Indoor Air Quality and Thermal Comfort: An investigation in office buildings in Hanoi, Danang and Ho Chi Minh City

Abstract

Thermal comfort and air quality are basic factors of indoor environment. In office buildings, poor indoor air quality (IAQ) and low thermal comfort level may negatively affect occupants' health and performance and eventually causes Sick Building Syndrome (SBS). In this research, the IAQ and thermal comfort were examined at a number of office buildings in the three Vietnamese cities of Hanoi (North), Danang (Central) and Ho Chi Minh City (South), which aims to assess the quality of indoor environment of office buildings in Vietnam. The results showed that the design and operation scheme play an important role for the achievement of the indoor air quality and thermal comfort. The collected data from field measurement and survey are expected to be concrete scientific basis for the revision of current standards and development of new standards in air quality of office buildings.