A short treatment of the concepts and aspects that play a role in ventilation is followed by a brief description of the investigation methods employed. Gives a concise survey of the equipment and mathematical models used. Reviews the ventilation research carried out by the IMG-TNO. Covers factories, laboratories, hospitals, auction halls and similar buildings.

Compares and contrasts different methods of ventilation measurement in large buildings. Conventional methods of using tracer gas to measure ventilation rates in large volumes are cumbersome and expensive. These constant concentration and decay measurements require artificial mixing, complex monitoring equipment and large installation costs. By using discrete injection and sampling units, long term samples of tracer gas be collected with the minimum of capital and installation costs. Samples collected represent the mean local equilibrium tracer gas concentrations.

Describes a mathematical model for the calculation of the expected values of radon and radon daughter concentrations in indoor air. Presupposes that it is possible to obtain or measure the parameters necessary for the calculation eg the radon emanation of the building material, the radon content of the soil air, and the leakage of air from the soil into the building. Research in these areas is in progress both in Sweden and abroad.

Tests and evaluates the air infiltration control methods employed in buildings. Concentrates especially on silicone sealant applied in situ to opening joints of external windows. Carries out tests both in the laboratory on window samples and in the field on a test building. Checks the effect of the method on air permeability through single windows and on energy loss due to air infiltration through the building envelope.

States that in a tight house with a vapour barrier, an air management system is needed to provide fresh air and remove the build-up of moisture generated by the occupants. Briefly describes a typical air management system,incorporating an air-to-air heat exchanger, and discusses the need to provide an acceptable ventilation rate, which controls pollutant level but minimizes heat losses.

Describes some new theoretical and experimental techniques developed by British Gas to investigate the ventilation of buildings. These include:< 1. The multi-cell model "vent" for predicting ventilation rates< 2. "Autovent", the multi-cell constant concentration tracer gas technique used for measuring ventilation patterns in buildings.< 3. Pressurization techniques for measuring air leakage in buildings.< Gives a selection of results from applications of these techniques to show their scope.

Studies the ventilation of 9 air-conditioned animal rooms used for both housing and experiments. Samples dust, measures ventilation rate by anemometers and by tracer gas decay, and uses settle plates to determine the number of airborne bacteria. Detects a high amount of pariculate matter emanating from the animals which might sensitize personnel working in these rooms. Previously, attention has been paid to the ventilation requirements of the animals but where people also spend several hours in animal rooms then safety conditions for staff must be considered.

Measures the air change rate in 2 atrium houses and in 6 terrace houses. Examines the possibility of allocating the air change to particular rooms by correctly placed and operated exhaust ventilation and ventilation openings. Concludes that in dwellings with mechanical exhaust the fresh air change rate only depends slightly on the ventilation openings being opened or closed, and that it is possible to direct fresh air flow into different rooms if the doors within the house are not tight.

Writes for experts and non-experts on calculation methods for energy consumption in buildings. Gives a brief introduction to the physical and numerical bases used in this field. Presents the calculation methods investigated, selected to cover the simplest as well as the most complex methods in use. Describes calculation examples used for prediction of energy consumption and conservation. Analyses the calculation results and gives conclusions and recommendations. Concludes by covering work carried out on the influence of the inhabitants.

Studies the techniques and issues related to evaluating the airtightness of homes. The first section discusses the physics of air infiltration and the techniques used to measure infiltration rates. Also discusses pressurization testing and its relation to infiltration. The second section presents experimental work aimed at several questions raised in the first section. A long term experiment involving weekly pressurization testing of a home reveal the short-term reproducibility of the test results and the seasonal variation in a home's tightness.