Source: HVAC Systems Design Handbook

Chapter

21
Indoor Air Quality
21.1 Background The concept of indoor air quality (IAQ) is not new. Publications as far back as the early 1800s discuss the subject and suggest ventilation as the solution. These early writers mostly recommended a minimum of 5 ft3 /min of outdoor air per person, but later writers increased that number. The present ASHRAE Standard 62 value is 20 ft3 /min for normal situations. Most of this early work was done in England, where a number of public buildings were provided with heating and ventilating systems, including the House of Commons. Centrifugal fans were developed, using small steam engines for motive power. Schools were a prime target for ventilation, and by the early part of the twentieth century the schoolroom unit ventilator was developed and advertised. Electric motors were available by then. A three-story elementary school, built in 1916, included an outdoor air-ventilation system with a direct current motor-driven supply fan (rheostat control provided manual variable volume!) and cast iron steam-heating coils in the ventilation air for winter use. When the new science of air cooling came along, the value of introducing outdoor air through the cooling/heating system was obvious. And, as the material in the previous parts of this book shows, present technology allows us to control outdoor air ventilation very accurately. But there is a great deal more to improving IAQ than simply using outdoor air. Outdoor air is not necessarily better than indoor air, and simple ventilation is not enough. We must also control humidity; temperature; gaseous, particulate, bacterial and allergen contaminants; as well as air movement within occupied spaces in order to provide a comfortable and healthy environment.
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Indoor Air Quality 502 Chapter Twenty-One

The subject of moisture in buildings is primarily the responsibility of the architect, but the HVAC designer must be aware of conditions that might lead to problems, such as mold, which might be aggravated or alleviated by HVAC design. 21.2 Negative Effects of Poor Air Quality

Two terms are important: building related illness (BRI) and sick building syndrome (SDS). BRI relates to individual illness due to poor IAQ. Much of this relates to allergens, to which some people are more sensitive than others. SBS means that many people become sick in the building environment, and this, of course, causes loss of production and, perhaps, lawsuits. In addition, there are problems with odors (including those caused by smoking) and problems with high or low humidity. High humidity may allow mold growth and deterioration of the building or furnishings. Excessive air movement (drafts) is a common complaint. When people are sick or complaining, they are not producing. 21.3 Positive Effects of Air Quality

Many studies have shown an increase in productivity of 10 percent or more, when the air quality and other environmental factors are optimized, and there is less time off for sickness and fewer complaints. Housekeeping and cleaning are made easier and less expensive. Thus, good IAQ is economically advantageous, and it improves the morale of the people who work and live in the building. 21.4 Sources of Poor Air Quality

Air contaminants of importance in commercial buildings include particulates, formaldehyde from cigarette smoke, chemicals emitted from building materials (carpet, wall coverings, nishes), chemicals from cleaning agents, emissions from people (methane, perfume, smoking), cooking odors, plus any similar contaminants brought in with the outside air. There are many war stories about incinerators or trash rooms adjacent to outdoor air louvers. In one incident a high-rise ofce building became thoroughly contaminated when smoke from a nearby re was brought in through the air system outside-air intake. Highhumidity climates require special treatment of outdoor air. 21.5 Attaining Good IAQ: Responsibilities of the Designer It is obvious that the air-conditioning system must be designed to provide good air quality when properly maintained and operated. So the

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Indoor Air Quality Indoor Air Quality 503

primary responsibility resides with the designer. This book has discussed all of the facets of designing a good HVAC system, but we have not talked about the other inuences on air quality. As designers, we must also try to ascertain what types of interior nish are being used. If building materials, carpets, wall coverings, nishes, etc., contain materials that may offgas, and thus denigrate the air quality, we should raise the red ag. If we must cope with such a situation, then special ltration or irradiation may be required. For removal of the most common gases, adsorption lters are used. These use a lter of activated charcoal and potassium permanganate, which in combination will adsorb carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, as well as ozone, some odors, and some other gases. Other adsorbents may also be used. See Ref. 1. Ultraviolet irradiation can be used, particularly for bacteria. This is an unusual and special treatment but effective when needed. When the outdoor air quality is poor, it may be desirable to use prelters followed by high-efciency lters to remove particulate matter. Remember that no lter system is better than its mounting system. Leaks and bypassed air do not get ltered. Air washing may also be used but may require additional humidity control. When outdoor air is very humid, it may be desirable to use pretreatment of outdoor air to reduce the humidity before introducing it to the main air system. Avoid outside air-intake louver locations close to possible sources of gases, smoke, or odor. Check on the prevailing wind when making this investigation. It helps also to know something about airow around buildings (which has not been discussed in this book). Properly designed and installed smoke detectors are essential in outdoor air or mixed-air ducts. It is necessary to control VAV systems to maintain minimum outdoor air quantities over the entire range of supply air ow rates. Also, with VAV, supply air diffusers must be designed to provide good air distribution patterns at all air ow rates. Control systems will often require sensing of gaseous concentrations, particularly carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and formaldehyde. This sensing may be used to increase or decrease outside air quantities or to warn of failure of the ltering, smoke detection, or irradiation systems.
21.5.1 Commissioning

All of our design efforts are of no value if the IAQ system is not constructed and commissioned as designed. See the section on commissioning in Chap. 14. This must include training of maintenance per-

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Indoor Air Quality 504 Chapter Twenty-One

sonnel in the maintenance and operation of equipment which, since these are new concepts, may be considered unusual or even exotic.
21.5.2 Maintenance and use

Even though the IAQ system is properly designed and installed, and is functioning, it is essential that it be competently maintained and operated. This should result from the training at commissioning. One of the designers duties is to convince the owner of the necessity and value of these things. It is not always an easy task. One valuable argument is the research data which show that the cost of sick, unwell, or unhappy workers is much greater than the cost of doing the proper maintenance and operation. The owner should also be reminded that poorly maintained equipment will not provide the expected environment. References
1. ASHRAE Handbook, 1999 Applications, Chap. 44, Control of Gaseous Indoor Air Contaminants. 2. B. Donaldson and B. Nagengast, Heat and Cold, ASHRAE, 1994. 3. William J. Fisk, How IEQ Affects Health, Productivity, ASHRAE Journal, May 2002. 4. H. E. Barney Burroughs, IAQ, An Environmental Factor in the Indoor Habitat, Heating, Piping Air Conditioning, February 1997. 5. W. S. Cain, J. M. Samet, and M. Hodgson, The Quest for Negligible Health Risk from Indoor Air, ASHRAE Journal, July 1995. 6. Roy Kelley, Room Air Circulation: The Missing Link to Good Air Quality, Heating, Piping, Air Conditioning, September 1995. 7. Robert Scarry, Looking Into Sick Buildings, Heating, Piping, Air Conditioning, July 1994. 8. Federal Register, Regulations for Indoor Air in Workplaces. 9. Milton Meckler, Indoor Air Quality from Commissioning Through Building Operations, ASHRAE Journal, November 1991. 10. S. M. Stewart, Reaching Agreements on Indoor Air Quality, ASHRAE Journal, August 1992. 11. R. P. Gaynor, Developing an IAQ Management Plan for Commercial Buildings, Heating Piping, Air Conditioning, August 1993.

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