OCTIEF's Help With Innovative Exhibit Wows Industry Freethinkers At International Conference

Online, July 25, 2012 (Newswire.com) - OCTIEF underlined its passion for indoor air quality after taking part in an experimental exhibit utilizing plants in a simulated office environment at the 2012 International Healthy Buildings Conference in Brisbane.

The Revitaliser, a full size demonstration of a modern office, with working computer, monitors, printer and a kitchenette was put together on the conference room floor using a combination of environmentally friendly materials, these included wall panels recycled from plastic bottles, low chemical-emitting furniture and a green wall full of plants, with the aim of creating improved air quality and better working spaces.

Dr. Claire Bird, OCTIEF's Environmental Manager monitored the air quality of the simulated office over the course of three days with the help from a number of OCTIEF's Environmental Consultants.

OCTIEF collected control samples on day one with only the furniture present, again on day two with the green wall installed and finally on day three following addition of an active bio-filter running.

The results gathered from each day will be analysed and recorded over the coming weeks and used in determining how effective the addition of plants indoors are in improving air quality.

"I've been very fortunate to be involved in the demonstration of The Revitaliser," Dr. Bird said.

"We're testing to see whether the addition of green plants and bio-filtration actually makes a significant difference to air quality,

"Developing flexible approaches and flexible ideas to manage our indoor air quality and accommodate climate change is critical."

The concept for The Revitaliser was devised by Schiavello Corporate Sustainability Principal Mark Thomson, whose aim for the project was to bring a number of disparate design ideas together to create healthier and more productive work spaces.

"I'm really looking at designing an internal environment which optimises air quality and that's the essence of The Revitaliser," Mr Thompson said.

"One of the major drivers of putting this together is by using plants, to understand what plants in an internal environment can do," he said.

"We know that they reduce VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) but one of the key things we're looking at here is to see whether we can actually get a benefit ... in terms of increasing (overall air quality) levels in an office."

"This is a very deliberate attempt to see if we can collate some data to actually show we can provide better working spaces for people inside offices."

OCTIEF was one of the major sponsors of The Revitaliser providing financial support as well as offering rigorous environmental monitoring for the duration of the experiment. Measurements taken with and without the plants and biofiltration included identifying the range of VOCs, looking at changing VOC concentrations over time, measuring airborne microorganisms, taking radiation readings and measurements for formaldehyde, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide.

Adding to the commitments of Dr Bird and Mr Thomson, both presented seminars outlining their recent studies in building health and indoor environment quality to a potential audience of over 600 attendees.

The Healthy Buildings Conference 2012 ran from 9 - 12 July and was the events 10th International Conference.

For more information on OCTIEF's services or Indoor Air Quality, please contact Claire Bird (Ph: +61 7 5500 2810 or Mob: 0431 988 035) or for more information on The Revitaliser, please contact Mark Thompson (Ph: +61 7 3368 3388).