Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor Air Quality
in
indoor spaces/environments
Glossary
Acceptable indoor air quality refers to air in which
there are no known contaminants at harmful
concentrations as determined by the public health
authorities, and with which a substantial majority of
the people exposed do not express dissatisfaction.
Indoor air refers to the air inside a building, including air which is within a
significance of iaq
Indoor air quality has become a huge concern over the past
decade.
The EPA has acknowledged indoor air quality as one of the top
five environmental health risks.
This is compounded further by the fact that we spend the
majority of our time indoors: whether we are in school, at work,
or at home.
These indoor environments often emit and harbor harmful
particles and vapors that frequently cause what is referred to as
"sick building syndrome".
Prolonged exposure to indoor environments often results in
occupants complaining about fatigue, headaches, nausea, and
irritation- all due to the off-gassing of many common products
such as carpeting, household cleaners, and furniture.
Why now..
Air pollution has become a major concern in India in
recent years both because it is now clear that large
parts of the Indian urban population are exposed to
some of the highest pollutant levels in the world and
also because new studies around the world on the
Office -definition
An office is generally a room or other area in which
people work, but may also denote a position within
an organization with specific duties attached to it.
A workplace is any physical or virtual space where working
relationships exist, where employer-employee relations exist.
Office layout types
Open cell layout
Closed Cell layout
Hybrid Layout
Office spaces
The main purpose of an office environment is to support its occupants in
performing their job - preferably at minimum cost and to maximum
satisfaction.
With different people performing different tasks and activities, however, it is
not always easy to maintain good iaq in office spaces.
Typologies of Offices:
Government /Public offices
Company owned offices/private offices
Research has also shown that workers in buildings with adequate air
quality have reduced rates of symptoms related to poor air quality .
Increase in productivity
Increase in moral
Reduced healthcare costs
VENTILATION
Desktop study -1
In this paper an attempt has been made to analyze the indoor air
quality of a naturally ventilated school building, Kendriya Vidyalaya,
located in the Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), Chennai,
India.
This building is located close to an urban road with heavy traffic flow,
within a range of 100 m from the busy traffic junction.
Desktop study -1
The vehicular pollutant CO has also been measured at the road side
to develop the indoor and outdoor CO relationship.
Desktop study -1
the vehicular pollutant CO has also been measured at the road side to
develop the indoor and outdoor CO relationship.
building. The result indicated that hourly the CO2 concentration inside the
school room is 927 ppm during morning working hours (10.00a.m).
The measured concentrations inside the school building are within the
standard.
Desktop study -1
Olesen, Bjarne
International Centre for Indoor Environment and Energy
Technical University of Denmark
Nils Koppels Alle, Build. 402, DK-2800 Lyngby, Denmark
bwo@mek.dtu.dk
ABSTRACT
People spend in industrialized countries more than 90 % of there lives in an artificial indoor
environment (home, transportation, work).
In typical office buildings the cost of people is a factor 100 higher than energy costs, which
make the performance of people at their work significantly more important than energy
costs.
Studies on people sick leaves show a very high loss of work time and performance, which
have significant economical consequences for companies.
Recent studies in offices and schools show that comfortable room temperatures,increased
ventilation above normal recommendation, reduction of indoor pollution sources and more
effective ventilation increases the performance of people.
of productivity of 5-10 %.
Desktop study -2
52%
16%
10%
Microbial contamination
5%
Contamination from
building fabric
4%
Unknown sources
13%
ASHRAE amended this standard in 1975 to specify the minimum value of 5 cubic
feet per minute (CFM) of outdoor air per person be used in building design. This
standard has been incorporated into the building codes of many cities and states.
The 62-1989 standard recommends a minimum of 15 CFM of outdoor air per person
for offices (reception areas) and 20 CFM per person for general office space with a
moderate amount of smoking.
Sixty cubic feet per minute per person is recommended for smoking lounges with
Air fresheners/deodorizers
Pesticides ,Mothballs ,Dry-cleaned clothing
Hairsprays ,Perfumes ,Nail polish ,Fabric softeners
600 ppm
600-1,000 ppm
1,000 ppm
0.018
0.003
2.00
0.43
5.45
1.3
Felt carpet
1.95
0.080
Gypsum board
N/A
0.026
Linoleum
5.19
0.22
Particle board
N/A
2.0
77.9
26.0
Plywood paneling
N/A
1.0
Putty strips
1.38
0.34
57.8
10.2
54.8
2.3
Silicone caulk
N/A
<2.0
1,410.0
271.0
Building Material
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is enhanced by utilizing materials that meet the
following criteria
Low or non-toxic: Materials that emit few or no carcinogens, reproductive toxicants, or irritants
as demonstrated by the manufacturer through appropriate testing.
Minimal chemical emissions: Products that have minimal emissions of Volatile Organic
Compounds (VOCs). Products that also maximize resource and energy efficiency while
reducing chemical emissions.
Moisture resistant: Products and systems that resist moisture or inhibit the growth of biological
contaminants in buildings.
Healthfully maintained: Materials, components, and systems that require only simple, non-
Systems or equipment: Products that promote healthy IAQ by identifying indoor air pollutants
or enhancing the air quality.
Legionellosis
Allergic reactions
Mold and Fungus
Hypersensitivity
Symptoms of SBS
Itching, burning eyes
Irritated skin
Nasal congestion
Fatigue
Dry irritated throats
Nausea
headaches
Humidity problems
Unacceptable noise levels
million of them
There is no OSHA regulation regarding indoor air quality
in offices
OSHAs recommendations
There is no mention of office standards
Inquiries are delegated to either NIOSH, EPA or ASHRAE
ASHRAE standards were set in 1973 and updated in 1975
Recommend an exchange rate of 5 cubic feet of outside air per
Source
Health Effects
Acetic Acid
Carbon Dioxide
Carbon Monoxide
Formaldehyde
Nitrogen Oxides
Synthetic Fibers
Tobacco Smoke
Smoking.
Smoking should be banned from inside buildings
Outside smoking areas should be kept away
from ventilation uptakes and away from doors or
windows
Ventilation is key
Good ventilation moves a lot of air
Humidity should be kept low indoors to prevent
mold and fungus growth.
Moisture should not accumulate in drip pans and
there should be no water damage due to leaky
roofs
Molds
Biological threat to indoor air quality
Moisture either due to water damage or
high humidity.
Mold will grow where it has food and
water.
Eliminating water from the indoor
environment will limit mold growth.
Leaking roofs
Substandard maintenance
Cold spots
Localized flooding
Malfunctioning humidifiers
Leaky plumbing
Mold
Radon
Asbestos
Fibrous mineral found in rocks
Extruded into filaments that cannot be seen with the
naked eye
Under the right conditions can suspend in the air and
be inhaled
Causes asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma
Can take up to 20 years after exposure to manifest
Asbestos
More of a threat to maintenance workers because it
was used as insulation in boiler rooms and service
areas
If it is intact OSHA does not recommend moving it, just
monitoring
NIOSH advocates its removal in all cases and believes
there is no safe amount of asbestos
Asbestos
Asbestos
EPA estimates that friable (easily crumbled) asbestos
exists in 700,000 public and commercial buildings
EPA and NIOSH 5 facts about asbestos:
Asbestos is dangerous but only if airborne
Average amount in buildings is low making health
risks low
Ill advised removal is more dangerous than
monitoring
Removal is only necessary in renovation or demolition
pollutants.
Highways or busy thoroughfares may be sources of
particulates and other pollutants in nearby buildings.
Buildings sited on land where there was prior industrial use
or where there is a high water table may result in leaching
of water or chemical pollutants into the building.
2. Building Design:
Also, when spaces are redesigned or renovated, the HVAC system may not
be updated to accommodate the changes.
4. RenovationActivities:
When painting and other renovations are being
6.Building materials
Disturbing thermal insulation or
7.Building Furnishings:
Cabinetry or furniture made
of certain pressed-wood products
may release pollutants into the
indoor air.
8.Building Maintenance:
Workers in areas in which pesticides,
9. Occupant Activities:
Building occupants may be the
source of indoor air pollutants;
such pollutants include perfumes
or colognes.
Biological
Excessive concentrations of bacteria, viruses, fungi,
dust mites, animal dander, and pollen may result
from inadequate maintenance and housekeeping,
water spills, inadequate humidity control,
condensation, or water intrusion through leaks in
the building envelope or flooding.
Chemical
Sources of chemical pollutants (gases and
vapors)include emissions from products used in
Particle (Non-biological)
Particles are solid or liquid, non-biological,
Substances that are light enough to be
suspended in the air.
Dust, dirt, or other substances may be
Drawn into the building from outside.
Particles can also be produced by activities
that occur in buildings such a construction,
Category
Particles
Air Pollutant
Source
Respirable particles
Tobacco smoke
Tobacco products
Asbestos
Allergens
Pathogens
Mold, bacteria
Carbon monoxide
Volatile Organic
Compounds (VOCs)
Formaldehyde
Benzene
Toulene
Phenols
Ammonia
Alcohols
Pesticides