Indoor air quality issues for non-industrial work place.

Indoor air quality (IAQ) issues are not new in Malaysia. However, lack of study, data and local regulation become one of the major contributions towards this problem especially with the non-industrial sector. This study are focusing on the application of related legal requirement, identify source of problem contribute to the IAQ, occupational exposure and control measure required to mitigate the issue in future. It have been perform specifically at the office area facilitate with centralized air conditioning system. A total of 125 samples were performed against the floor area (5000m²) and specific activities perform within the building. It has been divided into two stages which are based on quantitative and qualitative approach. Walk through survey were conducted and the area sampling were selected for data collection. It shows that 77 % of the IAQ issue comes from inadequate ventilation supply into the building against number of air change rate per occupant range 20 cfm per person. These findings also lead to the identification of high carbon dioxide at the area sampled; microorganism, Total Volatile Organic Compound (TVOC) and relative humidity levels exceed the allowable limit. Carbon dioxide, detected with mod reading at 1300ppm against the ceiling limit of 1000ppm by Code of Practice on IAQ (CoP-IAQ). This situation can be related to 80% of bacterial and fungal count perform exceed the 500 cfu/m³ limit by World Health Organization (WHO). Issue of uncontrolled renovation and lack of awareness among occupant are main contribution toward the IAQ problem as well. TVOC for 8TWA exceed the stipulate value of 3ppm. The CoP-IAQ only covered five common chemical in the indoor setting. However, the study have shown other parameters like microorganism, ventilation rate or physical parameter like temperature and humidity also play a major role as an indoor contaminant agent. This study are believe to help the researcher, occupational practitioner and management to use as baseline toward the management and control of the Indoor Air Quality in indoor settings in terms of pollutant and control measures to minimized the exposure among the occupant.

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