How Does Ventilation Calculation in Office Design Increase Efficiency?

How Does Ventilation Calculation in Office Design Increase Efficiency?

The design phase of a plaza office decoration or office design project is a critical time when the building/structure has the chance to improve its performance throughout its entire life cycle. Projects are usually designed to meet the minimum requirements in their regulations. However, a design that exceeds the minimum requirements will offer an excellent return on investment. When it comes to HVAC systems (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning / Air Conditioning), good design means energy savings and indoor environmental quality.

Since office buildings are used for commercial activities, employees can complete their work more efficiently as their comfort increases. Some important factors affecting comfort are air quality, indoor temperature, air speed and lighting quality. It is important to note that their effects go beyond comfort, as they also affect human health.

Setting the Correct Indoor Air Temperature

When dealing with human comfort, subjective factors come into play. A temperature that feels comfortable to one person may feel too hot or too cold to another. Therefore, achieving a comfortable indoor temperature for as many people as possible is a challenge.

Some research organizations have come up with some important results when investigating the effects of indoor temperature on productivity. In general, people’s productivity in the workplace tends to peak between 21°C and 25°C. A detrimental effect on office productivity has been observed at low thermostat settings of 17°C and high temperature settings of 30°C. In these cases, a 5% to 7% loss of productivity has been observed. Women tend to be more affected by low temperatures, while men are more sensitive to high temperatures.

Based on these results, an HVAC system that keeps the temperature in the optimum range is a sound investment. To achieve this, heating and cooling loads must be calculated correctly and the relevant equipment and devices must be selected correctly and their capacities must be taken into account. Also, since HVAC systems have many configurations; the design must be suitable for the conditions/structure/architecture in the building.

It is possible to be productive in cold or hot offices, but it requires more effort. If the same work is performed in uncomfortable temperatures, it causes more mental fatigue. Providing real comfort conditions is the primary duty of designers and also implementers.

Importance of Indoor Air Quality and Air Velocity

In modern office designs and projects such as hotels, people in urban areas spend about 90% of their time indoors. It is very important to keep air quality high to make indoor spaces comfortable and healthy. Although carbon dioxide concentration comes to mind first; there are other substances that become dangerous at much lower concentrations. For example, particulate matter (PM) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) cause many health problems.

Many harmful substances are odorless, and some volatile organic compounds have pleasant odors. Even if air pollutants are not odorous, they irritate the respiratory tract and can cause blockages and attacks in asthmatics.

Controlling air velocity is also important. Even if fresh air and clean air are provided, a drafty environment can cause discomfort and health problems. Air velocity problems are often caused by fans that are oversized or incorrectly controlled, or by incorrectly sized air ducts.

The Impact of Office Ventilation Systems

The office ventilation system has a direct impact on the health and productivity of employees. A well-designed HVAC system can save energy while also providing an indoor environment that keeps employees comfortable and healthy. In office buildings, good HVAC design can also increase productivity and help employees feel better.

Temperature preferences vary from person to person, but building operators should aim for a temperature that is considered comfortable for most workers. Research has found that human productivity tends to peak between 70°F and 80°F. An HVAC system must maintain air quality while preventing high-velocity air movement.

The use of appropriate HVAC systems in office architectural design, store, manufacturing and industrial facility design significantly improves work efficiency and employee health.

HVAC Design and Office Efficiency