Discusses indoor air quality in residences with low ventilation rates. Reports investigation of indoor air pollutant levels in a test kitchen with a gas stove under various air change rates. Results indicate that gas stoves generate high emissions of carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde and respirable aerosols. Recommends a kitchen ventilation rate of at least 170 cu.m.&h.< Also reports study of CO and NO2 emissions from gas appliances in an energy- efficient research house.
Discusses masonry walls in relation to the air tightness of buildings. Considers mainly panel walls constructed of concrete blocks. States that in general such walls are very leaky, due mainly to shrinkage of the wall itself and deformation of the surrounding structure. Discusses the addition of insulation to wall, sealing of joints around window frames and at the edge of the floor slab. Gives diagrams showing details of building construction.
Working men's clubs are commercially thriving organisations catering for a wide range of social activities commonly held in a single room holding 300-400 people. Packaged air conditioning is being introduced into Working Men's Clubs to provide air recirculation and cleaning when the buildings are occupied. Air cooling and dehumidification is also available. One club was dissatisfied and an investigation was started to investigate the difference. Measurements showed that the unsatisfactory installation was unusual in two ways.
Reports work done at the Building Research Establishment on natural ventilation rates. Outlines a current project in cooperation with BSRIA to determine whole house and individual ventilation rates in 30 houses. Also mentions work under way at the National Engineering Laboratory to develop a simple low-cost heat exchanger.
Air leakage through the junction between wall and roof of a building can cause damage from excess dampness. Discusses in detail the problem of constructing atight wall/roof junction for different forms of roof construction. describes installation of roof membrane and vapour barrier.< Also describes problem of air infiltration through uninsulated soffits. Outlines various solutions.
Improved levels of thermal insulation for dwellings in W.Germany have substantially reduced thermal transmission losses, so that ventilation heat loss has become much more important component of total building heat demand. Amount of heat appears important enough to justify considering heat recovery from ventilation air residential buildings. Describes 3 examples of exhaust air recovery from flats in an apartment building. Provides details of air change rates.
States that concern for weathertightness requirements for windows has increased recently. Discusses standard methods for testing air leakage and rain penetration of windows. Illustrates some general findings on air leakage. Discusses relationship between air leakage and rain penetration. Outlines characteristics of leakage through doors.
Presents the air leakage characteristics obtained from measurements of nine brick and concrete block walls in the DBR/NRC huts at Ottawa and Saskatoon. The leakage characteristics of the first three walls were obtained in the Saskatoon test huts - the remainder were obtained in the Ottawa huts. All thetest huts had an overall plan area of approximately 6 ft. by 6 ft. The effects of fill-insulation and different surface finishes were determined.
Presents a new concept of describing the tolerance level of radon daughters. This concept is in terms of the alpha-energy dose resulting from the complete decay of the daughters. Describes a rapid field method for determining atmospheric concentrations of radon daughters in terms of Mev of alpha energy/liter. No attempt has been made to set a maximum allowable concentration for radon and/or its daughters. Should an M.A.C.
Reports daily run-of-wind measurements, made for 3 years at distances of 3.5 h and 7 h to leeward of a 7-row shelterbelt about 6m.high. After elimination of variations in wind direction, the monthly values of relative shelter at these positions showed no evidence of an increase with time. The variations in wind direction were eliminated by regressions of monthly values of relative shelter on the monthly percentage frequency of effective winds, i.e. winds from the normal windward side of the shelterbelt.