Manual for post-occupancy evaluation (POE) and test-room studies

摘要

The aim of a POE-study (poot-occupancy evaluation) is to carry out a systematic assessment of the performance of a facility once it has been occupied and used. It is to determine if the facility meets the level of expectation which was envisaged in the conceptual stages of the design, in terms of both the human occupants and the building services which it encloses. This is done by a systematic gathering and analysis of the information collected from within the building when it is in use. After analysis, the findings are forwarded for: corrective action and 'fine tuning' of the facility; identifying design features to be avoided; identifying features of future use; establishing if design goals, energy targets, standards and guidelines are actually achieved; identifying design aspects for long term research and investigation. The reality is, that unless the occupants are totally satisfied with the facility they will never reach their full potential or totally accept the technology, especially if it is not perceived to be of immediate benefit to them. The process for carrying out a POE study follows a systematic, step by step approach, and concentrates on two levels of information gathering: from the building itself - often referred to as the 'walk through'; from files, plans, briefing notes, i.e. a document search. The walk through centres around a tour of the building, especially identifying groups from which opinions, reactions, comments and recommendations are sought. This is generally done by means of a questionnaire. The walk through is intended to be pragmatic and with a short duration with a maximum of two or three days, depending of the size of the facility. This should aim to minimize the impact of the evaluation on the daily operations, while maximizing the effective participation of all personnel. When a particular item is noted or considered to be needing further investigation, a 'focus' study may be carried out and this study may isolate parts of: the building, e.g., the windows; human complaints or comments - e.g., too hot or too cold; building services - e.g., power density, W/m(sup 2) too high etc.