Toward a critical assessment of indoor environmental quality standards

Building design and operation requirements regarding indoor-environmental quality (IEQ) are of direct relevance to occupants' needs. In most buildings, occupant-related pertain the provision conditions that support optimal task performance subjectively perceived as comfortable or pleasant. Codes, standards, guidelines specify IEQ commonly viewed main sources reference for practitioners, who expected follow provisions in these documents provide corresponding proof compliance. However, actual code compliance processes not always accompanied by critical reflections evidentiary basis entailed mandates recommendations. It is thus necessary critically scrutinise standards view explicit implicit references scientific mandates. The present contribution explores details a path toward such assessment. To this end, we considered number typical frequently referenced pertaining thermal, visual, air aspects indoor environments. results illustrative assessment effort highlight scope limitations standards' default approaches definition IEQ-relevant requirements. Moreover, they point considerable gaps chain evidence from immediate content underlying factual sources.