Outlines ventilation needs to show that odour dilution and moisture control are the major winter factors. Detailed studies on 24 well insulated houses show that window opening habits are clearly linked to outdoor temperature, more windows being opened in milder weather.< Shows from energy input analysis that space heating only provides a quarter of the total heat, the remainder coming from casual sources. Analysis of energy loss suggests that a third of the losses are attributable to ventilation, the remainder through the building fabric.

Traces the relationship between ventilation needs and methods and the growth of civilization. Describes the development of ventilation methods and assessment of air quality, especially since the Industrial Revolution. Questions whether currently accepted ventilation criteria are still valid, andsuggests that ventilation is only one of several means of ameliorating the internal environment.

Reviews sources of indoor air pollution, factors which influence pollutant concentration, and health aspects. Reports on investigations into carbon monoxide concentrations in kitchens with geysers. Treats various factors including geyser type, state of maintenance, frequency of use, occupant type, cooking and ventilating behaviour, time and location of measurements etc.Reports nitrogen dioxide concentration measurements in kitchens and livingrooms relating to cooking and smoking.

Reports TNO-IMG research into ventilation of houses including the influence of cracks, open windows, weather conditions, occupants' behaviour, pollutants and guidelines. Lists conclusions such as an opened window renews the room air within half an hour. 40% of the occupants open windows for too long, 27%ventilate insufficiently, 25% of the dwellings are air tight, 75% leaky. Ventilation occurs partially through shafts (30%) and cracks (60%).Ventilation rates differ considerably between the rooms in a house.Ventilation ducts should have an exhaust function.

Mechanical ventilation systems usually provide a fixed quantity of "fresh" air to a building space based upon the maximum number of people expected to occupy that particular space. When the use of a building space is below its design maximum, the amount of outside air brought into that space can be reduced, thus generally also reducing energy consumption through lower heating and cooling loads. One method of determining the necessary ventilation rate for aparticular space is to utilize an air quality detector (eg CO2 or O2) sensitive to building occupancy and activity load.

Describes the monitoring of indoor air quality in a San Francisco office building where occupants had registered eye, nose and throat irritation complaints. Data was taken under two different ventilation rates. Carbon dioxide concentrations increased as the ventilation rate decreased, odour perceptibility increased slightly at the lowest ventilation rate, and other pollutants generally showed very low concentrations, which increased when ventilation was reduced.

Uses occupant-generated CO2 as an indicator of the actual ventilation rate in a San Francisco office building. Employs two techniques, a decay method and an integral method, and measurements are conducted simultaneously at several locations. The decay method compares favourably with the conventional measurement methods in both the all-outside-air and recirculation modes, whereas the integral method shows a considerable deviation from the other methods in the recirculation mode.

Gives a brief overview of:< 1. Measurement of air change rate using tracer gas.< 2. Measurement of air leakage using steady state and alternating pressure.< 3. Calculation methods (by hand and by computer) for predicting air exchange in a building.< Indicates where relevant research in these areas is being carried out, and outlines the role of the Air Infiltration Centre.

Briefly describes the need for air tight houses as an energy conservation measure, and for preventing moisture damage. Shows that very tight houses (0.5 ach/h) with mechanical ventilation function better than houses which have just fulfilled Swedish building requirements, or which have unsuitable ventilation systems. In some cases, condensation has formed on the inside of windows, and individual rooms sometimes receive insufficient ventilation. States that only in sufficiently airtight houses can ventilation be regulated to the required level and efficient heat recovery can function.

Improved insulation of domestic buildings has resulted in ventilation heat loss forming a large part of the total heat loss. Estimates show that energy consumption in the Federal Republic of Germany could be reduced by ventilating design methods eg by economical ventilating systems suitably adapted to theheating installations. A number of technical facilities exist for the utilisation of this potential, which at the same time maintain the necessary requirements for indoor climate.