English

Examines the fundamental building heat loss calculations. Points out some anomalies in the traditional view of room thermal behaviour. Treats equations governing room heat loss taking account of the temperature of the walls and the environmental temperature. Justifies the use of the environmental temperature rather then the air temperature. Examines the heat loss due to ventilation. Discusses the use of the temperature ratio.

Notes the high heat loss in Canadian houses due to air leakage and condensation problems caused by uncontrolled moisture movement into the exterior wall structure. Recommends the installation of an air-vapour barrier to form a completely sealed envelope around the house structure except at doors, windows, vents and other obstacles. The recommended thickness for the polyethylene sheet of the air vapour barrier is 6mm, which is continually sealed at all joints. Details the recommended installation procedures for realising an air-vapour barrier.

Uses "Track Etch" detectors to measure nearly 40000 time-averaged radon concentrations in Canadian, Swedish and US homes. In some areas indoor exposure rates exceed 20 pci/l in as many as 15% of homes surveyed. Such levels may lead to an increased lung cancer risk. The "Track Etch" detectors are based upon a plastic nuclear track detector which undergoes permanent radiation damage when struck by an alpha particle. These small detectors are very convenient to use in occupied homes and buildings.

Discusses common sources of indoor air pollution in buildings and the specific pollutants emitted by each source, including combustion emissions, formaldehyde and other organic substances and radon. Also covers potential health effects and possible control techniques, including dilution by natural or mechanical ventilation.

Assesses the impact of energy conservation retrofits on the indoor air quality of residential buildings, through a field monitoring project in which air leakage, air exchange rates and indoor air pollutants are measured before and after retrofit. Uses a mobile laboratory to make detailed on-site measurements of air exchange rates and concentrations of pollutants in 2 houses, and measures effective leakage area in 7 other houses. Impact on indoor air quality of the energy conserving retrofits seem to be minimal.

Gives a method of calculating the rate at which air enters a building, and how long it takes to reach a steady state, given the area of the door, the volume of the building and the air change rate caused by infiltration when the door is shut. Resulting heat losses are unacceptably high, but not as high as claimed by manufacturers of door closing devices.

Studies formaldehyde and other aldehydes as a function of building air exchange rates in public buildings and energy efficient research houses. Uses sequential gas bubbling systems in conjunction with a pneumatic flow control system for field sampling. Finds that concentrations of formaldehyde and aldehydes in public buildings are about the same in indoor and outdoor air because of the high ventilation rates in these buildings. However, indoor air in general has higher formaldehyde and total aliphatic aldehyde levels than outdoor air.

Describes a study of indoor air quality in 12 retrofitted houses of the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) Midway Substation Residential Community, undertaken by LBL and BPA. Measures effective leakage areas and average concentrations of nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde and radon before and after retrofit. Finds average reduction in leakage area of 32%. None of the pollutants measured before or after retrofit reached levels exceeding existing guidelines.

States that any residential energy-conserving retrofit program should should include an indoor air quality audit. Proposes a basic audit strategy that would minimize the number of actual on-site pollutant measurements. The first step involves compiling an inventory of indoor pollutants (through an owner questionnaire or visual audit) and assessing the amount of pollutant injected into the home from known sources with a narrow emission rate (eg. gas stoves). The second step is to measure the pollutant source strengths of unknown sources, with emission rates that vary widely (eg. radon).

Assesses the indoor air quality at Oakland Gardens Elementary School in New York City under 3 different ventilation rates. Uses a mobile laboratory to monitor air quality in 2 classrooms, a hallway and outdoors. Parameters measured include air exchange rates, particulates, odour perception, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, ozone, nitrogen oxides, radon, formaldehyde and total aldehydes. When the ventilation rate is reduced, carbon dioxide concentrations increase significantly, but do not exceed current occupational standards.