Assessment of indoor environmental quality in Australian healthcare facilities: a review of standards and guidelines

Healthcare facilities have complex environments occupied by multiple stakeholders with diverse needs and requirements. The Australian healthcare system relies on multiple sources of information in the management of indoor environmental quality (IEQ) of healthcare facilities. The aim of this paper is to report on the review of the existing literature on current regulations and guidelines that aid in the assessment of IEQ in Australian healthcare facilities. The objectives of the review are to probe into the state of IEQ in Australian healthcare facilities, to identify the Australian regulations and guidelines associated with the provision and management of IEQ in these facilities, and to examine IEQ assessment methodologies in practice. The review shows that limited research has been undertaken in healthcare IEQ in Australia and a poor understanding of its management. This paper establishes the need for research that determines the current state of the quality and management of healthcare indoor environments.