Southdowns was commissioned by the University of Sussex to investigate indoor air quality within an air conditioned office building following concerns from a staff member. An indoor air quality survey was undertaken to establish if there were any indoor air quality parameters that could be a cause for concern.
The indoor air quality survey consisted of sample attended and unattended measurements of indoor air quality parameters temperature (°C), relative humidity (R.H.), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2) and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC).
The survey found that the offices had good indoor air quality with the exception of one of the offices where CO2 concentrations were above the CIBSE guidelines for comfort. On-site investigations during the survey identified that although the air conditioning was working in the office with elevated CO2 concentrations the ventilation in that office was not working.
Following the on-site investigate the ventilation supply to the office is understood to have been restored. Recommendations were made for further indoor air quality testing of combustion products including nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter during start up testing of a back-up generator.
