Key elements of the indoor climate

The indoor climate is a general indicator of the quality of conditions inside a building. The indoor climate is determined by many factors, including lighting, air quality, and damp conditions.

The four main components we can measure

As you can see in the image below there are four main factors that we take into consideration when trying so see if we have a good indoor climate or not:

Air
Light
Comfort
Sound

All of these combined impact how we feel when spending time indoors. By measuring each of these factors it is possible to gain a good understanding of the inside environments that we spend so much time in.

Click on the below interactive image to find out more.

Air

Air is the substance that we breath, it can also be referred to as the atmosphere. It is made up of mainly oxygen and nitrogen, however the air contains other substances that if out of balance can be harmful to our health.

The air we breathe is made up of different contaminants including:

Carbon dioxide (CO2) – what humans and animals breathe out
Particulate matter – extremely tiny liquid droplets and small particles
Carbon monoxide (CO) – formed by burning fuel
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) – toxins from building materials such as paint and plastic

Light

Light is electromagnetic radiation that is seen by the human eye, however within an indoor space there is more than meets the eye.

The quality of light in a space can be measured by the following:

Illuminance – the light that is cast onto an area
Illumination – the brightness and intensity coming from the source of light
Ambient lighting – also known mood lighting, can be natural or from candles etc
Lighting controllability – the ability to control the light within a space, for example through switches or LED light bulbs
Access to daylight and views – natural light through large windows for example

Light within an indoor space can also be referred to as indoor lighting quality or visual comfort.

Comfort

Comfort refers to how we feel in the indoor environment, it mainly involves temperature, humidity and air speed.

The factors involved in comfort are:

Air temperature
Temperature difference – different spaces may have different temperatures depending on their height
Average temperature of a room
Temperature of the floor, walls or ceiling surfaces
Humidity
Air speed (from draughts and ventilation systems)
Our metabolic rate
The type of clothing we wear

The comfort of a room can also be referred to as indoor thermal quality or thermal comfort.

Sound

Sound is energy that is made through vibrations.

Sound can be measure and explained by the following parameters:

Sound pressure – the volume of the sound, often measured in decibels
Noise criteria – the level of noise allowed, for example in a loud factory
Reverberation time – a measure of the time it takes for a sound to fade
Vibration – perceptible vibration coming from an elevator or HVAC system for example
Electromagnetic frequency levels - generated by forces associated with electric charges in motion, or by microwaves, radio waves, electrical currents, and transformers

Sound can also be referred to as indoor sound quality or acoustical conditions.