English

Deals with the problems of open building passages and tunnel like entrances caused by thermal influences and wind currents. Shows advantages of air screening, especially where high pressure differences occur.

Within the last ten years, energy shortages, economic pressures, and changes in indoor environmental requirements have resulted in buildings that are more energy efficient but less forgiving, environmentally. These results indicate that energ

Gives a brief review of recent indoor air quality research in the USA, including instrumentation, monitoring health effects and remedial action.

Describes a calibration technique to relate the air flow rate through a blower door to the fan speed and pressure difference across the door. To obtain an accurate and well-documented calibration of pressurization devices, a facility was designed and constructed at the US National Bureau of Standards. This accurately determines the flow rate through the fan as a function of fan speed, air density and pressure difference across the fan.

Describes a program which enables a hand-held computer to perform the energy audit calculations used in Building Practice Note No.20 "Estimating energy savings from reinsulating houses". The computer prompts the user for information, and provides a fast and versatile way of performing energy audit calculations.

Continues on from a previous paper, which gives a theoretical framework for using moments of concentration histories as a means of assessing air quality. Gives a more detailed presentation of the test conditions and the results from each test, together with plots of concentration v.time graphs.

Describes a 2 year study sponsored by EPRI to ivestigate relationships between energy use, air infiltration and indoor air quality. Uses 2 bi-level, detached houses, identical in design and wind exposure. Continuously monitors parameters related to related to energy use, air infiltration, and indoor air quality.

Describes a model that predicts air infiltration from both wind and temperature influence to within 20%. Compares the predicted value and measured infiltration from a full-scale test structure, revealing an average discrepancy of less than 10 m3/hr (out of an average of approx 150 m3/hr). Presents direct measurements of the wind velocity and pressure coefficients induced by the wind on the full-scale test structure.

Examines the sensitivity of the predicted air infiltration rate to measured building air tightness data and the wind exposure index determined from site inspection. Presents results of air tightness tests in New Zealand houses, which indicate the range of leakage resistance for components, for solid materials (such as wall and ceiling lining materials) and for cracks separating major components such as floors and walls.

Summarizes the information obtained concerning new residential construction in the US and points out important differences between US and Swedish technology and construction methods for energy efficient housing. Selected building components for US housing are described and compared with corresponding Swedish techniques. Most important differences are -1. Differences in ventilation strategies - almost all new Swedish houses have continuous mechanical ventilaton. 2. The airtightness of building envelopes. 3. Wall constructions and standard insulation practices.