WEEK 11: INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

This week's presentation focused on indoor environmental quality, specifically acoustics and indoor air quality. Both are important parts of interior design because they affect the health, comfort, safety, and productivity of people using a space. As interior designers, we need to consider more than just how a room looks. We also need to think about how it sounds and the quality of the air people breathe.

One of the main topics discussed was acoustics. Sound travels through walls, windows, building materials, and even the structure of a building. Unwanted sound, also known as noise, can affect concentration, communication, and privacy. This is especially important in spaces such as offices, classrooms, medical facilities, and conference rooms.

There are several ways designers can control sound within a space:

  • Sound absorption: Materials such as carpet, acoustic ceiling tiles, and textiles help absorb sound and reduce echoes.

  • Sound transmission: Wall construction and insulation help prevent sound from traveling between rooms.

  • Sound diffusion: Helps distribute sound throughout a room rather than allowing it to concentrate in one area.

  • Space planning: Placing noisy areas away from spaces that require privacy can help improve acoustical comfort.

We also learned about NRC (Noise Reduction Coefficient), which measures how well a material absorbs sound, and STC (Sound Transmission Class), which measures how well a building assembly blocks sound from passing through it. These ratings are important when selecting materials and designing partitions.

Another topic was reverberation time, which refers to how long sound continues to be heard after the original sound stops. This is especially important in auditoriums, classrooms, lecture halls, and performance spaces.


The second major topic was indoor air quality (IAQ). Indoor air quality is affected by several factors, including:

  • HVAC systems and ventilation.

  • Interior finishes and materials.

  • Furniture, fixtures, and equipment.

  • Moisture inside the building.

  • Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).

  • Pollutants such as mold, radon, and cigarette smoke.

One thing I found interesting was how much the materials we select as designers can affect the air quality inside a building. Some paints, adhesives, flooring, furniture, and finishes release VOCs into the air. These chemicals can contribute to poor indoor air quality and cause health concerns for occupants.

To improve indoor air quality, designers should consider specifying low-VOC or VOC-free materials whenever possible. Proper ventilation, air filtration, and regular HVAC maintenance are also important.

The presentation also discussed Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) and Building-Related Illness (BRI). SBS describes situations where occupants experience symptoms such as eye and throat irritation, dizziness, fatigue, and asthma-like symptoms while spending time inside a building. These symptoms are often connected to the indoor environment, but a specific cause may not be identified. BRI refers to illnesses that can be linked to a specific building-related exposure or contaminant.

The most effective way to address poor indoor air quality is to identify and remove the source of contamination. Improving ventilation and using air cleaners or purifiers can also help reduce indoor pollutants.


The COVID-19 pandemic changed the way people think about indoor air quality. It brought more attention to ventilation, air filtration, and the importance of creating healthier indoor environments.

How COVID-19 helped indoor air quality:

  • Better ventilation: Businesses and schools became more aware of the importance of bringing fresh outdoor air into buildings to reduce airborne contaminants.

  • Improved filtration: Many buildings upgraded HVAC filters and added HEPA air purifiers to capture smaller airborne particles.

  • Healthier building design: Indoor air quality became a bigger priority for designers, building owners, and facility managers.

How COVID-19 harmed indoor air quality:

  • Increased cleaning chemicals: Frequent disinfecting introduced more chemicals into indoor environments.

  • Higher VOC levels: Some cleaning sprays and disinfectants release VOCs that can negatively affect air quality.

  • Ventilation challenges: Older buildings and poorly maintained HVAC systems often struggled to provide adequate fresh air and filtration.

Overall, COVID-19 had both positive and negative effects on indoor air quality. It encouraged better ventilation and filtration but also increased the use of cleaning chemicals that can introduce pollutants into indoor spaces. I learned that creating a healthy environment requires more than keeping surfaces clean. Designers must also consider ventilation, material selection, and the quality of the air occupants breathe.

References:


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