buildings 2 and 3 in measured contaminant concentrations other than bioaerosols, at the time of this study. The "no smoking policy" advantages were dramatically displayed in both pollutant levels and in occupant comfort and health perceptions. It is uncertain at this time whether or not the unique construction features and designs resulted in the superior indoor air quality in Building 1. The ventilation system in Building 2 was not effective resulting in inadequate indoor air quality. This is demonstrated both by observed contaminant concentrations and occupant complaints. Building 3 had the highest volatile organic compound and nicotine concentrations of the three buildings.