Concentrations of formaldehyde and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were monitored over a 2-year period in the main rooms of four unoccupied test houses and in the outdoor air. During the construction and furnishing of the buildings 30 samples of materials were collected and subsequently tested using environmental test chambers to determine amounts of form aldehyde and other VOCs emitted. Concentrations of VOCs in the building were initially high and declined quickly during the first 6 months after construction.

The effects of different kinds of room ventilation were evaluated in an experimental  chamber and in kitchens of four residences in Beijing. Carbon monoxide was used as a tracer gas in the chamber, and this together with nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide concentrations from the gas appliances were measured in the chamber and the kitchens. The ventilation styles evaluated were natural ventilation, an exhaust fan and a kitchen range hood.

Air quality in urban areas is often poor, creating problems for local buildings forced to ventilate with polluted air. Most of the pollution comes from traffic, with the worst periods during rush hours. What role can the automatic control of ventilation play in reducing the impact of pollutants?        

In principle, the results of carbon dioxide monitoring can be used to evaluate building ventilation rates and provide an indication of perceived indoor air quality. Here we review current knowledge about the use of metabolically-produced co2 in indoor air quality evaluation and control.

Are air conditioned buildings better at filtering out external pollutants than their naturally ventilated cousins? A recent field study carried out by researchers at the BRE has yielded some surprising results.