Experimental Investigation of ISHRAE IEQ Standard Focusing on Implementation Aspects Through Pilot Study

Abstract

AbstractIn the year 2016, Indian Society for Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ISHRAE) released India’s first indoor environmental quality (IEQ) standard. The present study demonstrates review of this IEQ standard and shows the effect of seasonal variation on IEQ parameters. Measurements are taken in two buildings having zones such as individual offices, open-plan offices, classrooms, etc. Observations spanning over 12 months revealed that the arithmetic mean value of thermal comfort parameters, indoor operative temperature, relative humidity (RH) and floor surface temperature, are 26.6 ± 3.9 °C, 46 ± 17% and 26.7 ± 4.5 °C, respectively. Indoor air quality (IAQ) parameters, CO2, PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations, are 570 ± 176 ppm, 46 ± 22 µg/m3 and 116 ± 37 µg/m3, respectively. Lighting comfort parameters, illuminance and circadian lighting design, are 326 ± 140 lx and 341 ± 146 EML, respectively. Occupant satisfaction survey is also conducted, and it is observed that occupant satisfaction for indoor air quality, thermal and lighting comfort is 80%, 81% and 89%, respectively. Majority of the IEQ parameters in both the buildings are found to be meeting the minimum threshold. KeywordsIndoor environmental qualityField studyStandard