Assessing Ghanaian Workplace Performance in Multi-Storey Office Buildings.

Abstract

The effects of the work space environment on worker productivity as well as comfort and work space quality have been widely researched into and have gained much importance with the European “Energy Performance of Buildings Directive” of 2001. Within the framework of a study on the ‘Thermal Performance of Multi-Storey Office Buildings”, 195 occupants in such buildings were surveyed before, during, and at the end of a 12 month monitoring period. The objective of the study was to find out how occupants measured their work spaces and to what extent did the work environment affect their day to day activities.  Data loggers were mounted in selected offices to record indoor physical parameters. 4 office buildings in Accra were selected for the study: 3 air-conditioned and 1 naturally ventilated building. The results indicated among others that whiles 2 of the air-conditioned buildings were comfortable, 1 was interestingly uncomfortable together with the naturally ventilated building. Moreover, about 80% of the occupants’ with open plan workstations expressed dissatisfaction about their spaces commenting that they lack privacy whiles those in enclosed offices had positive comments about their spaces. Furthermore, the users ranked air quality, thermal comfort, and fire safety among others in order of importance as features needed for successful operation of multi-storey office buildings. Thermal comfort was ranked to have a higher importance than acoustic comfort but not air quality. In terms of health complaints, general fatigue, neck pains, stiffness of limbs and backache were amongst the frequently experienced problems.

The study would inform building operators/managers on the efficient ways of organising work spaces for occupant satisfaction and maximizing productivity.

Keywords: Comfort, Occupants, Health, Air quality, Indoor environment.