Investigation of the environmental indicators at the main library of sultan qaboos university (SQU) in the sultanate of oman

An investigation of the status of the indoor air quality and thermal environment of the new library building at Sultan Qaboos University was the primary objective of the current study. The secondary objective was to discover the extent to which users of the library suffered from symptoms of sick building syndrome (SBS) due to a poor indoor environment. In order to fulfill these objectives, the concentrations of indoor air pollutants and ranges of thermal comfort parameters were recorded at five different locations in the building. The results of the study indicated that the occupants of the library were being affected by SBS due to raised levels of carbon dioxide, total volatile organic compounds, and relative humidity (RH) along with an overly cool indoor environment. Increased levels of RH and CO₂ indicated inadequate ventilation in the building. Short-term exposure to the polluted indoor environment of the library impacts the productivity, comfort level, and health of its library patrons. It is hoped that this study will contribute to the literature associated with quality of life in public indoor environments.