CO2

The COVID-19 pandemic increased the awareness and importance of infectious pathogens as contaminant in the indoor air, especially for non-residential buildings with a high occupational density like schools. During the COVID-19 pandemic air cleaning is often proposed as mitigation strategy for infectious risk in these types of buildings. However, indoor air quality (IAQ) in general comprises of a large range of possible contaminants and factors that can equally impact the health, comfort and well-being of occupants.

This paper presents the results of an Indoor Environment Quality (IEQ) monitoring study (including relative humidity, temperature and IAQ in terms of indoor CO₂) in naturally ventilated dwellings (mainly based on vertical shafts and infiltrations) and the analysis of the data obtained. The aim of the study is to identify patterns that relate occupants’ ventilation behaviour to outdoor temperature and to increase knowledge of occupant’s perceptions of IEQ. The results could be used to improve ventilation models and building regulations.

The relation between the concentration and particle size of the human breathing and the way in which these particles are dispersed in hospital indoor environments are studied in this research. Breathing thermal manikins are used to, experimentally, simulate a human person and its breathing activity. Two breathing thermal manikins are placed in a hospital room, simulating an infected patient, together with another standing manikin simulating a health worker.

Indoor air quality is a major area of concern in northern housing and could be influenced by ventilation. The required ventilation rate set by North American ventilation standards (ASHRAE 62.2, CSA-F326) is calculated on the basis of fixed floor area and number of bedrooms or people. The heat/energy recovery ventilators (HRV/ERV) on the market offer constant airflows and are selected to meet the required ventilation.

Indoor air quality (IAQ) control in educative centres, where students spend most of their time, is essential. The presence of high levels of contaminants can impact the academic performance of the students and, ultimately, their health. A study has been carried out to assess the IAQ of higher education classrooms with natural ventilation in order to quantify the exposure of the occupants to certain contaminants during the cold season. CO2, PM10, PM2.5, PM1.0, and volatile organic compounds (VOC) have been measured.

How accurately can reduced-order dynamic building energy simulation models (with Dymola simulation software) simulate the indoor climate (i.e., indoor air temperature, relative humidity and CO2-concentration) in common inhabited residential buildings? In order to address this question, high resolution measurement data of a zero-energy case study dwelling were gathered through a measurement campaign. A dynamic multi-zone modelling approach has been applied to have room-level indoor climate results.

France is committed to minimizing its greenhouse gas emissions by focusing on the most energy-consuming sector, the residential and tertiary building sector. The renovation of existing buildings and the construction of energy efficient ones are therefore proposed as a possible solution. However, the concept of efficiency is ambiguous and difficult to measure and compare without common parameters and indicators. Indeed, a performance indicator is a decision support tool that describe the specific situation of something based on certain parameters.

This study deals with ventilation effects on measured and perceived indoor air quality (IAQ) in a demonstrator building where IAQ problems can occur. Unlike outdoor air, indoor air is usually recycled continuously, which makes it trapping pollutants. Indoor air quality (IAQ) is characterized by a pollutants' concentration, as well as air temperature and humidity. The study's aim is to implement an efficient and smart ventilation system while leaning on continuous measurements of indoor air pollutants in a demonstrator building via a smart sensor based on a Raspberry Pi 3 model B+ card.

From September 2015 to March 2016, UTC engaged in a major refurbishment of its Design and Research Center located in Culoz (France).