The influence of air change and ageing on emissions from 5 different building materials were studied. It was concluded that increasing the air change rate in a rather leaky house was of practically no importance in preventing problems caused by emissions. It was also assumed that a reduction of the air change rate in a tight house may result in a considerable increase in the concentration of substances in the room air. For all 5 materials, the emission rate decreases with time.
Air pollution due to volatile compounds in six unoccupied houses with intended low energy consumption was measured. The measurements included air temperature, air humidity, ventilation rate and concentration of organic gases and vapours. On average 14 different compounds were identified in concentrations exceeding 0.005 mg/m3 in the samples, and Toluene and alpha-Pinene were the most frequent compounds. A total concentration of organic gases and vapours averaged for the five periods of measurements 0.46 mg/m3 (0.032 - 5.5 mg/m3).
Outlines the fundamentals of insulation and airtightness, proper air quality, and ventilation. Presents details of design and construction for walls, roofs, foundations, windows, and air-vapour barriers, as well as discussions of ventilation systems, heating systems, appliances and methods of testing and evaluation. One of the appendices gives weather data for selected US and Canadian cities. Aims to be accessible to the interested layperson or homeowner.
Roof space ventilation is necessary to evacuate water vapour to avoid condensation and to conserve the wooden roof supports. It has been affected by 1. increased insulation, 2. snow screens fitted under the roof, 3. increased humidity due to
Indoor radon concentrations have been measured in a 13 year old two story concrete building of the University of Texas at Dallas. Variations of the radon concentration from the basement to the second floor in offices, classrooms, laboratories, storage rooms, corridors and other locations have been measured. Dependence of the above concentrations on the location and ventilation rates have been studied.
The largest contribution to population exposure from natural radiation arises from the inhalation of the decay products of radon in indoor air. In most instances the dominant source of radon within buildings is the subjacent ground. However, building materials do contribute to the radon concentration in indoor air, and in some circumstances may provide the major source. Thisreport reviews some of the literature on radon emanation from soils and building materials world-wide.
Due to better insulation and improved airtightness of doors and windows, the supply of fresh air entering a room has been greatly reduced. This in turn causes an increase in the amount of pollutants emitted by different insulation and building materials. Measurements of the formaldehyde concentration in newbuildings have shown that the admissible limits are still exceeded even after a year. Stricter regulations limiting the emissions of pollutants are therefore urgently necessary.
During the last fifteen years Urea-Formaldehyde (UF) bonded particle board, medium density fiberboard and plywood have replaced whole wood as a construction material for flooring, wall panelling cabinet work and furniture. At the same time,
In response to employee complaints of upper respiratory and eye irritation, formaldehyde air sampling studies were conducted in two different office environments. The first was in a series of temporary modular buildings with construction simi
Login