Effects of outdoor air supply rates on subjective factors in three call centers in the tropics (a principal component analysis approach)

Abstract

Principal component analysis was carried out to reduce dimensionality of subjective responses from surveys conducted in three call centers, in which 300 call center operators participated. Results consistently revealed five clusters of variables (also termed as subjective factors): 1) intensity of neurobehavioral-related symptoms and self-assessed productivity, 2) perception of thermal environment, air quality, and intensity of cold hand and cold feet symptoms, 3) intensity of dryness and breathing systemrelated symptoms, 4) perceived odor and irritations, and 5) perceived thermal comfort and acceptability of air quality. Non-parametric analysis suggests that increased outdoor air supply rate would lead to significant improvements of several subjective factors.