The aerodynamic forces affecting wind and rain penetration of roofs are described. They are: 1 the wind and its turbulent nature, 2 the induced pressure field, 3 the air flows in contact with the roof and 4 the characteristics of the roof (internal pressure, permeability, structure, etc).

Describes a five month study which measured radon concentration, air exchange (ventilation) rate, weather and radon source parameters in a house near Chicago. Factors influencing radon entry rate were investigated. Discusses the measurements presented, noting some patterns in the data which are hard to explain. Applies two models for radon entry rate to high and low airborne alpha activity at the sump.

The design and calibration of a passive sampler operating according to the diffusion principle and its application to the analysis of indoor air are described. Taking aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons as representative pollutants, it is demonstrated that at constant concentration, the amount of substance trapped by the sampler is a linear function of the time of exposure. An equation is given relating this amount of substance to the mean pollutant concentration. The detection limit is of an order of 300 microgram/(m3.h).

This document reports on analytical work carried out in cooperation among three European laboratories. The purpose of this work was to carry out a first assessment on the performances of passive samplers for organic vapours when used in indoor air pollution monitoring and simultaneously to evaluate theinterlaboratory agreement on low concentration analysis of a variety of volatile organic compounds. Two types of passive samplers were thus exposed in the different facilities and replicate specimens were analysed at each of the three laboratories.

An air sampling and analytical system for formaldehyde measurements based on a solid sampler is described. The samplers were tested on a standard atmosphere in the range of 0.2 to 0.8 mg/m3 dry air. 

Concentrates on low energy housing construction in Scandinavia, and Sweden in particular, where typical new detached houses with a floor area of 140 m2 now use less energy for space heating than water heating. 

The quantitative determination of formaldehyde in air using the fluorimetric acetylacetone method is described. Known concentrations of formaldehyde were generated and collected in water using absorbers. The sampling rate was 0.5 l/min, and the sampling volumes varied from 2 to 20 l, depending on theconcentration level. Under these conditions the entire sampling and the analytical method were evaluated over a range of 0.2-1.7 mg formaldehyde per m3 of air.

The emission of organic gases and vapours of solvent type from 42 commonly used building materials was measured under standard atmospheric conditions. 

Summarises the issues discussed at the Indoor Air '84 conference in Stockholm. The main topics include sick buildings, organic compounds, formaldehyde, combustion products, and radon.