quality control

In 2014 the first multi storey residential building planned and constructed to meet the Passivhaus Institute (Darmstadt) criteria was put in operation in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. This massive-structure building is part of the FP7 EE-Highrise project, aiming to demonstrate nearly zero energy building (nZEB) technologies, an integrated design concept, and advanced systems for sustainable construction.

During the construction of a multi-family residential building the developer decided that the building must comply with the airtightness requirements for passive houses. Based on inspection work and preliminary testing, the original design was revised. The execution of the new air barrier system was supervised. Selected flats were repeatedly tested during the construction process. The whole building was tested once before the completion of the construction. After the completion of the building, all the flats, the whole building and the staircase were tested again.

Rad Elec Inc., located in Frederick, MD, USA is the only commercial producer of electret ionchambers (EIC) systems. These are distributed under the brand name of E-PERM, electret-passiveenvironmental radon monitors. Different versions of these are used in various applications, whichinclude: measurement of indoor/outdoor radon, thoron (220Radon), radon flux, radon in water, radiumin soil/building materials, environmental gamma radiation, tritium in air and on surfaces, alphacontamination on surfaces and in soil.

The main findings from the Probe occupant surveys are assessed. The emphasis is on the consequences for strategic thinking on how best to design and manage buildings to improve conditions for occupants and users, taking examples from the Probe studies. Comfort, health and productivity of occupants are positively associated statistically; and all are easily undermined by chronic, low-level problems.

In the confusing world of insulation materials, telling the difference between fraudulent claims and the real thing is not easy.

Maior problems exist with the way some attic insulations are manufactured, labeled, and installed. An experienced insulation contractor, diagnostic technician, and building science educator sizes up the ongoing problem of cheating and offers specific recommendations to prevent it.

Ventilation systems should contribute to good indoor air quality conditions and should be energy efficient. In practice, one often finds ventilation systems which often do not give the appropriate indoor climate conditions and/or which consume a lot of energy.""In an increased number of European countries, legislation exists (France, Netherlands,...) or is under preparation (Belgium, Greece,...) putting requirements on the total energy use of the building. Part of this energy use deals with ventilation (thermal energy and fan energy).