Transcript Indoor Air Quality

Unit 6: Indoor Air Quality
Building System Services
CON 212
Indoor Air Pollutants
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
– Formaldehyde, hydrocarbons, alcohols, phenols, ketones.
• Combustion by-produces and inorganic gases
– Carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur
dioxide, chlorine, ammonia, ozone.
• Biological pollutants
– Fungi (mold and mildew)
• Particulates
– Biological (viruses, bacteria, spores, pollen, cell debris, dust
mites).
– Non-biological (dust smoke, fibers).
• Radon (naturally occurring in soil)
• Electromagnetic fields
VOCs
• Building materials, furniture, floor coverings
(carpets, linoleum), adhesives, paints &
solvents, plastics (vinyl), rubber, cleaning
products, some insulation, gas stoves.
• Unpleasant odors; eye, nose & throat
irritation; central nervous system depressant;
headache, fatigue, chronic sickness; possible
carcinogens.
Formaldehyde
• Glue-bonded wood
(plywood, particleboard,
structural products).
Combustion Gases
• From unvented combustion sources (stove,
heaters, pilot lights, garage).
• Symptoms are depression, fatigue, irritability.
• Chronic exposure interferes with
detoxification in the liver.
Inorganic Gases
• Chlorine & ammonia from household cleaning
products.
• Ozone from electrostatic air cleaners,
photocopiers, arcing motors, outside air.
• Symptoms include irritation, coughing, nose &
throat problems.
Biological Pollutants
• Caused by high humidity levels (washing,
bathing, cooking, unvented clothes dryers,
bok choy hydroponic operations.
• Symptoms include allergic reactions and
aggravation of asthma symptoms and possible
lung damage.
LEED Indoor Air Quality
• Credit 1: Provide capacity for indoor air quality (IAQ)
monitoring to help sustain long-term occupant comfort
and well-being.
• Credit 2: Provide for the effective delivery and mixing of
supply air to support the safety, comfort and well-being
of building occupants.
• Credit 3: Prevent indoor air quality problems resulting
from the construction / renovation process in order to
help sustain the comfort and well-being of construction
workers and building occupants.
• Credit 4.1: Adhesives & Sealants. Reduce the quantity of indoor air
contaminants that are odorous, potentially irritating and/or harmful
to the comfort and well-being of installers and occupants.
• Credit 4.2: Low-Emitting Materials: Paints & Coating. Reduce the
quantity of indoor air contaminants that are odorous, potentially
irritating and/or harmful to the comfort and well-being of installers
and occupants.
• Credit 4.3. Low-Emitting Materials: Carpet. Reduce the quantity of
indoor air contaminants that are odorous, potentially irritating
and/or harmful to the comfort and well-being of installers and
occupants.
• Credit 4.4. Low-Emitting Materials: Composite Wood and Laminate
Adhesives. Reduce the quantity of indoor air contaminants that are
odorous, potentially irritating and/or harmful to the comfort and
well-being of installers and occupants.
IAQ Pollutants (LEED)
Contaminant
Maximum Concentration
Particulate Matter
(PM10)
Formaldehyde
50 μg/m³
Total VOC
500 μg/m³
Carbon Monoxide
9 ppm
(< 2ppm above outdoors)
6.5 μg/m³
4-Phenycyclohexene
Carpets w/ Styrene Butadiene latex
backing material.
50 parts per billion
Ventilation with Filtration
UV Air Purifier
• May be installed in
furnace ducting to
sterilize air-borne
pathogens (viruses,
bacteria, mold)