A guide to mechanical equipment for healthy indoor environments.

This publication summarizes current information on heating (both space and hot water heating), cooling and ventilation systems and equipment used in low-rise, residential buildings with regards to their effect on indoor air quality. An additional discussion of water purification systems is also presented. The publication is intended to be an information source primarily for environmentally hypersensitive individuals and, second, for the general public and the homebuilding industry as a reference on mechanical systems. The document provides background information for the reader by presenting definitions of specialized terminology used in the publication and with a discussion of a house as a system. This latter discussion shows how the operation of mechanical equipment and the indoor air quality in a home are affected by other elements such as insulation, air barriers and the types of interior finishes used. Various types of heating, cooling, ventilation and air filtration systems are presented with a discussion of how they affect the indoor air quality of a home. Retrofitting existing heating systems to improve indoor air quality is also addressed. A discussion focussed on the specific needs of the environmentally hypersensitive is presented at the end of each section. The report concludes with a section on water quality and the types of water treatment systems available for residential applications. The appendices contain lists of suppliers of heating, cooling, ventilation and water treatment equipment indexed both by type of equipment and by supplier.