Nondimensional methods for natural ventilation design

That paper deals with the use of nondimensioanl graphs for designing the envelopes of naturally ventilated buildings. The graphs can be generated from theoretical models or from experimental data via a direct measurment of ventilation rates in a wind tunnel model.
Examples of graphs are given: they cover conventional design conditions and off-design conditions.

Theoretical and experimental investigation of impinging jet ventilation and comparison with wall displacement ventilation.

Experimental data for an impinging jet in a room are presented in this paper and non-dimensional expressions for the decay of maximum velocity over the floor are derived. The performance of that system is compared with the one of a wall displacement ventilation.

Efficient ventilation of VOC spread in a small-scale painting process

On account of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), large proportions of workers suffer from eye and respiratory discomfort or headaches. In a small-scale painting process, efficient ventilation system must be provided for human health. In this study, ventilation characteristics of toluene have been analysed in a room of a small-scale painting process with various exit locations with different suction velocities at the exits.

Thermal comfort in naturally ventilated buildings: revisions to Ashrae Standard 55

A new Adaptive Comfort Standard is included in the recently accepted revisions to Ashrae standard 55. That ACS permits warmer indoor temperatures for naturally ventilated buildings during summer and in warmer climate zones. It is based on the analysis of 21,000 sets of raw data compiled from field studies in 160 buildings located in different climatic zones on the 4 continents.

Building airtightness : how tight is tight enough ?

The author explains that too tight building envelopes can cause bad operation of atmosperically vented combustion systems (e.g. gas water heaters) in case of of unintended depressurization of the building, for example with large exhaust fans and dirt filters. He considers that airtightness requirements of standards are often too severe. He proposes a building airtightness of 2 to 6 air changes per hour at 50 Pa for warm climates and 1.5 to 4 for cold climates, buildings with atmospherically vented combustion appliances being at the high end of the range or higher.

Filters changing frequency

This article analyses and comments 5 papers presented at Indoor Air 2002 Conference (see Airbase records 14454, 14455, 14539, 14695 and 14697) about indoor air quality and filters, from the point of view of filter changing frequency.

Toxic mold - a misnomer

An analysis of recently published research results is provided, showing that if molds and the different compounds they produce can lead to some health effects (allergies, infections, potential toxicologic effects) when inhalated, these effects occur only for exposures at very high doses. The potential toxicity from indoor air exposures is therefore very low, which allows to consider the term 'toxic mold' as a misnomer.

Standard 62 and smoking

This article presents how ventilation and air quality in smoking spaces are being treated by ANSI/ASHRAE standard 62, Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality. Historical information is given about environmental tobacco smoke and ventilation requirements in the standard since its first issue in 1973. The status of the 31 addenda to the 1999 version of the standard, some of them being included in the 2001 version, others still being in discussion or in the process to be adopted, is explained. Among them are four smoking-related addenda : 62e, 62g, 62o and 62ag.

Heat recovery systems

Describes the two main systems used for ventilation heat recovery : static air-to-air plate heat exchangers, air to air rotary wheel heat exchangers. Indicates briefly their main characteristics.

Cold beams : comfort within reach of a breath of air

The article describes the different types of cold beams used to cool rooms from cold water. Passive cold beams mainly exchange through radiation and natural convection ; they include no fresh air introduction. Active cold beams are mainly based on forced convection, hot air from the room being induced by fresh air. Mix systems try to combine radiation and forced convection. Main characteristics and advantages of cold beams as well as system design rules are also briefly given.

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