Study on effects of building materials to regulate an indoor humidity on indoor environment and psycho-physiologic conditions

This study examined the effects of building materials to regulate an indoor humidity on indoor environment and psycho-physiologic conditions of the occupants. Individuals were allowed to stay in two different Gifu University Hospital single-occupancy rooms for 24 hours, respectively. One of the rooms had its interior refurbished with building materials to regulate an indoor humidity and the other conventional room had interior walls finished with gypsum wallboards. The indoor environment was monitored during the occupancies. The individuals were asked to self-evaluate their psychological parameters using a questionnaire (State-trait anxiety inventory). Several physiological parameters including body temperature and heart rates were also measured. The results demonstrated that the variations in indoor humidity were reduced inside the room finished with the materials by virtue of their humidity-regulating property and that there was also a tendency to reduce body temperature and heart rates during some part of the stay in the same room. Although no direct causation was determined, the findings suggested possible effects of the materials on psycho-physiologic conditions of the refurbished room occupants.