Using forced ventilation to mitigate mold growth in existing multi-family housing

Increasing emphasis on energy-efficiency has many jurisdictions enacting stricter energy codes. Yet, these same green building codes typically do not adequately address ventilation when a building envelope is designed to both minimize infiltration/exfiltration and maximize thermal efficiency. Our company investigated an apartment complex in Southern California, U.S.A. that was designed 25% more thermally efficient than required by State Code. Within months of occupancy, the first complaints of biological growth at windows and closets occurred.

Measurement and simulation of air exchange in the existing building.

This paper is based upon the results of measuring and simulating the air change in the single apartment of 5-storey multi-family dwelling. The technique of tracer gas concentration decay was applied to be able to assess the rate of air change. The building was used as normal by occupants so the results should be very accurate. The main aim of the research was to validate simulation methods used to predict infiltration. Multiven -the authors own program - was used to achieve this aim.

Ventilation in small multifamily buildings.

        

Chicago's little green gem.

           

Development of a multiple regression model to identify multi-family residential buildings with a high prevalence of sick building syndrome (SBS).

The aim was to develop a multiple logistic regression model to identify multi-family houses with an increase of sick building syndrome (SBS). In Stockholm, 609 multi-family buildings with 14,235 dwellings were selected by stratified random sampling. The response rate was 77%. Multiple logistic regression analysis was applied, adjusting for ownership of the building, building age and size, age, gender, and atopy. Females, subjects with allergy, those above 65 yr, and those in new buildings reported significantly more SBS.

From ruin to rehab.

Simplified model and sensitivity analysis for natural ventilation load in multifamily buildings.

A simplified natural ventilation model for dwellings is developed and used to determine the impact of different ventilation strategies on the building loads and zones temperatures. It deals with the sensitivity of loads and temperatures to classical default parameters as : wind velocity, wind coefficient value, building environment and shielding conditions, and the actual cross section of the openings. All the simulations are performed using the TRNSYS 14.2 simulation software, TYPE56.

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