floor

Discusses insulation of lofts, roofs, walls, windows and floors, natural ventilation of dwellings and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery in dwellings. Considers cost benefits of weatherstripping and constant-flow ventilators for naturally ventilated houses. Concludes that installation of mechanical ventilation with heat recovery is uneconomic, but adding a heatexchanger to an existing mechanical ventilation system has economic benefits.

With correct application of vapour barriers the ventilation of building structures is in general not necessary, unless such barriers prevent the escape of trapped moisture from moisture-sensitive - especially organic - materials. Indoor and outd

Reports the result of investigation of the impact of various operational factors on trace combustion products emission rates from unvented gas appliances including ranges and space heaters. The impact of the following factors on the indoor NO, NO2 and CO emission rates were evaluated under controlled conditions in an environmental chamber - 1) the appliance typeand/or design, 2) the primary aeration level, 3) the fuel input rate, 4) the time dependence of emission rates, and 5) the presence of absorbing surfaces such as wood, plaster board, curtains, carpets, linoleum and plaster.

Describes a simple device which pressurises an enclosed volume of air adjacent to individual components in the building fabric. The air flow through the crackage is measured and the interdependence of the flow rate and pressure is examined. Windows, floors, loft traps and suspended ceilings are examined. A simple relationship is found to be applicable to individual components but no universal relationship is found for a general range of components with superficially similar cracks.

Describes sources of radon in materials and measures of exposure. Reviews measurements of radon in mines and dwellings. Describes measurements of the concentration of radon in a sealed chamber. Concludes that concentration of radon daughters can be reduced by removing dust from the air using an electrostatic precipitator or by using a very high ventilation rate combined with an efficient heat exchanger. Finds most significant sources of radon in dwellings are cracks and openings in the floor. Suggests reducing radon by covering bare surfaces and sealing the floor, or using a crawl space.

Discusses mechanisms for radon liberation in dwellings. Mentions survey which found radon concentrations exceeding the maximum permissable concentration of 3 x 10^-12 curies in 13 of the 65 dwellings. Gives expressions for number of radon atoms in indoor air at time t and activity due to radon per unit volume. Discusses liberation of radon from walls and from soil and concludes that if the ventilation is poor or if there is a high emanation of radon, the indoor radon concentration may approach the maximum permissable level.