| Title: | Evaluation of Indoor Air Quality Screening Strategies: A Step-Wise Approach for IAQ Screening |
| Author(s): | Wong LT; Mui KW; Tsang TW; |
| Address: | "Department of Building Services Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong 999077, China. beltw@polyu.edu.hk. Department of Building Services Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong 999077, China. behorace@polyu.edu.hk. Department of Building Services Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong 999077, China. tszwun.tsang@connect.polyu.hk" |
| Journal Title: | Int J Environ Res Public Health |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1660-4601 (Electronic) 1661-7827 (Print) 1660-4601 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Conducting a full indoor air quality (IAQ) assessment in air-conditioned offices requires large-scale material and manpower resources. However, an IAQ index can be adopted as a handy screening tool to identify any premises (with poor IAQ) that need more comprehensive IAQ assessments to prioritize IAQ improvements. This study proposes a step-wise IAQ screening protocol to facilitate its cost-effective management among building owners and managers. The effectiveness of three IAQ indices, namely theta(1) (with one parameter: CO(2)), theta(2) (with two parameters: CO(2) and respirable suspended particulates, RSP) and theta(3) (with three parameters: CO(2), RSP, and total volatile organic compounds, TVOC) are evaluated. Compared in a pairwise manner with respect to the minimum satisfaction levels as stated in the IAQ Certification Scheme by the Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department, the results show that a screening test with more surrogate IAQ parameters is good at identifying both lower and higher risk groups for unsatisfactory IAQ, and thus offers higher resolution. Through the sensitivity and specificity for identifying IAQ problems, the effectiveness of alternative IAQ screening methods with different monitoring parameters is also reported" |
| Keywords: | "Air Pollution, Indoor/*analysis Carbon Dioxide/analysis Cost-Benefit Analysis Environmental Monitoring/*methods Hong Kong Humans air-conditioned office assessment indoor air quality screening;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineWong, Ling-Tim Mui, Kwok-Wai Tsang, Tsz-Wun eng Switzerland 2016/12/17 Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2016 Dec 14; 13(12):1240. doi: 10.3390/ijerph13121240" |
