Assessment of Factory Design Requirements of Pharmaceutical Factory Buildings in Southwest, Nigeria

Abstract

In pharmaceutical factory buildings (PFBs), numerous gaseous substances are suspended in the air due to poorly designed production areas. In most PFBs, fenestrations are limited, though they provide some ventilation and workers’ access to the natural environment. This paper assessed selected PFBs designs to ascertain the adequacy of indoor airflow and air flush as well as lighting and sound needed for the removal of suspended gases largely harmful to human health. Using a quantitative approach, fourteen PFBs were audited by taking dimensions of the production area alongside data on the quality of air, sound, and lighting. Findings benchmarked against the global standard required for factory designs to maintain wellbeing revealed eight PFBs had unacceptable design features; It was found that a unit increase in HCHO was found to increase the temperature by 15.268oC and 98.3% of the variation in air velocity is explained by airflow while only 0.5% is explained by PM1.0, PM2.5, PM10. Workers’ complaint of illnesses was traceable to these poor design features. The paper recommended a need for re-evaluation in the architecture of PFBs intending to provide a healthy working environment for PFB workers in Nigeria.