Environmental Laboratory

Experiment 2 – Determination of indoor air quality in concrete laboratory and car park
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Experiment 2--- Determination of indoor air quality in concrete laboratory and car park

Objective
To determine indoor air quality of the concrete laboratory and car park in terms of temperature,
relative humidity, CO, CO2, PM10, Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Total Volatile Organic Compounds
(TVOCs), O3, formaldehyde (HCHO) and radon.

Description
Temperature, relative humidity, CO, CO2, Air Movement, PM10, Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2),
Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOCs), Ozone, randon and Formaldehyde are the IAQ
objectives for offices and public places as stated in the “A Guide on Indoor Air Quality
Certification Scheme for Offices and Public Places.

Temperature and relative humidity

Thermal comfort is chiefly determined by temperature, humidity, and air movement. It has a
significant impact on the general well-being and work performance of building occupants. Poor
thermal environment can also aggravate the impact of air pollutants on occupants

Carbon monoxide (CO)

Carbon monoxide is mainly come from incomplete oxidation during combustion in unvented
kerosene and gas space heaters or tobacco smoke. At low concentrations, fatigue in healthy
people and chest pain in people with disease. At higher concentrations, it may cause impaired
vision and coordination; headache, dizziness; confusion; nausea.

Carbon dioxide (CO2)

Carbon Dioxide is mainly come from breathing of human or living organisms. A high level of
carbon dioxide in indoor means there is an inadequate supply of fresh air

PM10
RSP is mainly come from fireplaces, wood stoves, and kerosene heaters. It may cause eye, nose,
and throat irritation; respiratory infections and bronchitis, and even worse, may cause lung
cancer.

Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)

Nitrogen Dioxide is mainly come from unvented combustion appliances, e.g. gas stoves,
Kerosene heaters and tobacco smoke. A high level of NO2 may cause eye, nose, and throat
irritation. Also cause impaired lung function and increased respiratory infections in your
children

Total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs)

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) is mainly come from some household (e.g. carpets,
furnishings) or consumer products (e.g. wall painting, cleaning agents, and printers). A high
level of VOCs may cause discomfort, and even worse, may cause cancer
Environmental Laboratory
Experiment 2 – Determination of indoor air quality in concrete laboratory and car park
Formaldehyde (HCHO)
Formaldehyde is mainly come from furniture made of wood products with urea-formaldehyde
as adhesive or coating materials. Other sources include gas cooking, incense burning, carpeting,
etc. A high level of formaldehyde will irritate your eyes, nose and throat

CIV206L Environmental Engineering

Department of Civil Engineering, Chu Hai College of Higher Education
2

Ozone (O3)
Ozone is produced by ultraviolet light from the Sun hitting the Earth's atmosphere (especially
in the ozone layer), lightning, certain high-voltage electric devices (such as air ionizers), and
as a by-product of other types of pollution. Ozone exists in greater concentrations at altitudes
commonly flown by passenger jets. Reactions between ozone and onboard substances,
including skin oils and cosmetics, can produce toxic chemicals as by-products. Ozone itself is
also irritating to lung tissue and harmful to human health. Larger jets have ozone filters to
reduce the cabin concentration to safer and more comfortable levels.

Radon
Radon is an invisible, radioactive atomic gas that results from the radioactive decay of radium,
which may be found in rock formations beneath buildings or in certain building materials
themselves. Radon is probably the most pervasive serious hazard for indoor air in the United
States and Europe, probably responsible for tens of thousands of deaths from lung cancer each
year. Radon gas enters buildings as a soil gas and is a heavy gas and thus will tend to accumulate
at the lowest level. Radon may also be introduced into a building through drinking water
particularly from bathroom showers. Building materials can be a rare source of radon, but little
testing is carried out for stone, rock or tile products brought into building sites;

Sampling locations
Concrete laboratory, car park

Apparatus (Figure 2.1)

1. IAQ Monitor
2. Dust-trak
3. aeroQUAL NO2 monitor
4. ppbRAE3000 TVOCs monitor
5. PPM Formaldemeter
6. Ozone monitor
7. Radon monitor

Procedure
1. Position all equipment to a suitable position (breathing zone of human) for indoor air
quality measurement. The equipment should not be positioned directly in front of air
supply, exhaled breath of the operator, under direct sunlight and in passageways. They
are placed at least 0.5 m from reflective surfaces, and at least 1m from localized sources;
2. Turn on all equipment, and select the appropriate settings
 Environmental Laboratory
Experiment 2 – Determination of indoor air quality in concrete laboratory and car park
3. Record the measurement parameters of temperature, humidity, CO, CO2, PM10, NO2,
TVOCs, O3, radon and formaldehyde every 5 minute for 1 hour in each location.
4. Repeat the procedure 1-3 at second location

Lab Report
1) Determine the indoor air quality in concrete lab and car park.
Compared the results of the two indoor environments 3) Data sheet should be
included as an appendix

2)

CIV206L Environmental Engineering

Departme Appendix A

Data sheet
Location #2_car park
Sample Date and Temperature Relative CO CO2 NO2 O3 TVOCs
no. time (oC) humidity (ppm) (ppm) (ppb) (ppb) (ppb)
(%)
1 4:55 22.5 67.6 2.2 682 0.191 7.8 315
2 5:00 25.0 68 2.1 641 0.234 5.4 390
3 5:05 24.8 67.9 2.2 638 0.226 5.1 403
4 5:10 24.7 67.9 2.1 629 0.222 5.0 377
5 5:15 24.7 67.6 2.1 618 0.232 5.6 202
6 5:20 24.7 67.6 2.1 625 0.231 4.8 204
7 5:25 24.7 67.6 2.1 629 0.236 4.4 160
8 5:30 24.7 67.5 2.0 647 0.234 4.4 152
9 5:35 24.7 67.3 2.1 657 0.231 3.7 159
10 5:40 24.8 67.1 2.0 664 0.222 4.3 152
11 5: 45 24.8 67.1 2.0 658 0.227 4.3 155
12 5:50 24.8 67.1 2.0 657 0.223 4.7 160
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nt of Civil Engineering, Chu Hai College of Higher Education
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Environmental Laboratory

Experiment 2 – Determination of indoor air quality in concrete laboratory and car park

Figure 2.1 List of Apparatus

CIV206L Environmental Engineering

Department of Civil Engineering, Chu Hai College of Higher Education