Williams, P (1999) The successful management of air conditioned environments for the construction industry. In: Hughes, W (ed.) Proceedings of 15th Annual ARCOM Conference, 15-17 September 1999, Liverpool, UK.
Abstract
Investment in commercial construction in Australia is being compromised by poor environmental systems management. This paper begins by explaining how building related illness, sick building syndrome and physical discomfort may negatively impact investment in construction and property. The latest data from a unique 10 year study of 875 air-conditioned commercial buildings in Australia is presented; findings confirm the effects of widespread ignorance and poor system performance arising at all stages of the development process. While this unsatisfactory position applies to the survey sample generally, speculative low cost developments are for the first time clearly identified in the worst light. As an aid to members of the construction and property professions not expert in matters concerning air-conditioning plant and air-handling systems an explanation of proactive and remedial measures designed to ensure the successful management of commercial environments is presented with the case study data.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Australia; best practice; environmental systems |
| Index terms: | Australia, survey, discomfort, illness, low cost, commercial construction, case study, systems management, sick building syndrome, construction industry, best practice, commercial building, profession |
| Subjects: | analytical methods, bidding, institututions, business, construction type, data collection methods, environmental health, industry analysis, health conditions and diseases, Geography, health risk and incident analysis |
| Topics: | Geographical Context, Research Practice, Health and Safety, Business Strategy, Sustainability, Procurement, Construction Technology, Roles and Professions |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here