Influence of Indoor Climate on Employees in Office Buildings—A Case Study

• Main Authors: Peter Kapalo, Silvia Vilčeková, Ľudmila Mečiarová, Florin Domnita, Mariusz Adamski
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-07-01
• Series: Sustainability
• Subjects: office building; CO2; temperature; relative humidity; pulse; questionnaire
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/14/5569

The presented research work is aimed at investigation of the influence of indoor environmental conditions on employees in office buildings. Monitoring of carbon dioxide, temperature, relative humidity and pulse, as well as subjective evaluation, was carried out in three office rooms where air conditioning systems ensured the required amount of fresh air. Investigation showed that in two offices (A and B), the amount of fresh air did not comply with EN 15251:2017. The concentration of CO₂ in office A was above 1000 ppm for 72% of the total length of stay. Respondents confirmed fatigue and headaches. In offices A and B, where CO₂ concentration was around 1000 ppm, people with a weight of up to 70 kg experienced a significant increase in air temperature as well as odor. Persons with weight higher than 75 kg experienced a slight decrease in air quality. In office C, where CO₂ concentration was around 800 ppm, respondents reported a slight decrease in air quality. According to pulse monitoring, it can be stated that in an office where there is an insufficient supply of fresh air, the pulse of a person falls or only slightly rises. A decrease in pulses may indicate the attenuation or stunning of people caused by poor air quality.