A new study published in Scientific Reports examines how window typology — the size, placement, and type of operable openings — shapes indoor air quality in naturally ventilated office buildings in tropical Africa. The research, led by author Iyiola, evaluated environments that rely on passive ventilation rather than mechanical HVAC systems, a building category where airflow patterns directly determine occupant exposure to airborne contaminants.
The findings are relevant well beyond the study region. Naturally ventilated buildings make up a substantial share of the global workspace footprint, and their performance depends on factors that are easy to overlook in routine building inspections. Window geometry, opening hours, and cross-ventilation pathways all influence whether humid indoor air, particulate matter, and bioaerosols accumulate or clear.