Ventilation control by perceived air quality facts and possibilities.

ASHRAE's definition of acceptable indoor air quality demands air in which there are no known contaminants at harmful concentrations and air with which a substantial majority (usually 80 %) of the people exposed do not express dissatisfaction. Investigations on indoor air pollutants and emission sources are the scientific way to a good indoor air quality tomorrow. To guarantee pleasant and healthy breathing indoors today the control of IAQ is necessary. Demand ventilation control by unspecific sensors is one possible way there. Application of such sensors in connection with field studies of the 'European AUDIT Project to Optimize Indoor Air Quality and Energy Consumption in Office Buildings' showed that signals from tin oxide gas sensor (mixed-gas sensor) correlated well with perceived air quality.