The performance and subjective responses of call-center operators with new and used supply air filters at two outdoor air supply rates

Abstract

A 2 x 2 replicated field intervention experiment was conducted in a call-center providing a telephone directory service: outdoor air supply rate was adjusted to be 8% or 80% of the total airflow of 430 l/s (3.5 /h) and the supply air filters were either new or had been in place for 6 months. One of these independent variables was changed each week for 8 weeks. The interventions did not affect room temperature, relative humidity or noise level. The 26 operators were blind to conditions and each week returned questionnaires recording their environmental perceptions and Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) symptoms. Their performance was continuously monitored by recording the average talk-time every 30 min. Replacing a used filter with a clean filter reduced talk-time by about 10% at the high ventilation rate but had no significant effect at the low rate. Increasing the outdoor air supply rate reduced talk-time by 6% with a new filter in place but increased talk-time by 8% with a used filter in place. The interventions also had significant effects on some SBS symptoms and environmental perceptions. The present results indicate that increasing outdoor air supply rate and replacing filters can have positive effects on health, comfort and performance. Supply air filters should be changed frequently not just because their airflow resistance increases progressively but because they degrade air quality with negative consequences for health, comfort and the performance of office work, all of which are factors that affect office productivity (profitability). Increasing outdoor air supply rates may only be beneficial when new filters are installed. Unwanted negative effects may be produced when used filters are in place. Filter condition (used or new) should always be recorded to make it possible to draw sound conclusions in studies of the effects of outdoor air supply rates on building occupants.