The Empirical Analysis Model on Identifying Sick Building Syndrome in Hot Humid Tropical Buildings
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Civil Engineering and Architecture 9(1): 52-73, 2021 http://www.hrpub.org DOI: 10.13189/cea.2021.090105 The Empirical Analysis Model on Identifying Sick Building Syndrome in Hot Humid Tropical Buildings Nurrahmi Kartikawati1, Erni Setyowati2,*, Djoko Indrosaptono2 1Doctoral Program of Architecture and Urbanism, Engineering Faculty of Diponegoro University, Semarang, 50275, Indonesia 2Department of Architecture, Engineering Faculty of Diponegoro University, Semarang, 50275, Indonesia Received November 9, 2020; Revised December 22, 2020; Accepted January 20, 2021 Cite This Paper in the following Citation Styles (a): [1] Nurrahmi Kartikawati, Erni Setyowati, Djoko Indrosaptono , "The Empirical Analysis Model on Identifying Sick Building Syndrome in Hot Humid Tropical Buildings," Civil Engineering and Architecture, Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 52 - 73, 2021. DOI: 10.13189/cea.2021.090105. (b): Nurrahmi Kartikawati, Erni Setyowati, Djoko Indrosaptono (2021). The Empirical Analysis Model on Identifying Sick Building Syndrome in Hot Humid Tropical Buildings. Civil Engineering and Architecture, 9(1), 52 - 73. DOI: 10.13189/cea.2021.090105. Copyright©2021 by authors, all rights reserved. Authors agree that this article remains permanently open access under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 International License Abstract A tropical hot humid climate provides high 1. Introduction humidity that influences the occupant’s comfort. This study highlights a comparison of physical measurements One of the remarkable things in occupancy is the indoor and perceptions related to thermal comfort, indoor air comfort aspect and the occupant’s health. The comfort quality, and sick building syndrome (SBS) in tropical and health of the residents are inseparable from thermal humid climate buildings. The research method used conditions and indoor air quality. Thermal comfort ASHRAE 2017 and analysis using SPSS 24 by two condition is determined by climatic aspects, such as in analytical models, i.e., Model 1 and Model 2. The Model 1 Indonesia, which has a hot humid tropical climate. As the included measurement data of independent variables T, RH, main character of the humid tropical climate is high V, and CO , and SBS dependent variable, while the Model rainfall, high humidity, and warm to hot temperatures 2 used perception data of independent variables T, RH, V, becomes the influential factors for indoor thermal comfort. and QA, and₂ SBS dependent variable. The study found the Building with high moisture and warm temperatures can conditions were unsuitable with ASHRAE 2017, however, be a habitat for fungus and other microorganisms that can the new SBS index model for the hot-humid tropic has interfere with occupant’s health [1]. On the other side, air been established. The average temperature was pollutants coming from inside and outside the building 29.4-31.3ᵒC, the perception of 'neutral' was responded by affect the air quality in the building. Air quality 50.6% of all respondents, 36.7% stated 'warm' and 7.6% degradation brings a notable impact on human health. stated 'hot'. The average relative humidity was between Approximately 4-5 million people passed away due to air 77-82.4%, but about 50.6% of respondents declared pollutions in 2017 [2]. In contrast, a good air quality takes 'neutral', only 8.9% declared ‘slightly damp’, and 2.5% part in effective healing for some patients that are too stated ‘damp’. The test results showed Model 2 performed sensitive to air pollutants [3]. Particulate matter PM 2.5 is the cyclical effect on SBS, in contrast, Model 1 had no considered as the most remarkable factor to influence the significant effect on SBS because of the varied adaptation air quality index for more than 90% [4]. The particle of of occupants. PM 2.5 is associated with vehicle and traffic emission [4]. Due to the vast effect of air quality, providing a pure air Keywords Hot Humid Tropical Buildings, Thermal policy and implementation plan is necessary, especially Comfort, Indoor Air Quality, Sick Building Syndrome for areas with high air pollution [5]. During this pandemic, the environmental hygiene aspects of both outdoor and indoor become important. The Civil Engineering and Architecture 9(1): 52-73, 2021 53 study looked at the influence of both indoor air quality The sources of VOCs among others are cleaning products and the health of building users. In public housing such as and personal care products [16]. Another pollutant such as student dormitories, the comfort aspect is complicated CO is residual combustion of motor vehicles and because it involves not only one individual but also the industrial activities [16]. A significant carbon footprint other occupant. Therefore, personal comfort perception is detection₂ in dense settlements of urban environments is a remarkable in determining the comfort of the rooms. On residual daily citizen activity, such as meeting the needs the other hand, physical aspects such as temperature, of clean water and electricity [14]. The CO tolerated humidity, and wind speed are measurable. The differences level in non-industrial environments reaches around 1000 in perception and measurement outcome can occur in ppm, more than that, CO results in short₂-breath or studies using the two methods. The thermal comfort shortness of breath effects [16,17]. In a residential area, perception of the resident presents by the PMV (Predicted CO level is considered reasonable₂ at 660 ppm [18]. Mean Vote), which ranges from -3 to +3 [6]. The Droplets release into the air and inhaled by other perception assessment in this study adopted PMV values building₂ users can carry viruses and bacteria away. As the with a range of 'very cold' to 'very hot' with adjustments study of SARS transmission in Hong Kong occurred according to the study's needs [6]. The indoor thermal through droplets of airborne sufferers [16], as well as comfort conditions can be affected by climate and Covid-19 spreads through inhalled droplets [19], there is architectural factors, while the temperature and air no escape from the current issue, where both the SARS circulation of the room can be affected by outdoor and Covid-19 pandemic are considered as strongly climatic conditions [7]. Architectural aspects such as glass transmitted through droplets released into the air. Other walls can significantly increase room temperature when study found a high association of infections among the buildings are exposed to solar radiation, which the students with low ventilation levels [16,20]. In addition, rising room temperature leads to SBS risk [8]. In line with both of infection and allergy can also be triggered by air the previous statement, the high transparency ratio, which conditions in buildings containing allergens [21]. Indoor can be found in a large glass windows, results in air circulation plays an important role in thermal comfort overheating and uncomfort sensation [9]. It indicates the and indoor health. According to ASHRAE, 2017 [16], thermal transmittance of the building envelope material indoor air circulation should be about 0.2 m/s for thermal which is known as U value, plays a remarkable role in comfort and at least 0.3 m/s to maintain indoor air free thermal comfort, which may correlate to SBS. The high U from pollutants. The ventilation function is more effective value means a large amount of heat transfer through the in a high ceiling room than in a low ceiling room [22]. structure cover substance. The building with high U value Low ventilation levels accompanied by VOC, tends to be more risky on SBS [10]. formaldehyde, PM 2.5, and other fine particles in the On the other side, the interconnectedness of the air indoor air are associated with the appearance of symptoms circulation of indoor and outdoor can affect sick building of sick building syndrome in residential [23]. Low syndrome (SBS) risk. If the air circulation of indoor and ventilation levels are associated with irritation of the outdoor runs smoothly, the risk of SBS may decrease mucous membrane, the presence of dust, and other fine [8,11]. Sick building syndrome risk can also occur in particles associated with irritation of the mucosa and skin rooms with too cold temperatures and poor ventilation [12]. Indoor air pollutant as particle such as PM 2.5 can be [12]. The difference in topography conditions affects the reduced by adequate indoor air movement. PM 2.5 rate perception of thermal comfort of the occupants. In the limit allows around 12-15 µg/m³ in the duration of a year, rural areas of the mountains, residents have a lower while within a period of 24 hours, the PM 2.5 value that is comfortable temperature than residents in urban areas [13]. still tolerated is 35 µg/m³ [16]. Therefore, indoor air Therefore, there is a suspected difference in thermal circulation is important to keep the indoor air clean. satisfaction results in the two buildings with different The condition of indoor air quality determines the risk topography. of sick building syndrome. Both eye-related SBS Good air quality, among others, is determined by low disorders and decreased short-term performances are carbon emissions. The high carbon emissions trigger associated with low relatively humidity and high CO global warming, making it is necessary to develop concentrations [24]. In addition, high CO levels can low-carbon residential designs [14]. Pollutants often exacerbate SBS symptoms indoors with poor ventilation₂ found indoors include volatile organic compounds (VOC) systems [25]. Accumulation of air pollutants ₂with thermal such as formaldehyde from the new furniture and conditions that do not meet standards can cause physical decorations [15]. The existence of formaldehyde in indoor complaints. A high mix of CO and VOC levels along air should not be more than 0.081 ppm for about 30 with high humidity and warm room temperature can minutes, based on the WHO standard [16].