This paper describes a series of ventilation measurements carried out in two small factory units situated on an industrial estate in Newport, South Wales. One of the factories is typical of current design, and the other is designed to be of greater energy efficiency in terms of increased levels of insulation and reduced air infiltration rate.
This investigation looks at sensory (odour, irritation) and physical criteria for ventilation requirements, paying particular attention to the difference between smoking and nonsmoking occupancy in a well-controlled environmental chamber.
A major cooperative study of the effect of ventilation of timber flat (cold) roofs on combatting condensation and moisture accumulation has been undertaken in Denmark. Field measurements of moisture content in a number of test roofs over long periods and under different conditions are evaluated and conclusions drawn. They include the advice that, where moisture accumulation is a problem, it can be aggravated if roof vents are installed.
Presents a control system for mechanical ventilation of large rooms such as meeting rooms, cinemas, department stores, etc, based on air quality. Gas sensors are used to measure the pollutant levels and regulate the air flow in the room in relation to the number of people, level of tobacco smoke and other pollutants. The CO2 levels are also recorded. The resulting energy saved is given for three Norwegian buildings.
A subcommittee of the Nordic Committee for Building Codes has released guidelines for building regulations regarding indoor air quality, especially concerning ventilation. The main features of the guidelines, such as acceptable outdoor air quality for ventilation and minimum outdoor air flows for dwellings and offices, are presented and discussed. Mechanical ventilation is, in principle, required in all buildings including dwellings, due to therequirement of a minimum outdoor air change of 0.5 h-1 and the normal highly airtight nature of new buildings.
Discusses the nature of the problem of indoor air pollution, limitations in the authority of established health agencies in the US to control the problem, research needs and some control options. Indoor pollutants of current concern include radon, tobacco smoke, emissions from unvented indoor combustion appliances, aeropathogens, formaldehyde and pesticides.
A control program for a natural ventilation system for agricultural buildings is described which calculates a required ventilation rate, then adjusts vent openings to achieve this ventilation rate with equally distributed flows.
Efforts to reduce the energy needs to heat or cool dwellings have the potential to create new health hazards. Increases in indoor levels of radon and its progeny from the reduction in air exchange rates add a substantial radioactive burden to the general population. Other indoor pollutants reaching critical concentrations in homes with low air exchange rates are CO and NO2 from unvented combustion in gas stoves and heaters, tobacco smoke, and asbestos fibres.
To quantify the inferred elevated radon concentrations in energy efficient homes caused by lower air infiltration due to airtightness, an attempt was made to eliminate some of the more important conflicting parameters by measuring pairs of adjacent homes i.e. comparing retro-fitted or new houses with a conventional neighbouring dwelling.
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