INVESTIGATION OF AIR QUALITY AND THERMAL ENVIRONMENTS FOR WORK PRODUCTIVITY IN AIR-CONDITIONED ROOMS IN INDONESIA

The thermal environment and air quality are the key factors in increasing work productivity. The study was conducted by measuring the physical condition of an airconditioned office space situated in Manado city in Indonesia, as a part of humid tropics region, and by distributing questionnaires to be completed by employees in three times intervals namely: morning-noon-afternoon, according to their working hours. Air temperature, relative humidity, and airflow velocity in the workspace have been substituted into the Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) and Predicted Percentage Dissatisfied (PPD) indices by determining the metabolic rate of 1 met and 0.57 clo clothing insulation value. The calculations were then compared with the results of the questionnaire. The results of physical condition measurements and employee response indicated by thermal sensation and preference were following the calculation of the PMV and PPD. In the three intervals of time, we found that all the thermal sensations of employees were in a comfortable category, with percentage variation decreasing by midday and late afternoon. The employee's thermal preferences show alignment with thermal sensations. Air quality in office space indicates that the PM2.5 level has slightly exceeded the World Health Organization's defined limit while Total indoor Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOC) is below the specified threshold during employees' working hours.