Workers in 'white collar' jobs continue to complain about air-quality' problems. Although there is a growing commercial interest in the measurement of gaseous and solid pollutants, there is no information on the effectiveness of New Zealand office ventilation systems. A set of baseline data is necessary to develop an understanding of the effectiveness with which air is provided in office spaces. This paper describes the results of preliminary ventilation effectiveness measurements made in mechanically ventilated spaces using a pulse tracer gas method.
Local age of air and air change effectiveness were determined in two office buildings using tracer gas techniques to study the air applicability of the associated measurement procedures in mechanically ventilated office buildings. Measurement issues examined include the establishment of a uniform tracer gas concentration at the start of the test and the relationship of ventilation system configuration and system operation to the test procedure.
Unlike conventional ventilation systems, the displacement ventilation system supplies air in the low region of a room, while the exhaust opening is usually placed near the ceiling. When partitions are used in the occupied zone, the diffusion of supply air may be obstructed; thus, the existence of the partition may present important effects on air diffusion, retarding the removal of a contaminant. The present study considers the effects of office partition layout on air diffusion and indoor contaminant control in a large partitioned office equipped with a displacement ventilation system.
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