Comfort Concept Flashcards
How many features are there?
12
4 areas of comfort
acoustics
ergonomics
olfaction, and
thermal comfort
Study of sound and properties of a space or building that determine how sound is transmitted or reflected within it or though it.
Acoustic Comfort
Energy composed of pressure waves, or vibrations, that travel through the air or another material and produce an audible signal when they reach person’s ear
Sound
Can be measured in Hertz Hz
Sound
Unit of measure used for frequency that a wave cycles, or repeats, its wavelength
Hertz
Equal to one cycle per second
1 hertz
What frequencies can human ear hear?
20Hz to 20,000 Hz
Can cause physical, psychological stress leading to cardiovascular stress, decreased productivity, and cognitive performance
Noise
Adapting objects, spaces, such as workstations and workflow
Ergonomic Comfort
Injury affecting body’s movements or its muscles, bones, tendons, nerves, or ligaments
Musculoskeletal disorder
Refers to sense of smell, perception of air quality, unpleasant smell causes stress
Olfactory Comfort
Follows standard ASHRAE Standard 55-2013, Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy
Thermal Comfort
Rate of transformation of chemical energy into heat and mechanical work by metabolic activities of a person, expressed in units of met
Metabolic rate
Resistance to sensible heat transfer provided provided by a clothing, expressed in units of clo
Clothing insulation
Temperature of air surrounding an occupant taken with a dry bulb thermometer, measurede in C or F
Air temperature
Average of surface temp of the surroundings which body can exchange heat by radiant transfer, measured in C and F
Mean radian temperature
Rate of air movement at a point without regard to direction, measured in m/s (fpm)
Air speed
Average moisture in air, measured in percent of releative humidity %rh
Humidity
Math and graphical study of the properties of air
Graphical representation of properties of air
Determine comfort zone
Psychrometric charts
Feature 72: Accessible Design precon for?
all 3 property types
Feature 72: Accessible Design requires what and uses which standard?
Requires projects to provide equitable built environments through compliance with one of 2 listed standards : the current ADA standards for accessible design or ISO 21542:2011 building construction - accessibility and usability of the Built Environment
Enacted law prohibits discrimination against PWD
Americans with Disabilities Act ADA
Independent, nongovernmental international organization that develops consensus-based market relevant standards for worldwide use
International Organization for Standardization ISO
Feature 72: Accessible Design. Part 1: accessibility and usability - requires what?
Requires all projects comply with ADA Standards for Accessible Design or ISO 21542:2011, Building Construction - Accessibility and Usability of the Built Environment
ISO 21542:2011 - internationally recognized degines how built environments should be designed
Feature 73: Ergonomics: Visual and Physical precon for?
NEI and NEB
Feature 73: Ergonomics: Visual and Physical - what is its goal?
• Goal is to be able to adjust their monitors, desk heights, and workstations seating to meet their personal needs and prevent injuries
Feature 73: Ergonomics: Visual and Physical. Part 1: Visual Ergonomics requires what? Cite 2.
Requires computer screens, including laptops be adjustable for height and distance from the user
Have adjustable risers
Feature 73: Ergonomics: Visual and Physical. Part 2: Desk Height Flexibility - requires what?
Rrequires at least 30% of workstations that are seated height or similar work surfaces be adjustable-height sit-stand desks, desktop height adjustment stands, or pairs of fixed-height desks
Feature 73: Ergonomics: Visual and Physical. • Part 3: Seat Flexibility - requires what?
Requires chair height and seat depth adjustability be compliant with the HFES 10 standard or BIFMA G1 guidelines
Published by Human Factors and Ergonomics Society HFES - interdisciplinary non profit org covering the fields of human factors and ergonomics
HFES 100
An ANSI accredited standard that addresses the design of workstations, furniture, and computer systems
• HFES100 Human Factors Engineering of Computer workstations
Published by BUsiness and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association BIFMA - non profit org that developers and performs standards for furniture
Guidelines for dimensional guidance to office furniture, design, specifications of ergonomic solutions
BIFMA G1 guidelines
Feature 74: Exterior Noise Intrusion precon for?
Core and Shell and NEB
Feature 74: Exterior Noise Intrusion optimization for?
Optimization for NEI
pressure variation associated with sound waves, usually decibels
acoustic pressure
Feature 74: Exterior Noise Intrusion. Part 1 : Sound Pressure Level limits what?
What’s the max?
When should it be measured?
Limits exterior noise that is allowed to infiltrate in occupied spaces
Should be measured when the spaces are empty and within 1 hour of normal business hours
Maximum average sound pressure level cannot exceed 50 dBA for the requirements of this feature
unit of measurement for sound which an increase of 10 equal an increase by a factor of 10
Decibel db
Feature 75: Internally Generated Noise precon for?
NEI and NEB
Feature 75: Internally Generated Noise. Part 1: Acoustic Planning - must be developed. What must be done?
Must identify loud and quiet zones as well as any noise producing equipment
Plan is then used to configure the spaces to reduce noise
Feature 75: Internally Generated Noise. Part 2: Mechanical Equipment Sound Levels - requires what?
Requires spaces not exceed maximum noise criteria
o HVAC msut meet the ff
Open offices and lobbies - maximum NC of 40
Enclosed offices - maximum NC of 35
Conference rooms and breakout rooms - maximum NC f 30 (25 recommended)
Used instead of decibels for measuring sound in occupied building spaces because it is more accurately measures the low frequency noise produced by HVAC and other mechanical equipment
• Noise criteria
Feature 76: Thermal Comfort precon for?
All 3 project types
provides criteria for both mechanically ventilated and naturally conditioned spaces, which must be met for Feature 76, depending on type of ventilation system used
•ASHRAE Standard 55-2013 Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy
Feature 76: Thermal Comfort. Part 1: Ventilated Thermal Environment - requires what?
Requires all spaces in a mechanically ventilated building meet the design of ASHRAE 552013 Section 5.3: standard comfort zone compliance
Feature 76: Thermal Comfort. Part 2 Natural Thermal Adaptation - requires what?
Requires all spaces in naturally conditioned building meet criteria of ASHRAE Standard 55-2013 Section 5.4 Adaptive Comfort Model
Feature 77: Olfactory Comfort. Optimization for?
NEI and NEB
Feature 77: Olfactory Comfort. Part 1: Source separation - requires what?
Requires all restrooms, janitorial closets, etc use source separation methods to prevent strong odors from migrating to other occupied spaces
Feature 77: Olfactory Comfort. Part 1: Source separation - what must be used?
Negative pressurization
Pressure differential keeps air and odors from migrating to surrounding higher-pressure spaces. This is expensive method.
Self-closing doors - prevents airflow from one space to another
- Hallways, vestibules, or other immediate areas
2 or more sets of doorways and act as airlocks to prevent free airflow between spaces
Vestibules
Time it takes for sound to decay, expressed in seconds
Reverberation Time
can cause excessive noise levels and lead to stress, difficulty in communication, and loss of productivity
•Long reverberation time
Feature 78: Reverberation Time optimization for?
NEI and NEB
Feature 78: Reverberation Time. • Part 1: Reverberation Time requires what
- for conference room?
- for open work spaces?
o For conference room: 0.6 seconds, must take 0.6 or less for a sound to decay 60Db from original level
o Open work spaces - 0.5 seconds
Length of time taken for a sound to decay by 60db from original level
Reverberation Time 60 or RT60
Use of electronic devises to generate low level background noise. Allows increased confidentiality
Sound masking
Feature 79: Sound Masking optimization for?
NEI and NEB
Feature 79: Sound Masking. Part 1: Sound Masking Use requires what?
Requires sound masking system for all open office work spaces
For large spaces, a central control module and multiple emitters can be used
Feature 79: Sound Masking. Part • Part 2: Sound Masking Limits.
Cite limits for
- open workspaces
- enclosed offices
Open work spaces - 45 dba to 48 dba when measured from nearest work space
Enclosed offices - 40dba to 42 dba
Feature 80: Sound Reducing Surfaces optimization for?
NEI and NEB
counteract excessive sound transmission that might be present after a building is built
Sound reducing surfaces
Average value that determines the absorptive properties of materials
NRC
NRC ranges from what number to what number? describe.
0 to 1
0 indicated absolute sound reflection
1 indicated sound absorption
Acoustic ceiling tile with an NRC value of 0.65. Explain
Ceiling would absorb 65%, reflecting 35%
Feature 80: Sound Reducing Surfaces. Part 1: Ceilings requires what
- for open spaces
- conference rooms
Requires open work spaces a minimum of NRC 0.9 for entire surfaces
Conference and teleconference rooms are required to have minimum NRC of 0.8 for at least 50% of surface area
Feature 80: Sound Reducing Surfaces. Part 2: addresses the vertical surfaces in conference and telecon rooms. What are the requirements for?
- enclosed offices
- open workspaces
- partitioned offices
Requires enclosed offices minimum NRC of 0.8 for at least 25% of surface area of surrounding walls
Open work spaces must have a minimum NRC of 0.8 for at least 25% of surface area of surrounding walls
Partitioned offices must be at least 1.2m(48’’) high and have minimum NRC of .80
Feature 81
Part 1: Wall Constructions Specs requires what for interior partition wall?
Enclosed offices - cite number for
w/ sound masking and w/out sound masking.
Conference room?
With sound masking, interior partition walls must meet minimum STC of 40
Wout sound masking, must meet minimum STC 45
Conference room minimum STC of 53
Lab method for determining sound transmission through a wall
STC
Feature 81
Part 2: Doorway Specifications - requires x of x strategies. How many and what are these?
Requires at least one of 3 sound reduction strategies
o Doors connecting private offices, conference rooms:
Gaskets - strips of rubber or foam. Create an airtight seal
Sweeps - attached to bottom of door slab and seal the space
Nonhollow cores - composed of solid wod or MDF
Increased density of these door slabs reduced sound transmission
Feature 81
Part : Wall Construction Methodology requires 3 items. What are these?
Properly sealing all acoustically rated partitions at top and bottom
Staggering all gypsum board seams
Packing and sealing all penetrations through the wall
Feature 82: Individual Thermal Control optimization for?
NEI and NEB
Ability of occupants to choose their own work space within the office or workplace
Free address
Feature 82: Individual Thermal Control. Part 1: Free Address - applies to which projects?
Projects over 200 sqm
Feature 82: Individual Thermal Control. Part 1: Free Address cite the 3 requirements?
Part 2: Personal Thermal Comfort Devices requires what?
Part 1a: requires that building provide thermal gradient of at lest 3 deg celsius across open spaces and between floors or in rooms more than 10 people
Part 1b: requires all open spaces with occupants performing tasks that use similar workstations allow at least 50% free address so occupants can select work space with desired temp
Part 2: Personal Thermal Comfort - requires occupants more than 10 workstations in the same HVAC zones have access to thermal comfort devices. Fans or heated/cooled office chairs
Feature 83: Radiant Thermal Comfort optimization for?
3 project types
Radiant temp system that uses water or another heat transfer fluid to carry heated or chilled water from point of generations to point of use
Hydronic radiant heating or cooling systems
Uses heat created by resistance of wiring to electrical current
Electric radiant system
Feature 83: Radiant Thermal Comfort. Part 1: Lobbies and common spaces requires to follow which standards?
And by using what?
In which areas?
ASHRAE Standard 55-2013
Hydronic radiant heating/cooling systems or
Electric radiant systems
Include elevators, stairs, atrium, restrooms
Feature 83: Radiant Thermal Comfort. Part 2: Offices and Other Regularly Occupied Spaces requires requires to follow which standards?
And by using what?
Requires at least 50% of floor area in all offices meet ASHRAE Standard 55-2013
Hydronic radiant heating/cooling systems or
Electric radiant systems
Leading source of dissatisfaction within the office
Acoustic problems
Adverse effects related to ergonomics
Musculoskeletal
Nervous Systems
Low back pain affects ___ of Americans
___ days of work missed
31 million
380,600
___% or ___million of all disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) resulted from musculoskeletal disorders
7%
169 Million
In the US how many only provided acceptable thermal comfort?
11%
Traffic noise causes which diseases?
What’s its effect in behavior?
Diabetis
Stroke
Heart Attack
Reduced reaction time
Increased Annoyance
Internally generated noise can lead to?
Reduced concentration
Reduce mental arithmetic performance
Increased distraction
Balancing of heat gains and losses to maintain body’s core temp within range of 36-38 degrees
homeothermy
Thermal comfort is regulated by which part of the brain?
Hypothalamus
Thermal comfort can affect
mood
performance
productivity
Olfactory discomfort can trigger?
eye, nose, throat irritation
nausea
headaches
