User satisfaction evaluation of indoor environmental quality for office buildings

To ensure enclosed spaces with comfortable conditions and satisfactory for people, the indoor environment needs to be evaluated, which requires aggregating data to provide a picture of overall building performance. Recommendations for assessing Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) satisfaction point towards advanced methods in new and innovative approaches, suggesting assessing it from the combination of quantitative and qualitative data that provide empirical information to improve the indoor environment. This research aims to propose an assessment framework for user satisfaction with the workplace regarding Internal Environmental Quality for office buildings, focusing on a longitudinal survey to identify occupants? perception of IEQ related issues for a comprehensive building diagnosis. In that matter, an assessment framework is proposed, focusing on occupancy phase of Building Performance Evaluation (BPE), intended to create a clear and gradual process of data collection for problem identification, implementation of necessary corrective actions, and further follow up for reevaluation. This continuous evaluation process aligns with BPE model, and not only allows long-term adaptation but, mainly, suggests also continuous improvement of user satisfaction with IEQ assessed parameters. The assessment framework consists of three main modules, designed to be performed on a mixedmethod approach combining quantitative (physical measurements of the building's environmental parameters) and qualitative (user survey instruments) data, aiming at triangulation purposes. Within such context, this research focuses on developing a survey instrument (longitudinal questionnaire) to collect data regarding users' perception of IEQ. To reduce the questionnaire extent and yet address all relevant topics, the instrument? main structure was divided into two hierarchical parts: I ? domain identification and II ? detailing questions. The designed instrument was tested in order to identify weaknesses and necessary adjustments. Tests were conducted to gather evidence of content and face validity. A wider test application was carried in a pilot study with office employees in general to simulate the real application, which reached 115 volunteers. Participants evaluation of the questionnaire showed suitability of the instrument to measure IEQ satisfaction with their work environment, obtaining an average score of 4.75 out of 5 points. Exploring pilot study data obtained, performance indicators were suggested as well as possible complementary results to be extracted from instrument? application, that can assist understanding of building specific particularities and support decision-making process by helping to identify possible recommendations for IEQ and user satisfaction enhancement, for example data stratification by type of layout and time at the workstation. Critical analysis of pilot study results also raised other major instrument' reviews, such as setting all questions to be evaluated on a 5-point scale, privacy section, and randomization of items lists.