English

In urban areas, people stand the most of their time in indoor environment. In this context, indoor air quality is more and more a subject of concern. Outdoor air quality can have a large impact on indoor air quality. An experimental study has been conducted into a dwelling, in collaboration between the LHVP and the CSTB, in order to study the indoor concentration of pollutants depending on the outdoor pollution and the air renewal due to ventilation system. Different experiments have been conducted in an empty dwelling situated in a polluted area in Paris during winter and summer periods.

The objectives of this research were to predict contaminant concentration distribution in occupied zone and contaminant removal efficiency as a function of an occupied zone obstruction level, air distribution method, air change rate, cooling load and contaminant source non-uniformity. The final objective was to develop a concentration variation coefficient to be used for design of air distribution systems. Concludes that the room air distribution method results in contaminant concentration non-uniformity inside the occupied zone.

Describes a study which examined the effect of temperatures of 23, 29, and 50 Deg C on formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emission from laminate flooring Type A (with particleboard as substrate) and Type B (with high density fibre (HDF). For the first two temperatures, the measurements did not show any emissions of formaldehyde and very low emissions of VOCs. At the highest temperature however, Type A showed a high initial emission of formaldehyde and VOCs, decreasing with time. There were much lower emissions from Type B.

Documents what some builders have said about problems with moisture, soot and IAQ in relation to unvented gas fireplaces. Unvented gas fireplaces have become popular recently in the US due to their low cost and flexibility in installation. However many building scientists and indoor air quality professionals have warned against their use because discharging combustion by products into the home invites serious moisture and IAQ problems.

Describes a project which attempted to match simulated and measured tracer gas test results and to determine how much effort is necessary to produce sufficiently accurate results. The research assessed the overall value of CONTAM96 as a representative example of available simulation-model programs from both technical and practical viewpoints.

Details a NIOSH (US National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health) investigation of a school whose occupants suffered from allergic symptoms. The investigation found that occupants' symptoms were consistent with sick building syndrome. Many complaints were apparently related to insufficient outdoor air, temperature extremes in some cases, and temperature controls that were inadequately responsive to classroom conditions.

Cohousing communities balance the traditional advantages of home ownership with the benefits of shared common facilities and ongoing connections wit neighbours. The communities consists of private dwellings with their own kitchens, living-dining rooms, and so on. Residents also have common facilities, such as a dining room, a community kitchen, lounges, meeting rooms, a laundry room, recreation facilities, a library, workshops, or a childcare area.

States that with the ill effects of poor indoor air quality often in the news these days, it pays to design and build a house that is healthy from the start. States that a comprehensive approach to residential design has emerged in recent years that makes both energy conservation and good indoor air quality achievable in homes.

Describes a new starter home designed to be climate-specifically energy efficient for the suburbs of Houston, Texas, USA. The home is intended to demonstrate energy efficient building strategies for a hot-humid climate, but at a minimum cost increase over the builder's current product. The many energy efficient technologies incorporated into the design proved that they allow builders to offer better homes at almost no added cost.