Week 11: Indoor Environmental Quality

 Acoustics

• How sounds travel and are heard
• Noise and unwanted sound
• Typical decibels of various sounds 
• the limit of human comfort is 110-120
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• Noise reduction coefficient (NRC) is the typical materials that are rated as far as the materials absorption capacity
• Sount Transmission class (STC) is the capability of a material to absorb sound
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• Reverberation Time (RT)
• Sound that is built up in a room over time (echo)
• can be controlled
• Important when designing auditoriums, classrooms, lecture halls, music rooms, and performance facilities
• The principles of Room design
• partitions
• sound waves travel directly through wall studs, from one room to another. Staggered wall studs can disrupt the travel of the sound waves from room to room
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• Room volumes 
• generally designers keep the room volume low when low reverberation times are desired
• larger spatial volumes are desirable in spaces such as performance halls when high reverberation times are desired. 
• Privacy
• Acoustical Partitions provide privacy within workstation design
• acoustical insulation in partitions provides sound insulation in situations requiring strict confidentiality
• Medical facilities (HIPAA) requires that personal medica information be protected. sound separation for these areas is provided by dividers or separate check in rooms
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• Sound separation
• absorbing materials include: carpeting, acoustical ceilign tiles and textiles
• Diffusion in rooms: sound transmission coefficient (STC)
• Special Circumstances
• Acoustics and sustainable design: acoustical clouds and canopies can be used to address noise and privacy issues
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• Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
• Impacted by several factors
• HVAC systems
• Interior materials
• Interior furniture, fixtures, and equipment
• moisture within a building
• volatile organic compounds
• indoor air pollutants including mold radon, and cigarette smoke
• Sick building syndrome (SBS)
• Building Related Illness (BRI)
• Legionnaire's Disease 
• Poor air quality can lead to a variety of physical symptoms ranging from mild to severe reactions
• The most efficient method of treatment is to remove the source of the contaminants
• improved ventilaiton and the use air cleaners and air purifiers with also reduce the effect of VOCs

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) in both negative and positive ways. Negatively, increased remote work led to reduced attention to indoor air quality, compounded by neglected maintenance during lockdowns that worsened conditions contributing to SBS. Heightened health anxieties intensified sensitivity to environmental factors, while limited access to workplaces restricted necessary assessments and interventions. Economic constraints also forced businesses to cut maintenance, further deteriorating indoor environments.

On the positive side, the pandemic heightened awareness of indoor air quality, prompting improvements in ventilation and HVAC systems. Remote assessments became more common, allowing for virtual addressing of SBS concerns. New health guidelines emphasized thorough cleaning and maintenance, promoting healthier indoor environments. Additionally, there was increased advocacy for better building practices and a surge in research and funding initiatives focused on SBS. Overall, despite the challenges, the pandemic fostered a commitment to improving indoor air quality and health, which could benefit those affected by SBS in the future.