Relaxing and working from home: associations between heating, ventilation and cooling system typologies and indoor soundscape evaluation

Simone Torresin,Francesco Babich,Francesco Aletta,Tin Oberman,Rossano Albatici,Jian Kang,Agnieszka Elzbieta Stawinoga

doi:10.1088/1742-6596/2069/1/012174

Simone Torresin, Francesco Babich + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/2069/1/012174

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Abstract

Data from an online survey conducted in January 2021 by 464 participants living in London and working from home (WFH) after the COVID-19 outbreak were analysed, focusing on: (1) types of building services at home, (2) perceived sound dominance of building services, and (3) the perception of the indoor acoustic environment (i.e. the indoor soundscape) in relation to two main activities, i.e. WFH and relaxation. Results show that most of participants’ houses had radiators for heating and relied on window opening for ventilation and cooling. Air systems (e.g., HVAC systems) resulted in higher perceived dominance compared to other systems, but only when evaluated for WFH. Sound dominance from building services was in turn related to soundscape evaluation. Spaces with less dominant sounds from building services were more appropriate for both WFH and relaxation, and spaces with fewer dominant sounds were assessed better, but just for WFH. Participants’ evaluations generally did not differ according to building service typology. The presence of air-cooling systems was associated with better perceived sound environments, most likely due to better acoustics conditions in newly built or retrofitted dwellings, more probably equipped with air cooling systems. Preliminary findings point out the importance of carefully considering the dominance of sounds by building services, especially for air systems, in relation to traditional and new uses of residential buildings.

Highlights

Since the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 disease, governments have adopted unprecedented measures to prevent the virus diffusion, which included stopping non-essential productive and social activities, social distancing, and limiting movements of goods and people
While surveys on indoor acoustic comfort have traditionally reflected a negative attitude towards all the acoustic stimuli, the present survey has been designed from a soundscape perspective, in order to gather information on both positive and negative effects of sounds and noises, depending on the specific task performed at home [7]
The present study investigates associations between building service typologies within heating, ventilation and cooling systems, their sound dominance and indoor soundscape evaluation in relation to relaxing and working-from-home activities

Summary

Introduction

Since the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 disease, governments have adopted unprecedented measures to prevent the virus diffusion, which included stopping non-essential productive and social activities, social distancing, and limiting movements of goods and people. Being the perception of the acoustic environment (i.e., the soundscape [4]) highly context sensitive [5], the question is how the acoustic environment at home can support home activities in this changed post-pandemic context, while allowing for occupantswellbeing [6]. While surveys on indoor acoustic comfort have traditionally reflected a negative attitude towards all the acoustic stimuli (i.e. how much were you annoyed by these noise sources?), the present survey has been designed from a soundscape perspective, in order to gather information on both positive and negative effects of sounds and noises, depending on the specific task performed at home (i.e. relaxing or working at home) [7]

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