Assessment of Indoor Air Quality Parameters and Physical Building Characteristics in Selected University Libraries in Osun State, Nigeria
Abstract
This study assessed the physical characteristics of university library buildings and indoor air quality parameters in Osun State, Nigeria. Survey research method combining observation of physical characteristics of the selected library reading spaces in relation to indoor air quality, and measurement of concentration of indoor air quality criteria pollutants using Portable hand-held DM 106A air quality monitor and carbon dioxide (CO2) monitor. The results of the analysis revealed thus: window-to-wall area ratio (WWR) of both OAU and BOWEN libraries exceeded prescriptive maximum limit of 40%; indoor dust concentration through openings contrasted between OUI and BOWEN libraries and confirmed; outdoor temperature and relative humidity were below national metrological range and were significant (p = 0.0015 and p < 0.001 respectively); indoor CO2 ranged between 415ppm and 626ppm but was below maximum allowable limit of 1000 ppm; Total Volatile Organic compounds and Formaldehyde levels could not be confirmed due to limitation of instrument; indoor PM2.5 was significantly different across the libraries, (p = 0.004). Correlations between indoor and outdoor temperatures across the libraries showed very strong, linear and positive relationship, Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.926, p-value = 0.001; between indoor and outdoor relative humidity, Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.915, p-value = 0.001, strong and statistically significant relationship. The study concluded that the indoor air quality status of the selected university libraries was enhanced by appropriate composition of design elements in relation to the prevailing environmental parameters, and users’ spatial functional requirements. However, subsequent study may deploy lower-limit sensitivity of gas chromatography or photo ionization detectors to ascertain the extent of Total Volatile Organic compounds and Formaldehyde in the reading space.