Discusses sick building syndrome in office buildings. Poor ventilation is frequently blamed, although in 60% of cases, no specific cause can be identified, because of symptoms which are non-specific, and the vast variety of substances present in the air. Similarly, factors contributing to disease are not restricted to pollutant levels only. Procedure for examining causes of sick building syndrome are suggested. Describes checking of different kinds of ventilation system, and the importance of outside air intake. Describes problems of both local and central ventilation systems.
Summary of an APCA International Speciality Conference. Contains information on some relatively unfamiliar trace gases and fungi, as well as on the better known indoor air pollutants. Studies range from those on human health tothose concentrating on pollutant emissions to those addressing building ventilation. Papers also cover sick building syndrome and pollutant and ventilation surveys.
Each occupant in a room should be able to control his own indoor environment. Individual control can be achieved in many ways: from simple window-opening to automatically arranged personal mini-environment. Individual control is not utilized effectively today. This is partly caused by lack of proper information, and partly by the fact that builders pay more attention to construction than to use and operation. Even technically complicated systems can be easy to operate - what is needed is sufficient, but not too difficult user information.
In this programme of work, methodologies for determining infiltration rates of large and complex buildings have been established. Theoretical considerations suggested that comprehensive information regarding interzonal air movements might be obtained from experimental techniques using multiple tracer gases. Field measurements to determine interzonal flows were carried out in office buildings using automated measurement systems developed for this purpose. Simpler techniques were found to be needed and were developed.
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