The fungal index is a biological climate-parameter, which represents the environmental capacity toallow fungal growth. The author developed software that determines the computed fungal index,which was estimated using the Excel software "INDEX" from the measured temperature and relativehumidity. The computed fungal index and the measured fungal index, determined using a fungaldetector encapsulating fungal spores, were determined in 10 rooms in six dwelling houses.
The severe impact on health associated with biocontaminants, such as dust mites, has become increasingly apparent in recent years. Consequently, a considerable effort has taken place to develop biocontaminant growth models and to assess the efficacy of possible psychrometric control measures, involving the modification of room conditions. However this approach is not always successful due to the low correlation between room conditions and those within the microenvironments inhabited by biocontaminants.
For the conservation of an important museum collection in a historic building a better controlled indoor climate may be necessary. One of the most important factors is controlling relative humidity. Museum collections often are part of the interior of a historic building. In most cases the installation of an expensive air-conditioning system may cause damage to the building and its historic authenticity. Furthermore humidifying may lead to dramatic indoor air conditions with mould and condensation effects on the cold indoor surfaces or even internal condensation in the construction.
This paper investigates the effect of ventilation on mould growth in a typical Japanese bathroom byuse of the fungal index which indicates the growth rate of a mould, Alternaria alternata S-78. Thebathroom was set in an artificial climate where the temperature and relative humidity (RH) werekept constant. The temperature, RH and fungal index in the bathroom were measured under severalventilation methods after taking a bath.
For the building team, the design of library, archives and museum facilities brings with it special responsibilities. Archive and conservation facilities require the highest levels of preservation and maintenance of the building environment. Understanding how to maintain and preserve vulnerable materials is a key component to developing a successful design solution.
The characteristics of a hybrid air-conditioning system, utilizing natural and mechanical ventilation, is investigated in an office setting. The characteristics of the indoor environment are examined with CFD(Computational fluid Dynamics) simulation under various conditions of incoming outdoor air. The control of the room air conditioning system (VAY system) is included in the calculation through changing the supply air volume to keep the task zone's temperature at a target temperature.
This paper summarizes baseline results from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) school demonstration studies. Indoor pollutants of concern were formaldehyde, sum of targeted volatile organic compounds o:VOC), carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter less than 2.5 microns (PM2.5), particulate matter less than 10 microns (PM10), and bioaerosols (bacteria, fungi, and thermophiles). The five schools presented here had no significant indoor air quality problems. Locations of these schools were distributed throughout various climate zones in the United States.
Measurements of VOC, formaldehyde, temperature, relative humidity, ventilation and inspections of humidity related problems were made in 178 randomly selected Swedish dwellings. More than one hundred single VOCs was identified with a mean concentration less than 25 μg/m3. The concentration of 80% of the identified VO Cs were less than 10 μg/m3. One-family houses had a higher concentration of VOCs than multi family houses.
The paper presents a ventilation comfort chart that has been developed under Thailand climate and using Thai volunteers. 183 male and 105 female college-age subjects were exposed to different thermal conditions in order to investigate the effect of air velocity on thermal comfort in ventilated "non-conditioned" spaces. To this end commercial electric fans were used to control the air velocity near the subjects. The air velocity varied between 0.2 and 3 m/s. Room conditions varied between 26°C and 36°C (D.B.T.) and 50-80% relative humidity.