Developing a Health-Oriented Assessment Framework for Office Interior Renovation: Addressing Gaps in Green Building Certification Systems

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Authors: Hung-Wen Chu, Hsi-Chuan Tsai, Yenan Chen, Chen-Yi Sun
Cited by: 2
References: 131

Abstract

The increasing frequency of interior renovation and fit-out in office buildings raises concerns about indoor environmental quality, occupant health, and sustainability performance, yet existing certification systems remain largely design-stage or whole-building oriented and provide limited guidance for recurring renovation cycles. This study develops a health-oriented assessment framework for office interior renovation as a structured decision-support tool for practitioners and policymakers. We adopted an integrated approach combining a targeted literature review, expert consultation, the Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM) for indicator screening, and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) for hierarchical weighting, based on an expert panel of 20 professionals spanning green building certification, architecture/interior design, MEP engineering, property/facility management, and energy/environmental consulting. Through consensus screening and weighting, four assessment dimensions and eighteen key indicators were identified and prioritized. Environmental quality was ranked highest (39.2%), followed by safety management (23.0%), functional usability (21.1%), and resource efficiency and circularity (16.7%). At the indicator level, indoor air quality management, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) energy efficiency, space-friendly layout, preliminary assessment and planning, and thermal comfort emerged as the top priorities. Overall, the framework bridges the gap between certification-oriented evaluation and the operational realities of office renovation, enabling more consistent integration of health and sustainability considerations across renovation decision-making.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Building Energy and Comfort Optimization Sustainable Building Design and Assessment Facilities and Workplace Management

Publication details

Journal / source
Buildings
Publisher
MDPI AG
Volume
16
Issue
3
Pages
635–635
Publication date
3 February 2026
Language
EN