Partitioned office spaces have what effect on ventilation effectiveness?

• A. Lighting levels
• B. Acoustic privacy
• C. Fire safety
• D. Ventilation effectiveness

Answer: (D)

Partitioned spaces alter how air moves and mix in a room, reducing how effectively ventilation works. Ventilation effectiveness measures how well the delivered outdoor air actually reaches the occupants’ breathing zone and dilutes contaminants. Partitions create barriers that channel airflow, promote short-circuiting, and form stagnant pockets or stratified layers behind and around desks. This means the air delivered by the system doesn’t mix as well with the room air or reach occupants at the breathing level, so contaminants aren’t removed as efficiently. Even with the same total air supply, the practical removal and dilution at the occupants’ level declines. In contrast, open spaces tend to promote better mixing and higher ventilation effectiveness.