There are two ways for unbalanced return air to produce moisture and mold problems during hot and humid weather : - the increased entry of outdoor air that substantially increases indoor relative humidity. - a negative pressure can draw moist air into wall cavities causing a moist interstitial microclimate, if indoor humidity is relatively low in the conditioned space.To prevent the creation of moisture and mold problems, properly sized return ducts should be provided.
This paper give descriptions of the tasks conducted in the two phases of the material emissions project that lasted from 1996 to 2000. The main aim of that client-supported project was the creation and maintenance of a material emission database and single-zone indoor air quality simulation program called MEDB-IAQ.
To MAP means "to make available to people", it is to communicate information in different parts of Europe, mainly to the professional. The information to diffuse here are asthma, allergies and bronchitis.The MAP tool will be downloaded from the internet.
In developed countries, allergens, gas cooking and tobacco smoking represent a majorrisk, whereas in many developing countries wood stoves and indoor fuel cooking are moreimportant.Building-related illnesses represent another problem. The effects of indoor pollution are getting worseby poor living conditions and poor ventilation.
Temperature and humidity changes can affect building materials and the building structure (deformation or breakage). A research was carried out by a holographic interferometer.Thanks to those investigations of temperature and humidity deformation, it has been made possible to give recommendations on maintenance in Russian churches and cathedrals.
This project lasted from February 1998 to January 2001. The main result from "MATerials for Healthy Indoor Spaces and more energy efficient buildings" project is SOPHIE : a database of indoor pollutants sources, a useful tool for the selection of low polluting materials and components. Other interesting results have been obtained :
- SOPHIE protocol testing for building material
- A new model for IAQ and energy efficiency
- 3 new methods and first results concerning study sorption and diffusion properties of VOCs in the materials
The integration of ventilation strategies into building design is the responsability of the architect that will consult design offices for a right quantification of those strategies. A clear distinction must be made between ventilation for hygienic purpose and ventilation for cooling. The natural ventilation strategy will be different according to the different types of buildings (houses, flats, schools or offices)
Ventilation has two functions : a universal role to assure air renovation and bring fresh air into spaces and the role of energy carrier for heating or cooling. In so far as air is always needed, it was used for both functions. But some dysfunctions occured whenever the energy for comfort overwehelms the ventilation for all, all the time.
Though progress in ventilation knowledge has been extraordinary during the last century, there is a growing concern about it. A revision of the concept of comfort must be done along with a better understanding of what it allows in practice.
After the moisture damage repairs, a health symptom questionnaire study was repeated 1 year, 3 years and 5 years on 245 upper secondary and high school students. The data were analyzed. The results indicate that no new cases of symptomatic students occured : in that sense the repairs succeeded.
A summary of environmental investigations carried out from 1992 to 2002 in Italian schools in operation by the ISPESL is provided in this article. After having identified the potential sources of exposure, bulk and air samplings were performed in the suspected contaminated areas. The samplings were then collected on membrane filters. Their analysis was made by phase contrast optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy.
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