ABSTRACT
Individual control of the thermal environment may be necessary if optimal performance is to be achieved. Performance of a wide range of simulated industrial tasks involving finger strength, speed, manual dexterity, hand steadiness and a number of well-practised manipulative skills was found to decline monotonically with room temperature below thermal neutrality. Thermal conditions can affect the performance of office work through different mechanisms. An important turning point in understanding the effects of indoor air quality on the performance of mental work and on the cognitive skills that are essential for office work were the studies by P. Wargocki et al., summarised by D. Wyon. A. Myhrvold et al., D. Coley et al., W. Ribic, Z. Bako-Biro et al. and I. Sarbu and C. Pacurar used psychological and neurobehavioural tests to examine the effects of indoor air quality and outdoor air supply rate on the performance of schoolwork and learning.
