Reviews important sources of indoor air pollutants, and discusses ways of measuring the contaminants emitted by the presence of man in a room. In a test chamber the carbon-dioxide and the odour intensity were measured as a function of room occupancy and ventilation rate. When the supply of fresh air was12-15m*3 per person per hour, the CO2 concentration was less then 0.15% and the odour intensity was evaluated only as a `slight annoyance'. Higher ventilation rates are necessary if increased physical activities and smoking is done in the rooms.
Considers the reasons for advocating mechanical domestic ventilation. Discusses which factors provide for an optimum climate in rooms. Treats room temperature, air movement in the occupied zone, air purity and humidity, odours, noise. Illustrates how mechanical ventilation should be arranged to provide correct indoor ventilation and the different ventilation principles involved: gravity ventilation, fan-assisted exhaust ventilation and supply and extract ventilation. Illustrates typical applications of these systems to single family houses.
Until recently, natural ventilation was adequate for the indoor air environment of buildings. Today, with added insulation and tighter building envelope standards, indoor air quality is more dependent on mechanical means. The conventional and new control strategies for indoor environments are reviewed, and the point is made that good indoor air quality is attainable with cost effective means if the proper constraints are maintained. To improve control strategies, several suggestions are made:< 1.
Measurements were undertaken of basic indoor air pollution in the childrens' room in 39 occupied flats, built within the past 20 years, and in seven newly-built one-family houses ready for occupation.
Discusses organic contaminants in rooms and reviews soviet literature on the subject. Gives a table of maximum permitted concentrations of 59 compounds according to standards of the Soviet Union.
Reviews literature on the health effects of indoor air pollutants in energy-efficient homes with low ventilation rates. Discusses hazards from gas cooking, formaldehyde, radon and other pollutants. Suggests air infiltration rate of 0.5 air changes/hour to keep indoor pollution to below critical levles. Also suggests installation of an air-to-air heat exchanger or electronic air cleaner.
The indoor air quality of six homes with gas and electric cooking and gas heating appliances was characterized to determine the level of gaseous and aerosol air pollutants from typical indoor combustion sources.
Discusses in general terms the problem with formaldehyde in schools in Cologne, reported by Deimel (abstract no.803). Considers problems of ventilating school buildings to reduce the concentration of formaldehyde. Discusses toxicity of formaldehyde and reports a survey of 37 children from one of the Cologne schools. Measurements of formic acid and formaldehyde in the childrens' urine were made after 7 hours of exposure and after 17 exposure-free hours. Concludes that current standards should be adhered to.
Measurements of dark smoke and SO2 concentration made inside and outside a school showed no significant difference in the case of smoke but SO2 concentrations indoors were only 71% of those outside. Holiday periods, when the buildings were unoccupied gave similar results to those periods when thepupils (non-smokers) were present.
Reports measurements of formaldehyde in four newly-built schools. In one school, one year after opening during the hot summer of 1976, concentrations of formaldehyde between 0.3 and 0.9ppm were measured. In another school the average concentration for almost all rooms was over the maximum for working places of 1ppm. The cause was emanation from ceiling and furniture and concentration depended on humidity, temperature and ventilation rate.
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