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Setting the Stage
Published in Frank R. Spellman, Surviving an OSHA Audit, 2020
indoor air quality (IAQ): The effect, good or bad, of the contents of the air inside a structure on its occupants. While usually temperature (too hot and cold), humidity (too dry or too damp), and air velocity (draftiness or motionless) are considered “comfort” rather than indoor air quality issues, IAQ refers to such problems as asbestosis, sick building syndrome, biological aerosols, ventilation issues concerning dusts, fumes, and so forth.
Upgrading HVAC Systems For Energy Efficiency—Verification of System Performance
Published in Albert Thumann, Terry Niehus, William J. Younger, Handbook of Energy Audits, 2020
Albert Thumann, Terry Niehus, William J. Younger
Heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems are among the most complex of all building service systems. To maintain a high level of occupant comfort, worker productivity, indoor air quality (IAQ) and energy efficiency, HVAC systems must be properly designed, installed, maintained and operated. The purpose of verification of system performance testing of HVAC systems is to assure the building owner that the system will perform, or is now performing, according to the owner’s design criteria and the engineer’s design intent.
Indoor air quality
Published in Sue Reed, Dino Pisaniello, Geza Benke, Kerrie Burton, Principles of Occupational Health & Hygiene, 2020
Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) can be a significant health, environmental and economic problem, and has thus become a public health and liability issue for employers, and for building managers and owners. The definition of IAQ is often interpreted differently, depending on the discipline describing it. This chapter uses the broad definition of IAQ as ‘the totality of attributes of the indoor air that may affect a person’s health and well-being’ (Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities 2009a). Any evaluation of IAQ must therefore determine how well indoor air satisfies the thermal comfort and respiratory requirements of the space’s occupants, prevents unhealthy accumulation of pollutants, and promotes occupants’ sense of well-being. IAQ also has a direct impact on the personnel costs of any business, as it has been shown that there is an association between IAQ and occupant productivity.
Effects of window status and indoor plants on air quality, air temperature, and relative humidity: a pilot study
Published in Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering, 2023
Approximately 30% of new buildings worldwide suffer from indoor air pollution problems (Kuo 2009). It was reported that household air pollution causes 3.7 million premature deaths every year (Gordon et al. 2014). Moreover, 4.1% of deaths worldwide are attributed to indoor air pollution (Ritchie and Roser 2013). The sources of indoor air pollution range from smoke emitted from fuel combustion to complex mixtures of volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds in modern buildings (Zhang and Smith 2003). The causes of indoor air pollution include outdoor air pollution, indoor combustion, building materials, paints and coatings, office machine, cleaning products, biological pollutants, and human activities and others (Indoor Air Quality n.d.). Indoor air pollution is generally two to five times worse (sometimes up to 100 times worse) than outdoor air pollution (Environment Australia 2003; IAQ n.d.), although there are some regions with serious outdoor air pollution.
Indoor exposure assessment for levels of dust mite and total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) in living houses
Published in International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 2023
Sung Ho Hwang, Sangwon Lee, Jong-Uk Won, Wha Me Park
The World Health Organization reports that air pollution can cause the deaths of approximately 7 million people worldwide (World Health Organization [WHO] 2014). Indoor air quality (IAQ) refers to the air quality within and around buildings and structures, especially, as it relates to the health and comfort of building occupants (EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency 2022). People spend most of their time in various types of indoor environments, especially in homes during the COVID-19 lockdown. With increased indoor air pollutant’s levels and exposure times, these pollutants harm users’ health. Several studies performed on IAQ have shown that the number of people present in a room, physical activities, and combustion of solid fuels raise have an impact on human health (Kim et al. 2020).
Assessment of CO2-based demand controlled ventilation requirement for a flexible work environment with ductless split air conditioners
Published in Science and Technology for the Built Environment, 2019
Indoor sources of air contaminants originate from human respiration, building materials, equipment, and activities such as cooking, burning, smoking, and so on. Common pollutants causing poor indoor air quality are volatile organic compounds, formaldehyde, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, radon, fungi, and others. Poor ventilation has a negative effect on human productivity and on perceived air quality and may cause sick building syndrome (SBS) (Seppänen and Fisk 2004). The concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in particular is considered to be an indicator of indoor air quality and adequacy of ventilation in a building. In air conditioned buildings, the presence of CO2 becomes an important indicator for assessing the indoor air quality where concentrations of other contaminants are relatively lower. The minimum ventilation rates for required for maintaining adequate indoor air quality in buildings are listed in Table 1. Codes define the ventilation requirements in two ways: (1) air changes per hour (ACH) and (2) ventilation per person. Ventilation rate based on ACH is constant irrespective of the occupancy level, whereas the ventilation rate per person considers the occupant density and the occupied area. The required ventilation rate varies for different working environments.