Over 90% Indoors

In the modern industrial society man spends the greater part of his life indoors. A large proportion of the population, over 90%, spends more than 20 hours a day in an artificial environment: at home, at the workplace, at shops, at wide variety of recreation places (restaurants, cafes, theaters, cinemas, galleries, etc), during transportation, etc. Since we spend most of our time indoors the character of the indoor environment is of great significance for how we feel and for our wellbeing. This has resulted in growing interest in studying and understanding of the influence of the indoor environment on man. On the basis of the relevant research made and experience gained local and international standards were developed, which concern the indoor environment quality or some of its components. The indoor air quality, the thermal comfort, the sound pressure level, the light and lighting, the electric field intensity and magnetic flux density, are among the basic components of the indoor environment quality.

From:

Markov, D. (2002). Standards in thermal comfort. Annual International Course: Ventilation and Indoor Climate, Sofia, 147-157.