Numerical simulation guided design of novel experimental chamber used to assess the effectiveness of ventilation strategies with hygro-regulated air terminals

Ensuring acceptable indoor air quality (IAQ) is critical for managing built environments. This is done by ventilating spaces with outdoor air to keep indoor pollutants like CO2, humidity, particulate matter, and VOCs within healthy levels. The effectiveness of ventilation strategies depends on factors like occupancy, pollutant types, and air terminal devices, which can be influenced by outdoor air quality, especially in urban areas with particulate matter and NOx. Ventilation devices can operate with constant airflow or adjust based on occupancy.

Estimation of Airborne Particle Removal Efficiency in Personal Isolation Room based on Full-scale Experiment

This study investigates the performance of Temporary Isolation Rooms (TIRs) in controlling airborne transmission of aerosols. The study utilized a full-scale experimental chamber with various airflow rates of Fan Filter Units (FFUs) and Air Changes per Hour (ACH). Aerosol removal efficiency and penetration coefficients were evaluated using Di-Ethyl-Hexyl-Sebacate (DEHS) particles and optical particle counters. Results showed that TIR performance varies significantly with aerosol diameters and FFU airflow rates.

Ventilation performance in cultural centres in Flanders

Ventilation impacts the quality of the indoor environment. Indoor air quality (IAQ) contributes to the overall personal exposure of occupants of a building to certain pollutants and is therefore an important environmental determinant of health. Research shows that European citizens spend on average 90% of their time indoors. The Flemish government, and more specifically the Flemish Department of Environment & Spatial Development, has been conducting research on IAQ in homes and schools to inform and develop policy since 2007.

Log-normal distribution for radon measurements in one room

Increasing attention is being paid to radon concentrations in the assessment of indoor climatic comfort. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive element that, under unfavourable circumstances, accumulates in excess in a building. Elevated concentrations of it can adversely affect the health of building occupants, resulting in increased interest in this element.

Assessment of PM2.5 particulate matter exposure under different ventilation and air filtration strategies in a kindergarten

Many children between 1 and 3 years of age spend a fraction of their time in kindergartens. Poor indoor air quality, IAQ, could negatively affect children’s health, particularly respiratory health, attendance, and academic achievement.

Utilization of ventilation systems to maintain selected environmental comfort parameters at the required level

In recent times, society has become increasingly aware of potential health problems associated with indoor environments. This is particularly important when considering young children, whose immune systems are not fully developed. Additionally, indoor air quality is influenced by outdoor air quality, which is often poor in many areas, especially in urbanized areas. This article presents the results of research on selected environmental comfort parameters conducted in preschool classrooms located near busy roads.

Performance of smart ventilation in residential buildings: a literature review

Smart ventilation in residential buildings has gained rising attention recently for the benefits of reducing energy consumption and improving indoor environmental quality. This paper presents a review of the smart ventilation in residential buildings papers published from January 2017 to August 2023, as a continuation of (Guyot, Sherman, and Walker 2018) who reviewed the publications in this area up to 2016. A systematic approach was used following the PRISMA protocol.

Trends in Indoor Environmental Quality in Non-Domestic Energy-Efficient Buildings in Ireland: The BENEFIT Project

The BENEFIT project seeks to assess indoor environmental quality and occupant comfort in energy efficient non-domestic Irish buildings with the aim of developing ventilation guidelines for future retrofits and new builds. The project, in collaboration with SEAI’s Pathfinder programme, aims to conduct a comprehensive and scientifically robust assessment of the impacts of energy-efficient policies in non-domestic settings across Ireland, with a particular focus on newly constructed energy-efficient buildings.

Filling the Indoor Air Quality Data Gap: Research Challenges and Opportunities

The rapid growth in the use of low-cost sensors for indoor air quality (IAQ) measurement campaigns, following the COVID-19 pandemic, has significantly improved public awareness of ventilation and IAQ in buildings. Yet, we still know very little about the level of pollutants in our indoor environments. Unlike outdoor air, IAQ is not routinely actively monitored and there are currently no widely accepted, standardised methodologies, procedures or regulations for doing so.  

Overall outcomes from the RESILIENCE project and next steps

Project RESILIENCE set out to examine overheating in a variety of building archetypes, but also examined several aspects of overheating related to the tools that are used, the weather data that has been employed in dynamic simulations and potential low-cost solutions to improving the resilience of the existing non-residential building stock that relies upon ventilative cooling.

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