The IEA project on minimum ventilation rates. IEA-Projekt 'Minimale Luftungsraten'

The minimum fresh air requirements needed for perfect indoor air quality are being studied and these will form the basis of the Swiss Guidelines for Ventilation. An optimization between the need to reduce heat loss and fresh air requirements for health is the aim. Pollutants in indoor air, such as formaldehydes, radon, carbon dioxide, tobacco smoke, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and particulates, have to be considered.

Measurement techniques for air change and air penetration of residential buildings Messmethoden zur Erfassung des Luftwechsels und der Luftdurchlassigkeit von Wohnbauten.

Defines air change and air penetration. Describes the differential pressure method, the infrasound method, qualitative judgement methods, and acoustic measurement devices for determining air penetration. Explains procedures todetermine air change - the rate of decay method, the constant concentration method, and the constant emission method.

In situ measurement of air and water tightness. Mesures in situ de l'etancheite a l'air et a l'eau.

Describes three research programmes measuring tightness of components, of specific areas of a building and of complete buildings. Defines the Belgian standards currently applicable. For air tightness, the area or building is depressurized by 5 to 100 Pa and the flow of air that enters is measured. Thenthe components are made air tight one by one, and each time the new flow rate is measured to give values for the different components. The specific area alone can be depressurized, the specific area plus the whole building or just the whole building.

Multivariate model for predicting NO2 levels in residences based upon sources and source use

Diffusion-type passive monitors were placed for a two-week period in each of 303 residences in the New Haven (Conn.) area during a 12 week sampling period January to April 1983. For each home NO2 levels were recorded outdoors, and in three ro

Characterization of indoor air quality and "sick buildings"

Notes the increased attention being paid to "sick buildings" of the irritating type. Occupants complain of deteriorated indoor air and subtle medical symptoms that may be related to the indoor air. The problem seems to coincide with energy economising. To evaluate the actual quality of the air in a building it is necessary to conduct field studies with mobile investigation units, taking representative air samples for immediate sensory and chemical analysis.

Predicting thermal comfort of people in naturally ventilated buildings

Describes a new procedure for predicting the thermal comfort of people in naturally ventilated buildings. The procedure starts by obtaining, for each important wind direction, velocity ratios between points of interest inside the proposed bu

Theme 1 - Energy optimization of outer window and door frames.

The main objectives are 1) the collection, processing and evaluation of leakage data for opening doors and windows, obtained from certifications or tests, 2) evaluation of the influence of building technologies and component materials on leakage, 3) experimental evaluation of the reasons for the choice of wall/frame combination and of the relative components and 4) experimental evaluation of the correlation between air leakage and sound insulation in order to define new methods of acoustic measurement of air leakage for components after installation.

A proposed method for estimating air infiltration in new residences.

To update the National Association of Home Builders Thermal Performance Guidelines, models were developed, representative of the new houses being constructed in each American state. The models define the number and types of windows and doors,

Energy Signature Monitor (ESM). Development of a low-cost data acquisition system

The Energy Signature Monitor (ESM), an innovative energy monitoring system, addresses the data acquisition and analysis demands of test programmes which require monitoring of large samples of buildings. It has been developed aspart of the Whole Building Evaluation System (WBES). Only a nominal number of sensors are required per test site, with less stringent sensor accuracy demands as compared to laboratory investigations. The aim is to provide an inexpensive user friendly system for use by non-technical personnel.

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