Assessment of Indoor Air Quality and Thermal Comfort of Research Laboratories /

Abstract

Indoor air quality (IAQ), along with thermal comfort, influences the health and work of the laboratory users. This research includes analysis of the quality of air and indoor environmental comfort of the research laboratories during six operational hours by investigating different variables affecting the thermal comfort and the quality of the indoor air in six research laboratories of the energy department in a public university; National University of Sciences & Technology, Islamabad. The parameters measured during the month of September include; CO2, CO, NO2, TVOCs, temperature, relative humidity and particulate matter of fine and coarse sizes. For Internal Air Quality monitoring, AQ expert and Gray wolf IAQ monitor were used while Fluke 985 particle counter was used for measuring particles of different sizes. Subjective assessments were also carried out on the laboratories’ users. These include their rating for thermal comfort, level of activity and clothing conditions. The results from the experiment were then compared with IAQ guidelines and minimum performance guidelines. Although the RH was mostly within the thermal comfort range, temperatures in some of the laboratories exceeded the upper limit specified by the ASHRAE guidelines and such was mostly the case for air velocity as well. Levels of PM5 and PM10 were found to be high owing to extensive use of laboratories. CO2, CO, NO2 concentrations stayed within limits while TVOCs exceeded in some instances. Due to the above research derivatives, more adequate ventilation and improved temperature control is advised to achieve the IAQ and thermal comfort standards