Ergonomics of the physical environment -- Assessment of environments by means of an environmental survey involving physical measurements of the environment and subjective responses of people
This International Standard provides an environmental survey method for the assessment of the comfort and well-being of occupants of indoor and outdoor environments. It is not restricted to any particular environment, but provides the general principles that allow assessment and evaluation. It presents the principles for conducting an environmental survey to assess the comfort and well-being of people in environments. It gives guidance on the design of the survey, as well as on the environmental measurements used to quantify the environment and the subjective assessment methods used to quantify the occupants’ responses to that environment. It does not provide guidance on the design of subjective scales. It is applicable to built as well as other environments, including vehicle and outdoor environments, and to all the occupants of those environments who can be considered as providing valid responses to an environmental survey. There may be specific features of certain types of environment that have to be taken into account; however, the general principles it outlines will apply. This International Standard is not restricted to specific environmental components. It includes assessment of thermal environments, the acoustic environment, the visual and lit environment, air quality and other environmental factors that could be considered to influence the comfort and well-being of the occupants of an environment. It is a basic ergonomics standard which can contribute to the development of standards concerned with specific environments such as those found in buildings. It is intended to be used by people involved in the general assessment and evaluation of physical environments, including general ergonomics practitioners as well as those who develop standards and guidelines for specific applications. NOTE The results of the environmental survey produced by the application of this International Standard may identify specific problems that require expert advice.