published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

M.Tech. (Building Science) / A cross sectional survey was conducted in an air-conditioned building and a naturally ventilated building to establish the prevalence of Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) in these Johannesburg buildings. Numerous studies conducted in other countries have found that the prevalence of SBS symptoms are usually higher in sealed airconditioned buildings than naturally ventilated buildings. The study was conducted in two stages namely a questionnaire and indoor environmental survey which was conducted in both buildings. The results of the questionnaire survey showed that: ' All symptom prevalences in both building populations were very closely related, however the SBS symptoms in building B were more common than air-conditioned building. The indoor environmental survey measured the following parameters: carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, nitric oxide, total nitrogen oxides, total non methane hydrocarbons, respirable dust, asbestos, sound levels. No measurements were above any threshold limit values or relevant scientifically acceptable standards, however in the air-conditioned building levels of some pollutants were higher than the naturally ventilated building. The study found that the prevailences of SBS type symptoms in the naturally ventilated building were higher than those in the air-conditioned building. The type of building population could also affect the outcome as has been found by researchers in the United Kingdom. The predominant population in the naturally ventilated building consisted of government employees which could have affected symptom prevalence.

M. Tech. Environmental Health / The purpose of the study was to determine the knowledge and perception of the Environmental Health Practitioner regarding enforcing environmental health legislation and the procedures which must be followed in terms of building control. The objectives of the study were: to determine the knowledge of the Environmental Health Practitioner regarding enforcing environmental health legislation on building plans; to determine the perceptions of the Environmental Health Practitioner towards their roles and responsibility to enforce environmental health legislation through building control; to determine the perceptions of the Environmental Health Practitioner regarding the working relationship between environmental health and building control; and to compare the practical application when building plans are scrutinised by Environmental Health Practitioner with the legal requirements needed to prevent environmental health hazards.

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The efficacy of indoor environment evaluation is, in part, a function of the reliability and validity of the different measures used. This thesis presents results of a study, conducted in a building without known problems, which compares the reliability and validity of sensory comfort components from three well-known survey questionnaires. A review of literature reveals that sensory comfort theory draws upon many disciplines including, hedonics, psychometrics, and olfaction theory. The fundamental domains thermal, air quality, lighting, and acoustics and their dimensions are identified. The conceptual model integrates these theories underlying human response to sensory comfort. The research questions involved in the selection of survey questionnaires are explored by examining sixteen indoor environment survey questionnaires. A meta-evaluation reveals that these questionnaires have three major functions, proactive, reactive, and re-evaluative studies. Finally, the methods used to analyze survey questionnaires for reliability and validity are examined. An analysis of variance shows that the order in which questions were presented did not affect responses. The reliability of the measures tested ranged from poor to good. Examination of content and face validity by expert and untrained judges demonstrates inconsistencies in common or accepted meanings of the measures considered in evaluating the indoor environment. Analysis of construct validity indicates that not all survey questionnaire variables were categorized under their expected dimensions. Contrary to advice found in the literature, this thesis suggests that the practice of combining items from different questionnaires is problematic. Finally, in buildings with known problems we can expect a relatively high degree of reliability and validity. However, the utility of such questionnaires in inventorying and assessing buildings without known problems will prove to be questionable. / Master of Urban and Regional Planning

Thesis (MTech. degree in Architectural Technology)--Tshwane University of Technology, 2013. / The aim of this study was to conduct a Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) of a Green Star SA certified office building in order to determine to what extent this building performs in terms of the Internal Environmental Quality (IEQ) from the perspective of the occupants as well as the effect of POE on the occupants' health and productivity. The objectives were to measure employees' satisfaction with the IEQ in a green building; to determine whether the health of the occupants is satisfactory in a green building; and to determine whether the health of the employees and their perceived productivity are influenced by IEQ in a green building.