Indoor Air Quality Performance: Towards a Comprehensive Learning Environment in Malaysian Higher Education Buildings

Abstract

Hot and humid weather impacts building occupants’ daily time allocation, as well as their productivity and health. Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a crucial aspect of enhancing the comfort of a building and reflects its overall functionality. Consequently, most existing buildings in Malaysia, including higher education buildings, endeavoured to obtain a satisfactory level of IAQ. Hence, this paper aimed to examine the relationship between building experts’ perceptions and IAQ measurements in the learning spaces of higher education buildings, using both qualitative and quantitative research approaches. The semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 building experts and analysed using thematic analysis on NVivo 14 software. Fieldwork measurements were also conducted to evaluate the IAQ of four selected learning spaces in higher education buildings, specifically lecture halls, followed by a descriptive statistical analysis. The building experts highlighted maintenance as an essential aspect for improving and sustaining IAQ; but implementing it was complex due to inadequate incentive costs. The study found that some lecture halls had average measurements of IAQ, which did not comply with the standards set by Industry Code of Practice on Indoor Air Quality (ICOP) IAQ 2010 and MS1525:2019. Thus, this study contains beneficial initiatives, raises awareness among occupants and provides quotes for the maintenance and installation of IAQ monitors.