Definition of Standard Office Environments in China for Evaluating the Impact of Volatile Organic Emissions from Building Material

This study develops standardized room models for Chinese office environments to bridge the gap between laboratory-based and field-based VOC emission assessments. By analysing architectural drawings of 22 office buildings, we quantified parameters for 141 private offices and 106 meeting rooms. The median-based model defines standard offices (14.4 m2 floor area, 2.8 m height) with 1.056 m2/m3 furniture loading rates and meeting rooms (41.8 m2, 2.8 m height) at 0.882 m2/m3. Chinese private offices demonstrate a 43% higher furniture loading density compared to BIFMA standards, reflecting more compact spatial configurations. These region-specific models account for discrepancies in material density and usage patterns, thereby enabling precise conversions from emissions to exposure levels for regulatory compliance and effective indoor air quality (IAQ) management.