Sick Building Syndrome Research Articles

Urban environmental pollution in external and internal environments by PM2.5 particulate matter and the sick building syndrome: an overview

Abstract
 A healthy environment must have air free of pollution, but this issue has always existed and now affects the entire population. The PM2.5 particulate matter, which primarily originates from the car fleet, is one of the pollutants that has the biggest impact. With the energy crisis in the 1970s and the ensuing construction of closed buildings (without natural ventilation), primarily in developed countries, indoor air quality emerged as a science. It then gained importance when it was found that the declining ventilation levels in those nations were largely to blame for the rising concentrations of pollutants in indoor air. The occupants of buildings themselves make a considerable contribution to the pollution of these settings through their activities, and it is well acknowledged that poor ventilation is one of the most critical factors affecting indoor air quality. Sick building syndrome and poor indoor air quality are both connected to ailments like colds, allergies, and coughing. The application of special legislation must be integrated with research and education of building occupants to effectively provide a healthy environment. The goal of this review is to analyze various findings from investigations on the effects of PM2.5 particulate matter pollution on the internal and exterior urban environment, as well as the effects of these concentrations on human health. By comparing the findings with other studies, it is possible to compare the findings and identify some common behaviors of fine particles, determining the concentration differences in the environments and showing how different sources and conditions can produce different variations in concentrations.

Optimal Hybrid Ventilation Strategy to Assure Adequate Indoor Thermal Comfort and Air Quality in Educational Spaces under a Tropical Climate

Air quality, specifically in indoor environments, has become a growing concern. In general, people tend to spend most of their lives indoors due to the growing urbanization. Indoor air quality is associated with ventilation rates, academic performance, and occupant’s health due to the presence of indoor pollutants. Exposure to these contaminants is a risk factor for people to develop the sick building syndrome. The objective of this study was to determine an optimal hybrid ventilation strategy in a tropical climate, favoring natural ventilation with different proposed strategies, varying the opening of doors and windows, the opening time, and the occupancy, among other aspects and strategies using dynamic simulation. The results were compared with in-situ measurements and surveys conducted on students in the case study. Of the proposed strategies, it was decided as optimal hybrid strategy to increase the fresh air intake from 5 L/s*person to 10 L/s*person with the use of mechanical ventilation and reduction of occupancy, this way, in addition to improving indoor air quality, the thermal comfort of the students was ensured.

Age differences in thermal comfort and physiological responses in thermal environments with temperature ramp

The well-being of the elderly is critical in today's aging society. However, the age difference in thermal comfort in buildings with unstable thermal environments is poorly understood. In this study, 32 gender-balanced elderly and young participants were recruited to investigate differences in thermal perceptions and physiological responses to thermal environments with temperature ramps between 34 °C and 18 °C (up and down) in a climate chamber. We found that the elderly have a time lag and smaller variation in thermal responses than the young group when air temperature changes, especially in non-neutral conditions. The elderly reported less thermal discomfort (P < 0.05) and fewer complaints of sick building syndrome (SBS) and perceived air quality (PAQ). Local thermal sensation vote (TSV) and local skin temperature (LST) results also revealed age differences in the coldest local body parts and TSV-LST relationships. The LST of the arms and head of the elderly was lower in some conditions, indicating that health risks should be considered more carefully. The elderly had significantly higher blood pressure and were more sensitive to temperature ramps than the young. Thermal perceptions and physiological responses were affected by both air temperature values and ramp direction. Linear regressions were performed to predict TSV as a function of PMV and temperature ramp rate ΔT for the elderly and young groups, respectively. Therefore, age should be considered when evaluating the thermal comfort of older adults in unstable environments.

Prevalence of sick building syndrome symptoms and subjective–objective indoor air quality of stores in underground shopping districts of Korea

Most sick building syndrome (SBS) studies have been conducted on workers in office buildings, whereas those assessing store workers in underground shopping districts (USDs) are limited. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between SBS symptoms of USD store workers and subjective–objective indoor air quality (IAQ). In 2020, 128 stores across 10 USDs in Korea were assessed. One worker in each store was asked about 16 SBS symptoms and seven subjective IAQ perceptions (categorized into two levels [Yes or No]) via questionnaire. Objectively, indoor concentrations of aldehydes and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were measured in each store. The prevalence of SBS symptoms within the previous month was 16.4%, 39.1%, 28.9%, and 43.8% for skin, eye irritation, respiratory, and general symptoms, respectively. IAQ perceptions were correlated with the concentrations of several aldehyde compounds and VOCs. After adjusting for demographic (e.g., sex, age, or education) and job-related variables (e.g., working hours), logistic regression models showed all SBS symptom groups (except skin) were significantly associated with IAQ perception. Environmentally, eye irritation symptoms were associated with n-butanol, n-heptane, and xylene; respiratory symptoms with n-heptane; and general symptoms with benzene, n-heptane, and decanal concentrations. The association of SBS symptoms with aldehyde compounds and VOCs suggests that the chemical levels in USD stores may require further control to reduce these symptoms in workers. As controlling the products sold or cooking activities within USDs is difficult, increasing ventilation rates or using low-VOC-emission building materials may be more practical.

Phytoremediation potential of indoor plants in reducing air pollutants

Indoor air quality (IAQ), specifically after the COVID-19 pandemic, has become an international issue, as humans spend 80–90% of their time in indoor microenvironments. Poor IAQ has been related to the sick-building syndrome, nasal and ocular irritations, allergies, and respiratory dysfunction, including premature deaths. Phytoremediation is a novel strategy to absorb, adsorb, assimilate or transfer/reduce air pollutants and improve the IAQ using plants. Hence, the current review aims to explore indoor plants' role in improving indoor air quality, including their purification capabilities. There is increasing evidence that various plant species (e.g., Ficus benjamina, Chlorophytum comosum, Draceana) or their parts can reliably reduce the concentration of numerous air pollutants in the indoor microenvironment and promote human wellbeing. However, the indoor air pollutants removal efficiency depends on the species of plant, various plant characteristics such as leaf size, thickness, area, photosynthetic activity, light intensity and part of plant involved, i.e., roots, leaves, wax, cuticle and stomata. Using indoor plants is one of the most cost-effective and reliable methods of making a healthier indoor environment. Better public health can be maintained at a lower cost, with less strain on the health care system, if more emphasis is placed on creating a biophilic atmosphere and increasing the use of indoor plants. However, there are no established criteria for the best indoor plants and the impact of indoor plants on various factors such as interior ventilation, temperature, humidity, etc. Therefore, further experimental research is needed that simulates the interior environment to monitor the impacts of indoor plants on factors such as humidity, temperature, ventilation, etc., in improving the microenvironment of a closed space/room.

Analyzing the Perception of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) from a Survey of New Townhouse Residents in Dubai

According to UAE Health Ministry and Dubai Healthcare City reports, 15% of Dubai residents have a chronic respiratory disease such as asthma. Moreover, 90% of the 150,000 patients at Al Ain Hospital suffered from upper respiratory tract respiratory diseases, bronchitis, or asthma. Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) has emerged as a social problem in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Dubai Municipality regulates Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) with strict stipulations before moving in, but they are relatively passive about regulations related to healthy living. This paper aims to explore the actual state of perception of the IAQ from townhouse residents in Dubai, UAE. The characteristics of the resident’s perceptions of the IAQ are identified, and the influential factors affecting residents’ perceptions of IAQ are extracted. As a methodology, the survey was conducted on four townhouse projects in Dubai from December 2021 to January 2022. A total of 114 copies were distributed, and 98 documents were used. Analysis of the survey data was processed using IBM SPSS Statistics 26.0. The results showed a statistically significant correlation between the cognitive and anxiety levels of SBS with the presence or absence of experience. It was statistically confirmed that the most influential factors were the age of the children and the occupancy time of housewives and children. This is because of the perception that wives who spend a relatively long time in the house and their young children are exposed to indoor air pollution for a long period of time and are easily affected by this influence on the concerns about young children about SBS. Ninety-five percent of the respondents answered that they knew more than average about SBS, indicating a very high level of awareness. As for the degree of anxiety, 87.0% of the respondents felt higher levels of anxiety than usual. However, most of them did not know or were indifferent to the understanding of the air quality improvement methods. The awareness of actual contents was lower than that of residents who assessed that they knew about SBS.

Evaluating the emission of VOCs and HCHO from furniture based on the surface finish methods and retention periods

Furniture emits various VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) and formaldehyde (HCHO) into the indoor air. These indoor air pollutants can cause SBS (Sick Building Syndrome), such as sickness, headache, dizziness, nausea, drowsiness, and loss of concentration. This paper aims to provide essential data for improving indoor air quality by identifying the characteristics of the emission of VOCs and HCHO according to the characteristics of raw materials and finishing methods for furniture materials. As a methodology, a small chamber experiment was conducted with eight different test pieces with different base materials compositions and surface finishing methods. VOCs and HCHO were collected and analyzed by GC/MS (Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry) and HPLC (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography). The result showed that the TVOC in the composite material differed according to the retention period of the raw material. HCHO preferentially affects the processing method and the storage period after molding rather than the retention period of raw materials. TVOC emission was lower when the surface finishing method was applied, like paint finish. HCHO emission was getting lower when the adhesive was used during molding. Furniture applied to new houses is installed indoors in the form of finished products (composite materials). It was confirmed that the emission amount from furniture was generally higher than that of the general interior finishing material. Not only using eco-friendly raw materials, securing a specific retention period for raw materials, selecting eco-friendly processing methods, securing a particular retention period after molding, and post-construction management (ventilation and bake-out) should be done through a comprehensive evaluation of furniture.

SICK BUILDING SYNDROME: HOW IS IT AFFECTED BY AIRBORNE POLLEN, INDOOR AND OUTDOOR POLLUTANTS?

<h3>Introduction</h3> The Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) is defined as symptoms experienced by occupants of specific indoor environments. Other factors may influence this syndrome such as indoor and outdoor pollutants. The aim of the study was to determine the association of the clinical manifestations of the SBS with pollen, indoor and outdoor pollutants in the home environment. <h3>Methods</h3> It was an observational, transversal and descriptive study that was performed from November 2021 to April 2022. It included subjects >18 years old who completed an online survey regarding SBS (general symptoms, nasal, eye, oropharyngeal and skin symptoms) presented at home, housing information and personal history. Pollen Sense SensorÒ was used for airborne pollen data and the local pollution monitoring system for pollutant information. Ethics committee approval: AL21-00015. SPSS version 24 was used for statistical analysis. <h3>Results</h3> A total of 402 surveys were included; 91% of subjects reported having at least 1 symptom, fatigue (74.6%) was the most frequent. Humidity at home was associated to nasal, eye and cutaneous symptoms (p<0.001). Presence of cats was associated to nasal and eye symptoms (p=0.028). Smoking (p=0.045), allergy history (p<0.001) and living in an apartment (p=0.006) were related to nasal symptoms. Headache was associated with exposure to high levels of <i>Fraxinus</i> pollen (p=0.019). Nitrogen oxides (NOx) presented a p=0.05 with eye and nasal symptoms. PM10 were related to cutaneous symptoms and itchy scalp at levels of 67.5 µg/m3. <h3>Conclusion</h3> SBS was associated with airborne pollen, indoor and outdoor pollutants. Humidity represents a risk factor for the development of SBS symptoms.

WITHDRAWN: Autoimmune autonomic nervous system imbalance and conditions: Chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, silicone breast implants, COVID and post-COVID syndrome, sick building syndrome, post-orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, autoimmune diseases and autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants

The Publisher regrets that this article is an accidental duplication of an article that has already been published, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autrev.2022.103230. The duplicate article has therefore been withdrawn. The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal.

Effects of occupant behaviors on perceived dormitory air quality and sick building syndrome symptoms among female college students.

We performed a cross-sectional survey of 2143 female students in a university in Tianjin, China regarding perceived air quality (PAQ) and sick building syndrome (SBS) symptoms in the student dormitory. The prevalence of general, mucosal, and skin symptoms was 22.1%, 21.9%, and 26.3%, respectively. The three most prevalent PAQ complaints were "dry air" (48.9% often), "stuffy odor" (18.2%), and "other unpleasant odors" (5.1%), and they were significant risk factors for 11-12 out of 12 SBS symptoms (adjusted odds ratios [AOR]: 1.6-5.8). Survey data of 1471 undergraduates, whose dorms were of uniform layout and furnishing, were used to further investigate the influences of occupancy level and occupant behaviors on PAQ and SBS symptoms. Frequent use of air freshener/perfume was a significant risk factor for "dry air," less frequent room cleaning and higher occupancy density were significant risk factors for "stuffy odor," and less natural ventilation was a significant risk factor for both "stuffy odor" and "pungent odor." These factors were also significantly associated with some SBS symptoms. In particular, the use of air freshener/perfume exhibited a significant dose-response pattern with "fatigue" (sometimes: AOR 1.3; often: AOR 2.0) and with "irritated, stuffy, or runny nose" (sometimes: AOR 1.6; often: AOR 2.2).

Measurement of benzene, toluene, xylene in small biological samples by syringe equilibrium / headspace gas chromatography

Background: Benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX) are ubiquitous in the community environment. However, workers who handle them are concerned about adverse effects such as neurotoxicity and carcinogenicity. On the other hand, recently, in a general indoor environment, low-concentration BTX exposure due to release from a house has attracted attention as a cause of sick building syndrome and multiple chemical sensitivity. In order to understand the exposure status of BTX, it is effective to measure the unchanged BTX in biological samples such as blood and urine. However, the burden on the subject when collecting samples cannot be ignored. Method: To generalize BTX measurement of biological samples in the field, the author has developed a syringe equilibrium / headspace gas chromatography using a small amount of biological sample and Portable GC and analytical accuracy was tested. Also, considering the case of bringing small samples back to the laboratory for analysis, ways to store biological samples containing BTX for extended periods of time was determined. And BTX contamination survey of newly built condominiums was conducted to verify the practicality. Result: The reproducibility of syringe equilibrium / headspace gas chromatography with standard -added blood. In all BTX, the relative standard deviation was found to be within 10%, and according to the internal standard method, the relative standard deviation was found to be within 5%. BTX contamination survey of newly built condominiums completed successfully. Benzene and toluene were detected in the urine of the resident, but only toluene was detected indoors. Conclusion: This method and the use of a portable GC with a photoionization detector enable assessment from microexposure in the living environment to occupational exposure levels with 50 μl microblood, reducing the burden on the subject. In addition, a long-term storage method of biological samples containing BTX, was developed to consider the case of bringing small samples back to the laboratory for analysis.

An Investigation of Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) affecting the health of occupants in Western Maharashtra, India.

This paper highlights the problems caused due to lack of planning in designing the building envelope for a building. In recent years, as construction technology advances, designers are focusing on decreasing the weight of buildings for high-rise constructions. Also, the trends in the market are to plan buildings with extensive use of mechanical ventilation systems. So, in this regard, a study was done to find out the symptoms that are found in such types of buildings by restoring to more mechanical ventilation. It is a structured questionnaire-based study to discover the common symptoms of sick building syndrome (SBS). The locations which we chose for the survey included mixed environments like Dry climate, humid climate, hot climate, etc. Regions such as Karad, Kolhapur, and Vita had dry climates, while areas like Lonavala, Mumbai, and Airoli, had humid climates. Commonly found symptoms affected by the occupants were headaches, difficulty breathing, and concentration. The most significant factors are dust, glare, and light. Also, complaints of hay fever were given by the occupants. Headache, Difficulties in concentration, fatigue and cough are the prominent factors observed in the three months by the occupants. So it can be concluded that the mechanical ventilation should be aided with good recovery of the natural air inflow. Also, location-wise climatic conditions should be considered when planning the ventilation systems.

Retrospective Study on Indoor Bioaerosol - Prospective Improvements to Architectural Criteria in Building Design

Introduction: Indoor bioaerosol is one of the factors of sick building syndrome that needs to be controlled for the health of building occupants. Control of bioaerosols is a daily obligation for occupants, but can be alleviated through a building design approach, so that the potential negative effects of bioaerosols are minimized. This study aims to fill the criteria for controlling bioaerosols at the building design stage, in addition to the operational use of the building. Methods: This literature study on indoor bioaerosols uses the Mendeley Reference Manager platform with the search phrase indoor bioaerosols. The selection of literature based on open access journals, in English, excluded the indoor production process. Results: In the perspective of the building infrastructure design, the ventilation system is an opening facility between indoor and outdoor, as a mechanism for air flow and quality balance between the two spaces. The implementation can be in the form of fixed openings in walls, openings that can be opened and closed manually or mechanically, including windows and doors. Effective reduction of bioaerosol concentration needs to sit up the type of ventilation that is adapted to the function of indoor use and occupancy load. The ventilation method is supported by a chemical method, which is appropriate for control in food service rooms and sanitation services. Conclusion: The bioaerosol control strategy can start from the design of the building by the designer and continue to the implementation and maintenance of the building by the occupants.

Theoretical basis and method of airflow organization design in enclosed or semi-enclosed space

<p indent="0mm">The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is currently an important means to create a healthy and comfortable enclosed or semi-enclosed space environment, but the existing HVAC systems not only consume high energy, but also easily cause human health problems, such as sick building syndrome, building-related diseases, and cross infection of infectious diseases. The above phenomenon further shows that the indoor airflow organization (based on the traditional method) formed by the end of the HVAC system is still not perfect, and there are certain blind spots and deficiencies. To solve the problems existing in the design and use of the end of the traditional HVAC system, the inverse design method came into being. The traditional design method is a process of repeated trial and error, while the inverse design method uses an optimization algorithm to inversely determine the airflow organization form and thermophysical boundary (such as the number, shape, and size of air supply inlets and air supply parameters) that meet the needs or objectives by minimizing the objective function. The biggest difference from traditional methods is that the inverse design method can determine the optimal direction vector in each design cycle, while the traditional design method can only keep trial and error. To further clarify the differences between the two types of methods and promote the continuous improvement of inverse design methods, this paper first expounds the scientific problems faced by or to be solved in the construction of indoor environments. The core problem of indoor environment construction is to determine the appropriate airflow organization form and the key scientific problem behind the difficulty in quickly determining the appropriate airflow organization form is that it is difficult to obtain the analytical solution (essence) of the highly nonlinear N-S equation. Then, the classification of airflow organization design methods and their basic principles are introduced in detail. The design performance of the two types of methods is then demonstrated through real-world case results. Although the inverse design method has made great progress in the field of indoor environment construction, the current inverse design method still requires theoretical deduction, program development, and numerical solution, which hinder its popularization and application to a certain extent. Finally, this paper discusses the possible future development directions in the field of indoor environment construction. For example, with the rapid development of human factors engineering, inverse design methods, digital design methods, intelligent control, and other fields, indoor environment design and creation will tend to be diversified and intelligent.

Simulation Study of a Smart Factory Lighting and Shading System

Insufficient and uneven light distribution in the workplace affect the quality of work that requires high precision. In addition, inadequate lighting not only affects the health of workers but is also linked with a condition called 'Sick Building Syndrome'. The artificial light in factories is commonly manually controlled, resulting in energy wastage. Hence this paper presents a smart lighting and shading system to create both comfort lighting and energy-efficient factory environment. Three-dimensional modelling simulations were built using Tinkercad and Revit. The control system built utilizes the motorized skylight solar shades and the artificial high LED Bay, which able to adapt with the fluctuating factory lighting condition. If the light enters the factory through the motorized shade on the factory ceiling is insufficient or uneven, the artificial light will be switched on. The implementation of both mechanisms managed to improve the light distribution evenness and keep the light intensity level in the factory in the range between 885 lux and 1306 Lux from 9am to 6pm, while from 6pm onwards at average of about 900 lux. Furthermore, the electrical energy consumption is reduced significantly during the daytime as the control system has utilized the sunlight as part of the light source for the factory. The smart system can save as much as 22.39%, or 55.2128kWh from 9am to 7pm. In conclusion, the smart lighting and shading control system has proven the effectiveness theoretically, and the objectives were achieved.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WORKING ROOM TEMPERATURE AND SICK BUILDING SYNDROME IN HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION OFFICERS

The temperature of the workspace can affect the health condition of hospital administrative officers. One of the negative health impacts due to the less than ideal workspace temperature is Sick Building Syndrome. Based on the preliminary survey, it is known that there is 1 hospital administration officer who suffers from Sick Building Syndrome (SBS). The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between workspace temperature and Sick Building Syndrome (SBS). The study used a descriptive survey and quantitative methods as well as a cross sectional study approach. The population and research samples were taken by total sampling, namely all hospital administration officers at the hospital as many as 7 respondents. The research instrument used a questionnaire. Quantitative data analysis used the chi-square relationship test. The results of this study from 7 respondents based on the results of the Chi-Square test, the significance of p between the independent variables, namely competence with the performance dependent variable, the results obtained were 0.03 (p &lt;0.05), then Ho was rejected and it was stated that there was a relationship. The conclusion is that there is a relationship between workspace temperature and Sick Building Syndrome Hospital Administration Officers. Suggestions should provide knowledge of the importance of the ideal workspace temperature for the prevention of Sick Building Syndrome

RETRACTED: An assessment of volatile organic compounds pollutant emissions from wood materials: A review

Various construction materials and interior equipment contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Their higher quantities in indoor air are linked to poor health consequences and are controversial regarding health risks, given that people spend so much time indoors. As a result, VOCs in indoor air cause concern regarding sick building syndrome. From a historical perspective, wood and wood-based panels have been frequently employed. Nonetheless, wood appears to be a product and a material of the future in today's world. The emission of VOCs from wood and wood products is essential when assessing the impact of different materials on the indoor environment. The emission rate is affected by both the wood species and the boundary circumstances (drying, storage, etc.). The issue of VOCs emitted from wood, and wood-based panels are addressed in this review paper. The most prevalent VOCs were listed. The advantages and limits of using VOCs for analytical determination from these composites are discussed.

The Role of Factors Affected by Workplace Architecture in the Prevalence of Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) Among Employees of Urmia Roads and Urban Development Building

Introduction: Various factors affect the employees' health and well-being in the workplace. The present study aimed to examine the outbreak of Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) and the role of factors and parameters affected by the architecture design of Urmia Roads and Urban Development building (e.g., thermal comfort, Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), noise, lighting, layout design-ergonomics, and design style (decoration)) by examining symptoms seen in employees, to achieve reduction strategies in future actions.&#x0D; Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytical research was done with a Cross-sequential study among 123 employees in the summer of 2021. Specified symptoms, factors, and parameters were examined through the questionnaire, and its reliability was confirmed using Cronbach's alpha. In the next step, the data were analyzed using different statistical methods through SPSS-25 software. &#x0D; Results: Results indicated that some symptoms, including fatigue, headache, distraction, lack of concentration, muscle pain, hearing problems, high blood pressure, and stress, made up more complaints, and individuals complained about overcrowding, lack of workspace for each person, and noise. Moreover, the parameters caused by Layout-ergonomics and noise were identified as the most important reasons that reduced Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ (and the subsequent advent of SBS. &#x0D; Conclusion: The obtained findings confirmed the presence of syndrome in Roads and Urban Development Building, so that improper layout of overcrowding uses and toilets, lack of speech privacy, and inadequate space and dimensions for employees, were the most important, were the most important reasons for employees' complaints.

Investigation of the indoor environment of a passive house office building under cold climate in China

This study analyzed the applicability of the Passive House standard to office buildings in northern China from an indoor environment perspective. The case building has been auto-monitored continuously since 2017 and a survey for instantaneous and retrospective appraisal of indoor environmental conditions was administered in 2021 during the summer, winter and months in between, referred to as ‘transition months’. The results show that indoor environment quality was good, with high satisfaction levels and ultra-low energy consumption; overheating and the need for window opening were observed. The prevalence of sick building syndrome was reduced compared to conventional buildings. This work further determined how comfort parameters such as perceived thermal comfort, indoor air quality and acoustics could affect end-users’ appraisal. Findings show that indoor thermal comfort design parameters, particularly in summer, are critical factors affecting users' satisfaction in Passive Houses. We further examined the feasibility of the PMV-PPD index for predicting occupants’ perceived comfort and suggested deriving the preferred thermal comfort design parameters for the Chinese market, using long-term data and measurements. These findings provide insights into the localization of Passive Houses in China, thereby improving the acceptance of Passive Houses in what is expected to be a fast growing market.

Verification of the Fanger model with field experimental data

Thermal comfort is one of the main aspect of human life due to the period of time each of us spends inside of the enclosed room on one hand as well as the health issues connected with the sick building syndrome on the other. Presently, the international standards are based on the Fanger model with calculations of proper indexes according to the inside air parameters as well as characteristics for room users. The paper presents the verification of Fanger model with experimental data obtained from research conducted in 6 classrooms of an intelligent, educational building. The measurements were acquired by means of Testo 400 meter where air parameters such as temperature or humidity were collected. For other evidence the questionnaire was prepared, where respondents presented their thermal sensation together with the information of their clothes present thermal insulation. The results proved that the Fanger model is not precise, since the findings calculated with the international standard differ from those obtained from the questionnaires.