The Effect of Poor Iaq.docx

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THE EFFECT OF POOR INDOOR QUALITY ON OCCUPANT IN INDUSTRIAL

BUILDING

Norumizafarhana Binti Saimun (2015180263)

NurulAienBintiMahat( 2015149613)

1

CHAPTER 1

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is the significant importance to business, schools, building directors,

inhabitants and laborers since it can affect the wellbeing, solace, prosperity, and efficiency of

the building tenants.

Diya and Kumar (2013) note that individuals spend around 90% of their working time inside

(in office, processing plant etc.) so keeping up sufficient indoor air quality (IAQ) in structures and

work environment has a top need.

IAQ profound impact on occupant either good or bad. IAQ means having a good ventilation

system well maintained and there is less or no contamination in the building. So occupant can

perform the activities required in the building without any problems. While poor IAQ system is

unsafe because it does not meet the standards set and lead to problems when the occupant is

in the building.

Industry or factory is a building or gathering of structures where product are produced or

collected majority by machine or large group of worker. Starting through Industrial Revolution,

people could progress advance into the 21st century. Innovation grew quickly, science got to be

progressed and the assembling age came into perspective. With this situation, one more impact

came, contamination.

Therefore , a good IAQ is an important element to be considered in an industrial building as

to ensure that employees who work in the factory is always productive , health and yield high

production volume of products

In industry, there are many factors that cause bad indoor air quality, especially the impact of

harmful gases released from production.




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Here are examples of common indoor air contaminants and their main sources.

Carbon dioxide (CO2), tobacco smoke, fragrance, personal stenches – from building

inhabitants

Dust, fiberglass, asbestos, gasses, including formaldehyde – from building materials

Harmful vapors, unstable natural mixes (VOCs) – from work environment chemicals,

solvents, pesticides, disinfectants, pastes

Gasses, vapors, scents – off-gas discharges from furniture, covers, and paints

Dust vermin – from rugs, fabric, froth seat pads

Microbial contaminants, parasites, molds, microscopic organisms, – from moist

zones, stagnant water and condensate dish

Ozone – from printers, electric engines, electrostatic air cleaners

(Canadian Centre For Occupational Health and Safety, 2013).

Bad indoor quality resulting negative impact on residents in terms of health in the short term

such as eye pain , skin irritation , asthma , and cough while in the long term can lead to chronic

respiratory problems and cancer .Health workers that affected would result in decreasing

productivity and this will harm the industrial economy because the production becomes

inconsistent and the quality deteriorated. Security workers also neglected due to exposure to an

unhealthy environment even inside buildings.

Levy, (has cited in Healthy Heating,2009) has noted that,"we do not seem to recognize that

our real customer is the occupant, not the building." It is clear that the indoor air quality gives

great impact on occupant, especially for industrial buildings.




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1.1 Problem statement

Nowadays Malaysian government and the public in rural and urban areas of Malaysia

was more concerned regarding the quality of indoor air quality and the effect on health. In order

to further study the affect of poor indoor air quality of industrial building in Malaysia, it is vital for

us to know exactly what are the main reason of indoor pollutants in industrial buildings that can

lead to Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) or Tight Building Syndrome (TBS), Building-Related

Illness (BRI) and Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS) Example of SBS are dizziness, skin

irritation, asthma, coughing and etc.

Next, in order to increases the awareness towards protecting the environment in

development, this study emerges as a tool to help and enable the determination of the effect of

poor indoor air quality in industrial buildings. Siah (as cited in Nur,2010) we need to contribute tothe environment thaht receives or possibly receives the impact from the test conducts, through

self commitment and provision of resources to make an environmental management successful.

Several studies have shown that presence of occupants, contaminants in air, location

characteristics and the quality of ventilation system are large causes of poor indoor air quality

(Nur, 2010).In order to improve the quality of indoor air quality in industrial building, existing

research will be developed on the affects of poor indoor air quality to occupants which will be

discussed in the following chapter.

1.2 Objective

To investigate indoor air quality that effect on occupant in industrial building.

1.3 Research questions

The questions are:

1. What is indoor air quality?

2. What is the effect of poor indoor quality on occupant in industrial building?




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2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Definition air quality

Clean air is a fundamental necessity of life. The nature or quality of air inside and

outside schools, workplaces, homes and offices where people spend a significant bit of

their life is a determinant key of healthy life. Unsafe substances discharged from cabinet,

construction materials or human activities inside, for instance, fuels for cooking or

warming may lead to an extensive extent of health issues and may be lethal (World

Health Organization,2005).

Air quality is a measure of the level of climatic contamination, with respect to thepossibility to harm the nature. Through poor air quality, the potential for weakening and

harm to both which is people health and the earth environment, have been perceived at

an administrative and global level. Air pollution is frequently evaluated for comparison

purposes or accomplishment limit on utilizing the Air Quality Index (AQI).

Table 1: Air Quality Index Formula adopted from Michael, Jane, Theophile




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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) utilizes the Air Quality Index to quantify five

major contaminations for which it has established National Ambient Air Quality Standard

under the Clean Air Act (Tobias et.al. 2001). The contaminants are particulate matter

such as carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and ground level ozone. Eachof the contaminants, EPA has set up air quality models ensuring against wellbeing

impacts that can happen within short timeframes (a couple of hours or a day).

2.2 Indoor air quality (IAQ) standard of industrial building

Indoor air constitutes in industrial building is especially rich in various sorts of

contaminations, including gasses, for example, carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide

(2), sulfur dioxide (2), nitrogen oxide () and particulate matter of different sizes,

and in addition a variety of natural mixes which can be in both molecule and vaporous

stage. The contaminations start from indoor sources and freed to outside due to the

industrial activities inside the building.

Good IAQ has very minimal percentage of contamination and provide comfort to

occupants in the building. While poor IAQ give the impression of discomfort to the

occupants and cause sick building syndrome. If exposed to poor IAQ in a prolonged

period will result in impaired health in the short and long term.

Standard of IAQ in industrial building can be measured according:

1. Comfort and productivity issues

Comfort is a method for measuring inhabitant fulfillment which, thus, can

straightforwardly influence focus and profitability and sway the expense of

working together.

Temperature

Humidity

Air movement and flow (Velocity, Ventilation, Volume)




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2. Health and safety issues

Bad IAQ conditions happen at whatever point vapors, gasses or airborne

particulates are available in focuses that antagonistically influence one or more

occupants in the building.

Carbon monoxide

Chemical in aerosol

Ultrafine particle

Bioaerosols

Light, Noise, Vibration, Ergonomics, Odors

Table 1.1: Air Quality Guideline adopted by TSI Incorporated




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2.3 Poor indoor air quality

Science has demonstrated that the quality of outdoor air is much better compare

to quality of indoor air which is much worse. Issues of indoor air quality related to illness

and symptoms among people who spend most of their time indoor. If you consider the

numbers of workers at hospitals, school and institution, offices and restaurants in

Malaysia, It is common things to learn that indoor air quality give impacts to our health

and productivity majority to the working adults who spend 90 percent of their time

outdoors as well as at work.

The causes of poor indoor air quality in industrial buildings are:

1. Inadequate fresh air supply or poor ventilation system maintenance

2. Pollutants given off by buildings or furnishing materials

3. Pollutants from processes occurring within the building, including cleaning products,

offices machines, pesticides, and off gases form new materials.

4. Contaminants brought into the building form outside; some examples are exhaust

from sanitary stacks, boiler stacks, natural gas vents, or flues.

2.4 Type of contaminant in indoor air quality of industrial

Contaminant in indoor air quality as cited in United State Department of Labour (2016)

are :

1. Carbon Dioxide

A colorless, odorless gas produced by burning carbon and organic compounds

and by respiration.

Sources:Unvented gas and kerosene appliances, improperly vented devices,

processes or operations which produce combustion products, human respiration.

Acute health effects : Difficulty concentrating, drowsiness, increased respiration

rate.




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2. Carbon Monoxide

Colorless, odorless toxic flammable gas formed by incomplete combustion ofcarbon.

Sources: Fossil-fuel engine machineries exhausts, improperly vented fossil-fuel

appliances.

Acute health effects: Dizziness, headache, nausea, cyanosis, cardiovascular

effects, and death.

3. Formaldehyde

A colorless pungent gas in solution made by oxidizing methanol.

Sources: Off-gassing from urea formaldehyde foam insulation, plywood, particle

board, and paneling; carpeting and fabric; glues and adhesives; and combustion

products including tobacco smoke.

Acute health effects: Hypersensitive or allergic reactions; skin rashes; eye,

respiratory and mucous membrane irritation; odor annoyance.

4. Nitrogen Oxides

Nitrogen Oxides are a family of poisonous, highly reactive gases. These gases

form when fuel is burned at high temperatures.

Sources: Combustion products from gas furnaces and appliances, welding

Acute health effects: Eye, respiratory and mucous membrane irritation.




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5. Ozone

A triatomic very reactive form of oxygen that is a bluish irritating gas of pungent

odour is a major air pollutant in the lower atmosphere but a beneficial

component of the upper atmosphere, and that is used for oxidizing, bleaching,

disinfecting, and deodorizing.

Sources: Copy machines, electrostatic air cleaners, electrical arcing, smog.

Acute health effects: Eye, respiratory tract, mucous membrane irritation;

aggravation of chronic respiratory diseases.

6. Miscellaneous Inorganic Gases.

Includes ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide.

Sources: Microfilm equipment, combustion products, blueprint equipment.

Acute health effects: Eye, respiratory tract, mucous membrane irritation;

aggravation of chronic respiratory diseases.

7. Asbestos

A heat-resistant fibrous silicate mineral that can be woven into fabrics, and is

used in fire-resistant and insulating materials such as brake linings.

Sources: Insulation and other building materials such as floor tiles, dry wall

compounds, reinforced plaster.

Acute health effects: Asbestos is normally not a source of acute health effects.

However, during renovation or maintenance operations, asbestos may be

dislodged and become airborne. Evaluation of employee exposure to asbestos

will normally be covered under the OSHA Asbestos standard.




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8. Synthetic Fibers

any of various man-made textile fibers including usually those made from naturalmaterials (such as rayon and acetate from cellulose or regenerated protein fibers

from zein or casein) as well as fully synthetic fibers (such as nylon or acrylic

fibers)

Sources: Fibrous glass and mineral wool.

Acute health effects: Irritation to the eyes, skin and lungs; dermatitis.

9. Microorganisms and Other Biological Contaminants (Microbials).

Living organisms (such as bacteria, enzymes, fungi, viruses) or their products

that can be hazardous to animal or human health if inhaled, swallowed, or

otherwise absorbed into the body.

Sources: Air handling system condensate, cooling towers, water damaged

materials, high humidity indoor areas, damp organic material and porous wet

surfaces, humidifiers, hot water systems, outdoor excavations, plants, animalexcreta, animals and insects, food and food products.

Acute health effects: Allergic reactions such as hypersensitivity diseases

(hypersensitivity pneumonitis, humidifier fever, allergic rhinitis, etc.) and

infections such as legionellosis are seen. Symptoms include chills, fever, muscle

ache, chest tightness, headache, cough, sore throat, diarrhea, and nausea.




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10. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's).

Chemicals used to manufacture and maintain building materials, interior

furnishing, cleaning products and personal care products.

Sources: Paints, cleaning compounds, moth-balls, glues, photocopiers, "spirit"

duplicators, signature machines, silicone caulking materials, insecticides,

herbicides, combustion products, asphalt, gasoline vapors, tobacco smoke, dried

out floor drains, cosmetics and other personal products.

Acute health effects: Nausea; dizziness; eye, respiratory tract, and mucous

membrane irritation; headache; fatigue.

2.5 Effect of poor Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) on occupants

IAQ is an important element that needs to be in a building, especially industrial buildings.

This is because the IAQ impact on productivity, safety and health of workers engaged in

a large scale. In ensuring the economic production of products in a consistent state and

quality, IAQ should be emphasized in influencing the workers involved.

The following is the effect resulting from poor IAQ.

1. Health

Numerous indoor air contaminants, (for example, ellergen, unstable natural

mixes, microscopic organisms, infections, mold spores, ozone and particulates)

can be physically disturbing or wellbeing debilitating, in spite of the fact that they

are not normally deadly. Among the most well-known side effects is the

aggravation of fragile tissues, for example, the eyes skin, or mucous films.

Numerous contaminants cause chilly like side effects that are regularly mixed up

as the impacts of a viral contamination. (ASHRAE. 2004)




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Bluepoint Environmental (2014) provides example of illness effects by poor IAQ

a. Short terms:

• Short of breath

Shortness of breath — known medically as dyspnea — is frequently

depicted as an intense tightening in the chest, air hunger or a sentiment

of suffocation.

(Mayo Clinic Symptoms Shortness of Breath, 2016)

• Dizziness

As a confusion, dizziness is arranged into three classes vertigo, syncope,

and nonsyncope nonvertigo. Every class have all identified with the

feeling of equalization. All in all, syncope is characterized by a brief loss

of cognizance (blacking out) or by darkened vision and feeling awkward,

confused, and lightheaded.

(The Free Dictionary, 2016)

• Skin irritation

The rash is regularly reddish and bothersome with a layered composition.

Psoriasis is a typical skin condition that can bring about a flaky,

bothersome, red rash to frame along the scalp, elbows, and joints.

(Health Line, 2016)

• Asthma

A typical lung issue in which aggravation causes the bronchi to swell and

slender the airways, making breathing challenge that may go from mild to

life-threatening.

(Medicine Net, 2016)




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• Coughing

A cough is a reflex action to clear your airways of mucus and irritants

such as dust or smoke.(NHS Choices,2015)

• Eye irritation

Eye irritation is a general term used to describe sensations that bother the

eyes, like dryness, itchiness, burning and grittiness.

(American Academy of Ophthalmology,2016)

b. Long term

• Lung cancer

Disease that starts in the lungs is called essential lung tumor. Disease

that spreads from the lungs to somewhere else in the body is known as

optional lung tumor. This page is about essential lung disease.

There are two principle sorts of essential lung malignancy. These are

ordered by the kind of cells in which the disease begins. They are:

non-little cell lung disease – the most widely recognized sort,

representing more than 80% of cases; can be either squamous

cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma or vast cell carcinoma

little cell lung disease – a less basic sort that as a rule spreads

quicker than non-little cell lung growth

(NHS Choices,2015)




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Next, based on (Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, 2016)

stated some related health issues that occupant of structures with poor IAQ report an

extensive variety of wellbeing issues which are regularly called Sick Building Syndrome

(SBS) or Tight Building Syndrome (TBS), Building-Related Illness (BRI) and Multiple

Chemical Sensitivities (MCS).

The term wiped out building disorder (SBS) is utilized to depict cases in which

fabricating tenants experience unfriendly wellbeing impacts that are obviously connected

to the time they spend in the building. Be that as it may, no particular diseases or cause

can be recognized.

Building-Related Illness (BRI) alludes to less regular (yet frequently more

genuine) instances of individuals turning out to be sick in the wake of being in a

particular working at a specific time. In these cases, there is normally a comparable

arrangement of clinical manifestations experienced by the general population and an

unmistakable cause can frequently be found upon examination. Legionnaires Disease is

a case of BRI brought on by microorganisms which can debase a building's aerating and

cooling framework.

A specific rate of specialists might respond to various chemicals in indoor air,each of which might happen at low focuses. Such responses are known as different

substance sensitivities (MCS). A few medicinal associations have not perceived various

substance sensitivities. Be that as it may, medicinal sentiment is separated, and assist

examination is required.

So in order to avoid building sickness employees are encouraged to wear

protection such as masks, goggles and the like for early preventive measures against

pollution resulting from work carried out in the factories. So indoor air quality importance

to the health of workers to ensure that the work can be done properly and avoid labor

shortages due to illness.




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2. Productivity

Indoor air quality affects labor productivity in producing the product. It is

closely associated with comfort when they are in the building. Ventilation systems

are weak, poorly maintained HVAC even harmful gas released from the product

and product manufacturing methods can affect the level of indoor air quality.

Consequently, the occupant in the building involved will experience

discomfort such as Sick Building Syndrome. The symptoms of sick building

syndrome are as eye irritation, dizziness, cough, asthma and nausea

experienced by employees that they cannot focus in the production of the

product produced thereby making poor quality and reject. Production of the

product quality and reject not caused a decline in production and productrevenue to be little progress had deteriorated.

However, there are recent studies, both domestic and international, that

lend support to the premise that a high-performance building will lead to a net

productivity gain for building occupants.

When facility executives survey the available research on the impact of

enhanced IAQ and thermal and visual comfort, they find that it strongly suggests

that those factors influence productivity.




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3.0 References list

Ashrae Standard 62. (1999). Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality. Retrieved fromhttps://www.ashrae.org/file%20library/doclib/public/200418145036_347.pdf.

ASHRAE. (2004). ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 62.2.2004, Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air

Quality in in Low Rise Residential Building. Atlanta: American Society of Heating, Refrigerating

and Air Conditioning Engineers, INC.

American Academy of Ophthalmology. (2016). Irritation. Retrieved from http://www.aao.org/eye-

health/symptoms/irritation.

Canadian Centre For Occupational Health and Safety. (2013). Indoor Air Quality- Ganeral.

Retrieved from http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/iaq_intro.html

Diyya, K., & Kumar, N. A. (2013).Indoor Air Quality. International Journal of Engineering Trends

and Technology (IJETT), 4, 2231-5381. Retrieved from http://www.ijettjournal.org

Healthy Heating. (2009). The importance of IEQ. Retrieved from

http://www.healthyheating.com/cafe.htm#.VxkdeqvztqU

Health Line. (2016 ). What Causing My Rash?. Retrieved from

http://www.healthline.com/health/rashes

Mayo Clinic Symptoms Shortness of Breath. (2016). Symptoms Shortness of Breath. Retrieved

from http://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/shortness-of-breath/basics/definition/sym-20050890

Medicine Net. (2016). Definition of Asthma. Retrieved from

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=2373

NHS Choices. (2015). Cough. Retrieved from

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cough/pages/introduction.aspx

NHS Choices. (2015). Lung Cancer . Retrieved from http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Cancer-of-the-

lung/Pages/Introduction.aspx

https://www.ashrae.org/file%20library/doclib/public/200418145036_347.pdf



http://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/shortness-of-breath/basics/definition/sym-20050890







http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Cancer-of-the-lung/Pages/Introduction.aspx










https://www.ashrae.org/file%20library/doclib/public/200418145036_347.pdf




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Nur, F. (2010). A Study of Indoor Air Quality in Dormitories of University Malaysia Pahang.

Retrieved from http://umpir.ump.edu.my/3311/1/NUR_FITRIAH_BINTI_ISA.PDF

Occupational Safety and Health Administration.(2011). Indoor Air Quality in Commercial and

Institutional Buildings.Retrieved from https://www.osha.gov/Publications/3430indoor-air-quality-

sm.pdf

Studies Relate IAQ and Productivity. (2006). Retrieved from

http://www.facilitiesnet.com/green/article/Studies-Relate-IAQ-and-Productivity-Facilities-

Management-Green-Feature--5581

The Free Dictionary. (2016). Dizziness. Retrieved from http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/dizziness

United States Department of Labor.(2016). Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Retrieved from https://www.osha.gov/dts/osta/otm/otm_iii/otm_iii_2.htmlm

World Health Organization. (2005). Air Quality Guidelines for Particulate Matter, Ozone,

Nitrogen and Sulfur

Dioxidehttp://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/69477/1/WHO_SDE_PHE_OEH_06.02_eng.pdf

https://www.osha.gov/Publications/3430indoor-air-quality-sm.pdf


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The Effect of Poor Iaq.docx