Design for Multiple Environmental Factors

Sick building syndrome symptoms, discomfort, and irritation can result from non-indoor air quality environmental factors such as noise, poor quality or inadequate lighting, lack of individual privacy or control, and other environmental factors. Interactions among the environmental factors and human responses to them are important considerations although they are complex and inadequately understood. A few examples clearly demonstrate their importance. Selection of design criteria should reflect consideration of these complex interactions. More research is necessary to inform design for indoor environmental quality.