Semi-Structured Interview Summary

Within this section a series of views were collected in terms of what is seen as important across a spectrum of subject matter experts and as building occupants.

Table 39 indicates the key issues noted from the interviews. The feedback from the SME’s was used to construct the POE survey detailed and elements of the AHP importance questionnaire.

Some of the more interesting feedback during the interviews was the general acceptance that the workplace was secondary to completing the task and that integrated feedback would be useful. The changing nature of work and the places work is conducted is fundamentally changing, through hot-desking, causal spaces and the tasks being performed becoming more ICT supported. Workplaces should just be spaces with minimal conscious impact to allow the task to be performed.

The key aspect associated with this research confirms occupant and building bi-directional connectivity were feedback would be extremely useful. However, there is some real concern at the ability of current BMS to successfully mange this task given the complexity of the integration across many demands and systems.

At the system, protocol and inter-connectivity level of building devices, this will need to be fundamentally addressed to allow such functionality to exist. None of the respondents could advise as to what level of integration should be achieved, however, this was assessed as the lack of available knowledge in this area. In

addition the ability of systems to affectively control multiple occupied spaces all with specific individual requirements is seen as a major obstacle.

Semi-Structured Interview Keys Responses

Q Question (short form) Key Responses/Comments (words)

Q1 Clean Fresh Air

Control of smells; Seasonal awareness/management; external internal differences; definition of cleanliness & freshness; relative to location;

expensive; available technology; lack of clarity within standards and regulations; how to measure and present; lack of investment to achieve best practice.

Q2 Inclusive Day-lighting and Artificial Lighting

Light spectrum; colour rendering issues; external control by façade; interval control by system; internal; external light levels controllability; external glare;

manual/automatic control; measurement essential; energy saving controls;

internally bland lighting schemes; daylight perimeter controls; uniformity issues connecting daylight with internal lighting; dimming options; external blind control; investment effectiveness.

Q3 Integrating Thermal Comfort

Cost prohibitive; level of intervention; occupant interface; system awareness;

understanding the issues; intelligent learning systems; Complexity; inter-operability problems; manual + auto intervention; home v office why the difference; variation; individual requirements; transitionary spaces; where and how to measure; feedback essential; artificial intelligence;

Q4 Intelligent Building Controls

Feedback strategy; what protocols; poor functionality with current BMS;

philosophy; vision; interface; not to complicate; occupant requirements;

minimal control; maximum feedback; user interfaces; portals; apps; phones;

what to control and feedback; sensory exchange information; no

psychological response; Helpdesk automation; common simple language.

Q5 Workplace Standards and Inter-Operability

Engineering/architectural standards; common language; alignment;

demographics; IEQ framework of ideas; energy savings; lack of guidance;

consistency; life cycle benefits; multiple platforms; feedback; individuals.

Q6 Occupant Satisfaction and Well-being

Ergonomics; reducing absenteeism; break out spaces; quiet spaces; IAQ;

acoustic control; IEQ factors essential; CO2 monitoring; measurement;

feedback; invisible factor; day-light; dimming; No hassle; Good quality ICT;

simple operations; germ control; pollutants; management.

Q7 Noise & Vibration

Hearing; poor acoustic design; quiet zones; internal external noise intrusion;

definition of noise; architectural design; hard surfaces; distraction;

concentration; reverberation; meeting room noise transfer; background noise;

intrusion; seasonal differences;

Q8 Sick Building Syndrome

Historical; improving standards; ventilation; CO2 control; measurement;

lighting; IAQ; thermal management; sensory needs; levels; thresholds;

feedback; smells; VOC’s; economical default; particulates; knowledge;

symptom recognition; how to measure; control; feedback.

Q9 Indoor Air Quality

Human receptors; sensors; recognising; lack of awareness; connectivity;

internal; external; holistic; solution; contamination; pollutants; measurements;

feedback; fundamental; constituent; control; bacteria; viruses; bugs;

particulates; quantifiable; metric; definition; energy; analysis; standards;

investment; illnesses; air quality v water quality;

Q10 Workplace IEQ Factors

Ergonomics; break out space; IEQ factors; cultural; colours; choice; sensory;

work/task focus; building secondary to task; good ICT; simulated; sterile;

acoustic design; vistas; softer elements; solutions; pleasant; feedback important; visual; controls; basic needs; individual requirements; best ICT:

security; safe; cleanliness; adequate; acceptable; relaxing.

Table 38 - Key Semi-Structured Interview/Survey SME Comments

A keep it simple principle therefore appears essential to maintaining good quality buildings. If we over complicate the building controls, likelihood is when the systems fail, IEQ factors will become a major issue.

One specific element not expected was the measurement, control and management of illness from bacteria, virus and “bugs” something very little attention is offered currently. More attention seems to be needed in this area and sufficient technology exists to contribute a solution, however, it is likely to be cost prohibitive unless tangible benefits can be realised.

Therefore in summary, the key aspects determined which contribute to achieving a better workplace can be assessed as follows:

1. Improving fresh air knowledge, awareness and affordability.

2. Development of integrated and robust feedback and control systems.

3. Improvement in standards, interoperability and guidance documents.

4. Defining IEQ factors and driving better knowledge exchange and awareness.

5. Overall agreement for connecting the building and occupant together.

6. Noise remains a significant issue to solve by better architectural design.

7. Thermal comfort although understood is still a key issue to manage.

8. Indoor air quality needs to be defined and made more affordable.

9. A need to address airborne contaminants previously ignored.

10. IEQ factors need to be mutually connected to create a better workplace.