External influences on indoor air quality.

Outlines a project to promote greater consideration of indoor air quality during building design. The project was commissioned to develop guidance on assessing the overall external pollution burden on a building and techniques for minimising indoor pollution from external sources. The guidance focuses on non-domestic buildings. It is nearing completion and is based on three main groups of pollution sources - long-range, intermediate-range and short-range. The guidance provides a procedure for estimating the main sources of pollution, the overall pollution burden on a building or major development, and the option for controlling internal pollution levels by selecting the most appropriate ventilation strategy. A project is also being funded to promote the provision of good indoor quality in buildings, which will focus on external air pollution as a source of indoor air problems. It will also examine minimising external air pollution during urban construction and from the operation of the building.