FMJ.CO.UK M&E FOCUS
APRIL 2019 33
possible for a single set of conditions to
meet everyone’s needs and preferences.
Manage, monitor and maintain. ‘You
can’t manage what you don’t measure’ is
a well-known saying, and entirely relevant
when it comes to health and wellbeing. As
access to data improves, check the quality
of environment provided and manage user
expectations.
Recommended performance criteria – for
example, daylight levels or pollutant levels
in water – may be used as targets in new
designs, or to reference the performance
of existing buildings. As a minimum, these
should meet regulatory requirements, but
also internationally recognised healthbased
guidelines, particularly those from
the World Health Organization (WHO).
This approach to performance criteria
is broadly consistent with other
emerging guidance, such as BS ISO
17772-1: Energy performance
of buildings – indoor
environmental quality and
the dra revised BB101
guidance on ventilation,
thermal comfort and indoor
air quality in schools. It
is important to note – in
the case of air quality, for
example – that the desired
outcome is expressed in terms of
maximum recommended pollutant
levels rather than ventilation rates, as is
commonly done. Rates will not necessarily
guarantee a suitable outcome, especially if
outdoor air is polluted.
INDOOR AIR QUALITY
Indoor air quality is largely dependent
on outdoor air pollution. In addition, the
indoor environment contains many sources
of pollutants from building materials,
consumer products, occupants and their
activities.
In most countries, there is currently no
comprehensive regulatory framework
on indoor air quality (with the exception
of radon), nor any widespread industry
standard. Therefore, referring to WHO air
quality guidelines alongside minimum
regulatory requirements is recommended.
There is a hierarchy of importance in the
range of pollutants we are exposed to. Some
pose a severe health and even death hazard
through short-term exposure, such as
carbon monoxide.
For some pollutants, long-term e ects
may show up years a er exposure has
occurred or a er long or repeated periods
of exposure – examples include radon,
particulates and nitrogen dioxide. These
long-term hazards may be respiratory or
cardiovascular diseases. Other pollutants
may not be a known severe
health hazard, but become
irritants if concentrations
are su iciently high or
exposure su iciently long, as
with many volatile organic
compounds (VOCs). Others
may have limited health
e ects but are considered useful
indicators of indoor air quality,
such as carbon dioxide.
LIGHTING
Light is fundamental to our health,
wellbeing, and cognitive capabilities. It
acts through our visual environment, our
circadian rhythms, and as radiation. In
our visual environment, it is important
to safety and visual comfort, supports
task performance and communication,
and complements architecture to create
pleasing and beautiful environments.
Negative visual impacts, such as eyestrain
and the e ects of glare and flicker, produce
discomfort in the short term but can a ect
health if repeated over long periods, and
can impact on safety.
Light also acts as a key regulator of
our circadian rhythms, supporting
sleep patterns, bodily functions,
and emotional and mental
wellbeing. It not only a ects
our health (it can help
reduce the symptoms
of depression and
Alzheimer’s, for example)
but also contributes to
sleep disruption, with
detrimental health
consequences. In addition,
light as radiation can
have very serious health
implications in terms of tissue
damage to the eyes and skin.
Both natural and electric
lighting can contribute to design
solutions. Daylight should be given priority
wherever possible, complemented by
glare protection. In temperate climates, a
minimum average daylight factor of two
per cent is recommended, and five per
cent will usually be su icient for a room to
appear well daylit unless it is very deep or
obstructed. Views out should be provided
wherever possible, ideally including natural
elements such as grass or trees.
The final appearance of the lighting
scheme will be greatly a ected by the
interior layout and finishes, requiring
multidisciplinary coordination. Lighting
products evolve rapidly, with many
seeking to replicate natural daylight
cycles, promoting alertness and cognitive
performance during the day and avoiding
sleep disruption at night. The claimed
benefits should be carefully evaluated,
particularly until such time as our
understanding of ‘lighting for health’ is
more advanced.
Indoor air quality and lighting are
just two of the variables that a ect
health and wellbeing, but all the factors
that influence the comfort of building
occupants are undergoing debate, research
and development. The complexity and
interactions between factors in internal and
external environments mean that a holistic
approach is required – but the extra e ort is
worth it for healthier and happier people.
MAPPING OF WELLBEING STANDARDS
CIBSE has produced a tool mapping the
WELL Building Standard requirements in
the UK context in terms of WHO guidelines,
CIBSE and Society of Light and Lighting
guidance, British Standards, BREEAM and a
selection of other key industry sources. The
issues covered are air, water, light, comfort
and mind. Currently only the air section is
available, but the others will follow in due
course. https://bit.ly/2Ou9lPC
Light is fundamental to our
health, wellbeing, and cognitive
capabilities. Its acts through our
visual environment, our circadian
rhythms, and as radiation.”
/2Ou9lPC