WHY INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY IS A LIFE SAFETY ISSUE

ASHRAE Presidential Member Dennis Knight places life safety at the forefront of healthy building design, emphasising that IEQ directly impacts health, wellbeing, and productivity

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For decades, the conversation around buildings focused on energy efficiency, structural safety, and aesthetic appeal. But recent research and industry developments are shifting the focus toward a less tangible, but equally critical element: human health. Indoor environmental quality (IEQ) is emerging as a defining factor in building design, operations, and corporate responsibility, and it may well be one of the most important determinants of long-term wellbeing.

Buildings shape the environments in which people spend the vast majority of their lives, studies suggest up to 90% of our time is indoors. Every design choice, from ventilation and lighting to acoustics and material selection, can have profound impacts on occupant health and productivity.

Researchers at institutions such as the Harvard University have found that access to clean, well-maintained indoor environments can influence overall health as much as healthcare itself, sometimes even outweighing genetic factors. This insight underlines a central truth: engineers, designers, and facility managers are on the front line of public health, and their decisions carry real-world consequences.

The pillars of a healthy building

IEQ encompasses multiple components: air, water, light, acoustics, and thermal comfort, among others. Air quality is perhaps the most immediate concern. Indoor pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and elevated CO₂ levels can reduce cognitive function, affect productivity, and exacerbate chronic health conditions. Research demonstrates that even modest increases in CO₂ levels, above roughly 1,000 parts per million, can impair performance, with levels approaching 2,500 parts per million producing significant cognitive decline. Proper ventilation, filtration, and monitoring strategies, guided by standards such as ASHRAE 62.1 are critical for mitigating these risks.