Ahmed Mazroei

Bio: Ahmed Mazroei is an academic researcher from Qatar Airways. The author has contributed to research in topics: Thermal comfort & Productivity. The author has an hindex of 3, co-authored 5 publications receiving 661 citations.

Impact of indoor environmental quality on occupant well-being and comfort: A review of the literature

Abstract: Indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and its effect on occupant well-being and comfort is an important area of study. This paper presents a state of the art study through extensive review of the literature, by establishing links between IEQs and occupant well-being and comfort. A range of issues such as sick building syndrome, indoor air quality thermal comfort, visual comfort and acoustic comfort are considered in this paper. The complexity of the relationship between occupant comfort and well-being parameters with IEQ are further exacerbated due to relationships that these parameters have with each other as well. Based on the review of literature in these areas it is established that design of buildings needs to consider occupant well-being parameters right at the beginning. Some good practices in all these different areas have also been highlighted and documented in this paper. The knowledge established as part of this paper would be helpful for researchers, designer, engineers and facilities maintenance engineers. This paper will also be of great benefit to researchers who endeavour to undertake research in this area and could act as a good starting point for them.

Occupant productivity and indoor environment quality: A case of GSAS

Abstract: Purpose The purpose of the paper is to establish links between Indoor Environment Quality (IEQ) factors that affect occupant productivity and Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) building rating system. The paper analyses the current state of GSAS using a desktop study, survey and brainstorming session organised in a workshop with GSAS Certified Green Professionals (CGP). Methodology/design/approach The study was conducted in three steps. First, a comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify IEQ factors that influence occupant productivity in offices. The second step was a desktop analysis of current GSAS building rating system to identify criteria and submittals that may help to increase occupant productivity. It was followed by a facilitated workshop of GSAS CGPs that included a survey and a brainstorming session to highlight the current state of GSAS rated building performances on occupant productivity. The workshop was attended by 41 CGPs in Doha, Qatar. Findings The paper highlighted that GSAS needs to be updated to increase occupant productivity in GSAS rated buildings. A periodic post-occupancy survey in GSAS buildings should be mandated to ensure better occupant productivity. The paper also presented various methods to make GSAS rated buildings more occupant-friendly. Originality/value This study is the first study to analyse green building guidelines in the context of occupant productivity, especially in Qatar.

Creating a better healing environment in Qatari healthcare sector: Exploring the research agenda for the future

Abstract: Healing environment and Health Associated Infections (HAI) have been researched for more than 30 years globally. There is definitely a consensus among the researchers and practitioners about its importance. A range of issues such as knowledge management, performance management, design management and process management have been highlighted as major contributors to healing environment and HAI. This paper presents the results of a workshop conducted in Doha, Qatar with the purpose of exploring the problems encountered in the Qatari healthcare sector regarding HAI and healing environment. The major findings from the workshops indicated that there is a need for more research in the areas of knowledge management and performance management in order to better maintain healthcare facilities. The design of healthcare facilities and the implementation of green building guidelines in Qatar also need to incorporate design practices and features that can improve healing and have been researched in other parts of the world. This paper compiles the research agenda for future researchers to pursue and improve the performance and healing environment in Qatar.

Quantitative relationships between occupant satisfaction and satisfaction aspects of indoor environmental quality and building design

Abstract: Author(s): Frontczak, Monika; Schiavon, Stefano; Goins, John; Arens, Edward A; Zhang, Hui, Ph.D; Wargocki, Pawel | Abstract: The paper examines which subjectively evaluated indoor environmental parameters and building features mostly affect occupants’ satisfaction in mainly US office buildings. The study analyzed data from a web-based survey administered to 52,980 occupants in 351 office buildings over ten years by the Center for the Built Environment. The survey uses 7-point ordered scale questions pertaining to satisfaction with indoor environmental parameters, workspace and building features. The average building occupant was satisfied with his/her workspace and building. Proportional odds ordinal logistic regression shows that satisfaction with all 15 parameters listed in the survey contributed significantly to overall workspace satisfaction. The most important parameters were satisfaction with amount of space (odds ratio OR 1.57, CI: 1.55-1.59), noise level (OR 1.27, CI: 1.25-1.29) and visual privacy (OR 1.26, CI: 1.24-1.28). Satisfaction with amount of space was ranked to be the most important influence for workspace satisfaction, regardless of age group (below 30, 31-50 or over 50 years old), gender, type of office (single or shared offices, or cubicles), distance of workspace from a window (within 4.6 m or further) or satisfaction level with workspace (satisfied or dissatisfied). Satisfaction with amount of space was not related to the gross amount of space available per person.PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONSTo maximize workspace satisfaction designer should invest in aspects which increase satisfaction with amount of space and storage, noise level and visual privacy. Office workers will be most satisfied with their workspace and building when located close to a window in a private office. This may affect job satisfaction, work performance and personal and company productivity.

Workspace satisfaction: The privacy-communication trade-off in open-plan offices - eScholarship

Abstract: Open-plan office layout is commonly assumed to facilitate communication and interaction between co-workers, promoting workplace satisfaction and team-work effectiveness. On the other hand, open-plan layouts are widely acknowledged to be more disruptive due to uncontrollable noise and loss of privacy. Based on the occupant survey database from Center for the Built Environment (CBE), empirical analyses indicated that occupants assessed Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) issues in different ways depending on the spatial configuration (classified by the degree of enclosure) of their workspace. Enclosed private offices clearly outperformed open-plan layouts in most aspects of IEQ, particularly in acoustics, privacy and the proxemics issues. Benefits of enhanced ‘ease of interaction’ were smaller than the penalties of increased noise level and decreased privacy resulting from open-plan office configuration.

Green roofs and facades: A comprehensive review

Abstract: Based on United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), building sector accounts for 40% of total energy consumption. In European countries, 36% of total greenhouse gas emissions is attributed to buildings. In this respect, green roofs are considered to be one of the most appropriate sustainable solutions to resolve the urban heat island-related issues. Roofs account for nearly 20–25% of overall urban surface areas. Energy saving, thermal insulation, shading and evapotranspiration features highlight the key role of green roofs in overall thermal performance of buildings and microclimatic conditions of indoor environments. Within the scope of this research, the concept of green roofs and facades is comprehensively analysed in a holistic and thematic way. Following a historical overview of the technology, the research is split into various subfields such as energy saving in buildings through greenery systems, multifunctional thermal benefits including evapotranspiration, thermal insulation, shading and thermal comfort features, evaporative cooling for reducing cooling demand and minimising wind driven convection losses. The results achieved from the literature survey clearly indicate that green roofs and facades are key solutions to mitigate building-related energy consumptions and greenhouse gas emissions. According to the previous works, heat flow through the building roofs in summer can be reduced by approximately 80% via green roofs. The green roofs are reported to consume less energy in the range of 2.2–16.7% than traditional roofs during summer time. A similar tendency is observed for the winter season depending on regional and climatic conditions. The temperature difference between conventional and greens roofs in winter is found to be about 4 °C, which is remarkable. Energy demand of buildings in summer is highly dependent on the plant intensity as it is reported to be 23.6, 12.3 and 8.2 kWh/m2/year for extensive, semi-intensive and intensive greenery surface, respectively. Greenery systems are also capable of providing thermally comfortable indoor and outdoor conditions. It is underlined that the annual average accumulation of CO2 reaches the level of 13.41–97.03 kg carbon/m2 for 98 m2 of vertical greenery system. The results of this research can be useful for dwellers, builders, architects, engineers and policy makers to have a good understanding about the potential of green roofs and facades to mitigate building-related energy consumptions and carbon emissions in a renewable, sustainable, energy-efficient and cost effective way.

Biophilic Design: The Theory, Science, and Practice of Bringing Buildings to Life

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