A Review of Field Measurement Studies on Thermal Comfort, Indoor Air Quality and Virus Risk

Abstract

People spend up to 90% of their time indoors where they continuously interact with the indoor environment. Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ), and in particular thermal comfort, Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), and acoustic and visual comfort, have proven to be significant factors that influence the occupants’ health, comfort, productivity and general well-being. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has also highlighted the need for real-life experimental data acquired through field measurement studies to help us understand and potentially control the impact of IEQ on the occupants’ health. In this context, there was a significant increase over the past two decades of field measurement studies conducted all over the world that analyse the IEQ in various indoor environments. In this study, an overview of the most important factors that influence the IAQ, thermal comfort, and the risk of virus transmission is first presented, followed by a comprehensive review of selected field measurement studies from the last 20 years. The main objective is to provide a broad overview of the current status of field measurement studies, to identify key characteristics, common outcomes, correlations, insights, as well as gaps, and to serve as the starting point for conducting future field measurement studies.

Assessment of indoor and outdoor air quality in primary schools of Cyprus during the COVID–19 pandemic measures in May–July 2021

“…Clean air for all is a human right and an important European policy goal. Within the school environment, multiple exposure agents and sources may co-exist, which when coupled with lifestyle/behavioral choices, building/surfaces characteristics and relevant policies or programs, such as the COVID-19 school protocols or climate adaptation schemes comprise a dynamic exposome profile implicated with a series of communicable [ 35 ] (e.g., COVID-19) or non-communicable diseases (e.g., lung function impairment, asthma, allergies). However, there is so far limited evidence from indoor-based epidemiological studies of children’s health.…”

Green Buildings: Human-Centered and Energy Efficiency Optimization Strategies

“…The study first examines buildingrelated factors influencing human health and the foundational features that impact indoor environmental quality. It then investigates the specific features of green buildings that contribute to enhanced indoor environmental quality and the role of green buildings in promoting better and healthier environments for occupants [7][8][9][10][11].…”

Evaluating Occupant Feedback on Indoor Air Quality Perception During Covid Stay-at-home Using Social Media Data: A Nationwide Study in the U.S.

“…Due to the lockdown, in the U.S., people spent most of their time indoors: 90% in urban areas, 86% in the suburbs, and 82% in rural areas from March to April 2020 [3]. Accordingly, occupants started to complain on their buildings environments that they were not aware of them before the pandemic because the related challenge had not been raised in such scale [4]. Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), that directly impact the health and well-being of building occupants [5], is among those building characteristics that occupants have largely expressed complaints on them during the lockdown.…”