Various studies on indoor and outdoor particulate matter in the urban environment in the vicinity of busy arterial roads in the centre of the subtropical city of Brisbane have indicated that the revised United States Environmental Protection Agency National Ambient Air Quality Standards (US EPA NAAQS) for P articulate matter PM2.5 could be exceeded not only outdoors but also indoors.
In connection with the research programme "Healthy Buildings", a building with indoor air quality problems was selected for further investigations. A Danish town hall was chosen because of many complaints over several years. A full-scale mock-up of a typical town hall office was built in the climate laboratory. A new heating and ventilating system and a new control strategy were chosen and implemented into the town hall.
Indoor air quality was monitored at two schools in Essex, UK (located on the same site) during the week 3--7 November 1997. The objective was to determine whether the ventilation rates within the buildings were adequate to provide acceptable air quality to the occupants. Airborne carbon dioxide concentration was determined using continuous infrared detectors. A class base in each school was monitored for a two-day period. Occupancy patterns and window/door opening were observed during the first day of each period. Air temperature was also recorded.
The project involves a 'Housing for the Elderly' development of 32 units, built by the Blenheim Borough Council, BBC, under a Housing Corporation sponsored initiative. The initiative is aimed at providing affordable rental accommodation for the fastest growing section of the community: the elderly. The council sought a new housing design which catered specifically to the needs and resources of elderly tenants. Comfortable and affordable rental accommodation linked with low maintenance were foremost considerations in the project.
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