Comfort Background & Requirements

Question 1

Employee surveys show that ____ are a leading source of dissatisfaction within the environmental conditions of an office.

Answer 1

Acoustic problems

Question 2

As acoustic comfort is determined in part by the physical properties and contents of environments, The WELL Building Standard tends to mitigate ___ in order to enhance ___..

Answer 2

Mitigate unwanted indoor noise levels and reduce exterior noise intrusion

Social interaction, learning, satisfaction and productivity

Question 3

What plays a significant role in mitigating physical and

mental stress in an interior environment?

Answer 3

Ergonomics and universal design

Question 4

Most of the adverse health effects related to ergonomics are seen in the ____ and ___of the human body.

Answer 4

Musculoskeletal and Nervous systems

Question 5

What are some Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)? How common are they?

Answer 5

Low back pain, Neck pain, Osteoarthritis

These are common in nearly all populations

Question 6

Low back pain affects about ____Americans, and ___of work were missed in 2013 due to Musculoskeletal disorders. This accounts for ___ of all days missed.

Answer 6

31M
380,600 days
1/3

Question 7

What is the percentage of DALYs resulted from Musculoskeletal disorders?

Answer 7

7%

Question 8

What are the 6 primary personal and environmental variables that contribute to an occupant’s thermal comfort:

Answer 8

Air speed
Clothing
Dry bulb temperature (air temperature)
Humidity
Metabolic rate
Radiant temperature

Question 9

What standards must a building comply with to meet the requirements of Feature 72 Accessible Design?

Answer 9

Current ADA Standards for Accessible Design or comparable local code or standards.

ISO 21542 - Building Construction - Accessibility and Usability of the Built Environment.

Question 10

What causes discomfort and strain in the body, especially in occupational environments that require repetitive tasks over time?

Answer 10

Overuse of the same muscles and ligaments while trying to adjust to static furniture or equipment

Question 11

What are the requirements to comply with Feature 73 Ergonomics: Visual and Physical?

Answer 11

Ensure that all computer monitors and laptops have adjustable height and distance to the user.

30% of workstations have sit/stand capability.

Workstation seating height and depth complies with HFES 100 standard or BIFMA G1 guidelines.

Question 12

Studies show that individuals exposed to traffic noise have a higher risk for ____.

Answer 12

Diabetes
Heart attack
Stroke

Question 13

Studies show that individuals exposed to road traffic

and aircraft noises have a higher risk for ___.

Answer 13

Hypertension

Question 14

Exposure to noise can lead to ___.

Answer 14

Reduced reaction time and increased levels of annoyance.

Question 15

To comply with Feature 74 Outside Noise Intrusion, average sound pressure levels from outside noise intrusion must ____.

Answer 15

Must not exceed 50 dBA for each regularly occupied space (as measured when the space and adjacent spaces are unoccupied, but within 1 hour of normal business hours).

Example of noise at 50 dBA: moderate rain, washing machine.
Human reaction: the beginning of disturbance.

Question 16

Studies show that exposure to noise generated within the building can lead to ___.

Answer 16

Reduced concentration
Reduced mental arithmetic performance
Increased distraction due to reduced speech privacy

Question 17

What must the acoustic plan include to comply with Feature 75: Internally Generated Noise?

Answer 17

• Loud and quiet zones

- Identify noisy equipment in the space

Question 18

What requirements must the mechanical equipment system meet once interior build-out is complete to comply with Feature 75: Internally Generated Noise?

Answer 18

• Open office spaces and lobbies that are regularly occupied and/or contain workstations: maximum noise criteria (NC) of 40.
• Enclosed offices: maximum noise criteria (NC) of 35.
• Conference rooms and breakout rooms: maximum noise criteria (NC) of 30 (25 recommended).

Question 19

What is the process called of maintaining the core body temperature between 97-100 °F? What is it regulated by?

Answer 19

Homeothermy

Hypothalamus

Question 20

What can thermal comfort affect?

Answer 20

Mood
Performance
Productivity

Question 21

To comply with Feature 76: Thermal Comfort must meet the following for Mechanically-ventilated spaces?

Answer 21

ASHRAE Standard 55, Standard Comfort Zone Compliance

Question 22

To comply with Feature 76: Thermal Comfort must meet the following for Naturally-ventilated spaces?

Answer 22

ASHRAE Standard 55, Adaptive Comfort Model

Question 23

Excessively strong or distinct odors can ___.

Answer 23

Disrupt physical and psychological comfort, and trigger eye, nose and throat irritation, nausea and headaches.

Question 24

To comply with Feature 77: Olfactory Comfort what areas must comply with source separation?

Answer 24

All restrooms, janitorial closets, kitchens, cafeterias and pantries.

Question 25

What separation strategies are required to achieve Feature 77: Olfactory Comfort?

Answer 25

- Negative pressurization - Self-closing doors - Hallways, vestibules or other intermediate areas - Interstitial Rooms

Question 26

What is the definition of Reverberation Time? What is the most common RT?

Answer 26

Reverberation time (RT60) describes the length of time taken for a sound to decay by 60 dB from its original level.

Question 27

What are the 2 spaces addressed in Feature 78: Reverberation Time? What is the maximum requirement for RT60 in each?

Answer 27

Conference rooms: 0.6 seconds. | Open workspaces: 0.5 seconds.

Question 28

What is reported as a specific cause of employee acoustic dissatisfaction in open offices?

Answer 28

Overhearing private conversations

Question 29

The requirements of Feature 79: Sound Masking applies to what type of office space?

Answer 29

All open workspaces

Question 30

If sound masking is used the sound levels must fall into the following range for what 2 types of spaces?

Answer 30

Open workspaces: 45 - 48 dBA | Enclosed offices: 40 - 42 dBA

Question 31

What are some examples of sound absorptive treatments?

Answer 31

Wall panels Ceiling baffles Surface enhancements

Question 32

Sound reduction treatments that incorporate | absorptive surfaces can help with___?

Answer 32

Reverberation management and improve acoustic comfort

Question 33

What is the NRC of a material?

Answer 33

Noise reducing coefficient is an average value that determines its absorptive properties. The larger the NRC value, the better the material is at absorbing sound under standardized conditions.

Question 34

What does Feature 80: Sound Reducing Surfaces relate to?

Answer 34

Ceilings and Vertical Surfaces

Question 35

The following spaces, if present, have ceilings and vertical surfaces that meet what NRC specifications to achieve Feature 80: Sound Reducing Surfaces?

Answer 35

Ceilings: - Open workspaces: Minimum NRC of 0.9 for the entire surface area of the ceiling. - Conference and teleconference rooms: minimum NRC of 0.8 on at least 50% of the surface area of the ceiling Walls: - Open workspaces: minimum NRC of 0.8 on at least 25% of the surface area of the surrounding walls. - Enclosed offices, conference and teleconference rooms: minimum NRC of 0.8 on at least 25% of the surface area of interior surrounding walls. - Partitioned office spaces: partitions reach at least 1.2 m [48 inches] and have a minimum NRC of 0.8.

Question 36

What can greatly improve the sound reducing abilities of interior partitions or doors that act as sound barriers and reduce sound transmission between adjacent spaces.

Answer 36

Careful detailing and high quality construction materials

Question 37

What is the minimum STC for enclosed offices and conference/teleconference spaces as outlined in Feature 81: Sound Barriers?

Answer 37

Wall Construction Specifications A. Enclosed offices: -Minimum STC of 40 when a sound masking system is present -Minimum STC of 45 when no sound masking system is used. B. Conference rooms/Teleconference rooms: -Minimum STC of 53 on walls adjoining private offices, conference rooms or other teleconference rooms.

Question 38

What doorway construction material options are required to be used to achieve Feature 81: Sound Barriers?

Answer 38

Doorway Specifications: - Gaskets - Sweeps - Non-hollow core.

Question 39

To meet the requirements of Feature 81: Sound Barriers, all interior walls enclosing regularly occupied spaces are constructed for optimal performance through the following:

Answer 39

Wall Construction Methodology: - Properly sealing all acoustically rated partitions at the top and bottom tracks - Staggering all gypsum board seams. - Packing and sealing all penetrations through the wall.

Question 40

How do the wall construction methods help provide a barrier to sounds from adjacent spaces?

Answer 40

By reducing air gaps and limiting sound transmission

Question 41

What impacts individual thermal comfort?

Answer 41

Body type Clothing Metabolism

Question 42

Projects over 200 m² meet the following free address requirements outlined in Feature 82: Individual Thermal Comfort.

Answer 42

-The building provides a thermal gradient of at least 5°F across open workspaces and between floors or rooms with more than 10 people. -All open office spaces with occupants performing tasks that require similar workstations allow for at least 50% free address to allow occupants to select a work space with a desired temperature.

Question 43

As outlined in Feature 82: Individual Thermal Comfort, in spaces with 10 or more workstations in the same heating or cooling zone what must be provided to occupants?

Answer 43

Occupants must have access to personal thermal comfort devices such as fans (excluding space heaters).

Question 44

What are some of the benefits of having a Radiant Thermal Comfort System?

Answer 44

-Saved floor space -Lower dust transportation -Increased thermal comfort through the separation of temperature controls and outdoor air supply systems -Mean radiant temperature in a space can be lower compared providing the benefit of a slightly higher relative humidity in winter time

Question 45

To meet the requirements of feature 83: Radiant Thermal Comfort, all lobbies and other common spaces must use of one of the following systems:

Answer 45

Lobbies & Other Common Public Spaces: - Hydronic radiant heating and/or cooling systems - Electric radiant systems

Question 46

To meet the requirements of feature 83: Radiant Thermal Comfort, at least 50% of the floor area in all offices and other regularly occupied spaces must use of one of the following systems:

Answer 46

Offices & Other Regularly Occupied Spaces: - Hydronic radiant heating and/or cooling systems - Electric radiant systems

Question 47

What is the measurement of sound used in Feature 74: External Noise Intrusions?

Answer 47

dBA

Question 48

What is the measurement of sound used in Feature 75: Internally Generated Sound?

Answer 48

NC

Question 49

What is the measurement of sound used in Feature 78: Reverberation Time?

Answer 49

RT60

Question 50

What is the measurement of sound used in Feature 79: Sound Masking?

Answer 50

dBA

Question 51

What is the measurement of sound used in Feature 80: Sound Reducing Materials?

Answer 51

NRC

Question 52

What is the measurement of sound used in Feature 81: Sound Barriers?

Answer 52

STC