The Effect of Personalized Ventilation on Work Productivity

As compared to mixing ventilation systems, the personalized ventilation system (PV) can help to create a healthy and comfortable working environment with a simultaneous reduction of energy consumption. This latter aspect should be of particular significance for employers and investors who bear responsibility for office space conditions. The parameter which is of paramount interest for this group of people is productivity as it translates into a company’s revenue. Hence, the objective of the study presented in this article was to determine which conditions of air supply, supply temperature and room temperature would have optimum impact on an occupant’s ability to work most productively. These parameters were assessed by the means of an objective concentration test, a subjective test for diagnosing mental fatigue and mood, and a subjective test to assess work productivity. The results of the tests showed that for optimum user comfort and productivity, the air supplied from a PV system should be directed towards the face, both in the case of space heating and cooling. For winter conditions, the greatest number of positive responses, given by volunteers with regard to fatigue, mood and work productivity was a PV supply of air to the face or ankles at a temperature of 22 oC, combined with an ambient room temperature of 20 oC. For summer the largest number of positive responses concerning fatigue and mood as well as work productivity was for air supplied at face level at a temperature of 24 oC and at an ambient room temperature of 26 oC.