Assessment, cleaning and restoration of HVAC systems (ACR-2002)

This new standard goes much further than previous one in addressing pre-cleaning assessments, control and containment during the cleaning process as well as a lot of other variables that can impact the indoor environment. This paper looks and comments the new standard and how it addresses the many variables that influence duct cleaning and IAQ and how the document deals with the many different building populations.

New hospital-hygiene guidelines - new technical standards for HVAC equipment

The paper presents hygiene requirements to be met by hospital HVAC plants and analyses them critically for different type of rooms (confined rooms sterile protected, operating room, special areas). The tasks of comfort air conditioning are adapted to the improved indoor conditions of intelligent buildings. Air is only used for ventilating, whereas heated and cooled room surfaces generally serve for heating and cooling.

The effect of duct cleaning on indoor air quality in office buildings

The effect of duct cleaning has been checked on 15 buildings. Indoor air quality measurements and questionnaires have been operated 3 months before cleaning and 1 month after. Questionnaires show that the perceived indoor air quality has been improved. Effects of cleaning on measurements can hardly be measured.

Labeling system for clean ventilation components

Labelling of HVAC systems is a direct consequence of the publication of test procedures and recommended criteria in Finland. Cleanliness parameters are dust quantity, oil residues and odours emissions. Discussion isf continuing on filters classification including their efficiency (EN 779) but also odour emissions.

Analysis of 3-dimensional roughness elements in an indoor air filter

Ways of removing from indoor air particulates smaller in diameter than 1 micrometer, through enhancement of particle deposition in a filter, were investigated using numerical simulation. Deposition enhancement is obtained using diamond-shaped three-dimensional roughness elements incorporated into filters. Numerical investigations performed were used to define the enhancement for laminar flow, in order to define the most efficient arrangement of enhancing elements.

Vertical distribution of occupant-generated particles in a room with displacement ventilation

Measurements were carried out in a test chamber with displacement ventilation to know the vertical distribution of airborne particles generated by two human subjects having an activity representative of that of people working in an office. Particle concentration was observed as increasing with height. A threshold size of particles was found at 5 to 10 microns above which the displacement effect of particles by air flow started to decline. Negative concentration gradients were observed for large particles at the lowest ventilation rate, when the air flow does not displace them.

Microbial measurements at ventilation systems supply vents

On 75 air outlets of HVAC systems from 12 participating companies, fungal contamination was measured and compared to the incoming fresh air. For one of them with a significantly high level of fungi, dominated by one penicillium species, regular checks on a period of 14 months have been realised. The study concludes that this kind of measurement can be used as an indicator of the HVAC system hygienic condition.

Selection of lubricant for manufacture of HVAC components

To minimise emissions from ducts, it is necessary to manufacture with low emission lubricants or with lubricants that leave only minor amount of residues on the surface. In this study the lubrication, evaporation and odour emission properties of fourteen lubricants were studied and differences are high ligthted showing the importance to select them properly.

Measurements of sensory load from ventilation systems by trained and untrained panels

This paper studies the overall accuracy and comparability of both trained and untrained panels in order to determine the required size of the untrained panel, and to determine the limit value (mean vote) corresponding to an acceptable air quality. In the results, it is proposed to use an untrained panel of 15 persons. The risk connected with the use of such a small, untrained panel was calculated to be 10 % and is equivalent to trained panel.

VOC emissions from dusty air filters

The study examined emissions from dust collected on 2 stages ventilation filters in winter in Helsinki or in its outskirts. The filters contained a lot of fresh particles due to traffic, combustion, and power production. The carbon content was highest in the dust, which was collected from a pre-filter. In previous studies, the intensity of odors from filters was found to be strongest in the winter.

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