What areas are included in indoor environmental quality (IEQ) focus areas?

• A. IAQ, thermal comfort, lighting quality, acoustical comfort, and materials.
• B. Exterior site design, landscaping, and parking.
• C. Structural integrity and seismic design.
• D. Outdoor lighting engineering and façade aesthetics.

Answer: (B)

Indoor environmental quality focuses on what affects people inside a building. The main areas are indoor air quality (air quality, ventilation, filtration, and pollutant control), thermal comfort (temperature, humidity, and air movement), lighting quality (adequate illumination, glare control, and daylighting), acoustical comfort (noise levels and sound privacy), and the choice of materials and finishes (low emissions, durability, and indoor air considerations). These elements together shape health, comfort, and productivity indoors. Exterior site design, landscaping, and parking relate to the building's surroundings rather than the indoor environment, structural integrity and seismic design address safety and performance of the structure, and outdoor lighting and façade aesthetics deal with exterior aspects. So the areas that define IEQ are the indoor-focused factors: air quality, thermal comfort, lighting, acoustics, and materials.