Self-reported health and comfort in ‘modern’ office buildings: first results from the European OFFICAIR study

Abstract

In the European research project OFFICAIR, a procedure was developed to determine associations between characteristics of European offices and health and comfort of office workers, through a checklist and a self-administered questionnaire including environmental, physiological, psychological, and social aspects. This procedure was applied in 167 office buildings in eight European countries (Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, France, Hungary, the Netherlands, and Finland) during the winter of 2011-2012. About 26 735 survey invitation e-mails were sent, and 7441 office workers were included in the survey. Among respondents who rated an overall comfort less than 4 (23%), 'noise (other than from building systems)', air 'too dry', and temperature 'too variable' were the main complaints selected. An increase of perceived control over indoor climate was positively associated with the perceived indoor environment quality. Almost one-third of office workers suffered from dry eyes and headache in the last 4 weeks. Physical building characteristics were associated with occupants' overall satisfaction (acoustical solutions, mold growth, complaints procedure, cleaning activities) and health (number of occupants, lack of operable windows, presence of carpet and cleaning activities). OFFICAIR project provides a useful database to identify stressors related to indoor environmental quality and office worker's health.

Indoor gaseous air pollutants determinants in office buildings—The OFFICAIR project

“…The research strategy consisted of three complementary phases: (a) “general survey” (167 buildings, winter of 2011‐2012), using questionnaires and checklists; (b) “detailed study” (37 buildings) with measurements carried out both in summer (2012) and winter (2012‐2013); and (c) “intervention study” (nine buildings) with more detailed measurements (eg, active sampling and online monitoring) carried out before and after an intervention related to the reduction in IAP. Further details on the project strategy and outcomes are reported in the project website (http://www.officair-project.eu) and in project‐related publications …”

“…A detailed checklist was completed for each instrumented indoor location. The checklist was based on the general survey of the OFFICAIR project and complemented with some room‐specific components; this last was in turn based on the checklist applied in the European project HOPE (Health Optimization Protocol for Energy‐efficient buildings) and complemented with some of the components suggested in a previous study . This checklist included general information about the building (eg, year of construction and renovation, location, room construction and design, number of occupants), specific information about the rooms where sampling was carried out (eg, building and furnishings materials, office equipment, etc), room services (maintenance and cleaning, HVAC: heating ventilation and air conditioning system, etc), typical habits in general, and specifically during the sampling period (type and frequency of cleaning, number of occupants, specific activities, or use of specific chemical products).…”

“…Further details on the project strategy and outcomes are reported in the project website (www.offic air-proje ct.eu) and in project-related publications. 10,11,[18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28]…”

“…In addition, correlations, that is, single dose‐response relationships, between common indoor air pollutant (IAP) concentrations and self‐reported symptoms and complaints have not been found suggesting the multifactorial causality of symptoms and that a given symptom may arise from a combination of individual, occupational, and environmental risk factors . On the other hand, some relations have been found between building characteristics or user patterns and self‐reported health complaints . Therefore, a careful assessment and management of IAQ is important for the protection of human health and comfort (well‐being) in relation to perceived IAQ.…”

“…9 On the other hand, some relations have been found between building characteristics or user patterns and self-reported health complaints. 10,11 Therefore, a careful assessment and management of IAQ is important for the protection of human health and comfort (well-being) in relation to perceived IAQ. In this context, source identification and control (eg, using low-emitting materials and products as well as control of some indoor activities such as smoking, use of candles and of air fresheners, etc) have been increasingly recognized as the prioritized strategy for improving IAQ and reducing the combined health risks associated with indoor exposures; other management measures-such as the adjustment of ventilation rates-should be implemented after source control to account for any residual pollution.…”