Journal of Indoor Environmental Quality

Indoor Air Quality and its Effects on Health: a Presentation of the Guidelines for Health-Based Ventilation in Europe

Excerpt: “Europeans spend most of their time in indoor environments and poor indoor air quality is responsible for 2 million disability adjusted life years (DALYs) lost in European Union (EU) every year.

The European Year of Air 2013 and the expected revision of the ambient air legislation mark an appropriate moment to stress the importance of indoor air quality (IAQ) and place it in the heart of the energy efficiency strategy. The HealthVent project on the Health-Based Ventilation Guidelines for Europe was launched in 2010 under the Programme of Community Action in the Field of Health 2008-2013 with the objective of developing guidelines for health-based ventilation for non-industrial buildings in Europe taking into consideration energy efficiency requirements. To present project results, an event was organised at the European Parliament in Brussels on February 20th, 2013. The event was hosted by Mrs Catherine Stihler, Member of the European Parliament (MEP), and was coordinated by EFA’s EU Policy Officer, Ms Roberta Savli, a partner in HealthVent project along with active contributions from the other members of the HealthVent consortium.”

Source:HealthVent and IAQ under the Second Programme of Community Action in the Field of Health,  HealthVent, 

Suggested reading

1. Current State of the Science: Health Effects and Indoor Environmental Quality
2. HVAC Systems and Indoor Environmental Quality

Related articles

Housing improvements for health and associated socio-economic outcomes

How Indoor Environment Affects Performance (ASHRAE March 2013)

Now available - National Research Council Canada: Construction Innovation, Volume 17, Number 4

A History of School Design: A new publication includes a historical look at radiant heating.

National Institute of Building Sciences: The Institute’s National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities has published a new study that looks back at the designs of school buildings of the recent past, identifying trends in energy consumption, ventilation, heating, air quality, lighting and acoustics. The study, A History of School Design and its Indoor Environmental Standards, 1900 to Today was written by Lindsay Baker, a doctoral candidate in the Building Sciences program of the Architecture department at the University of California, Berkeley

For more information on the National Institute of Building Sciences visit: nibs@nibs.org

RBc: Make note of the indoor environmental information from 1949 illustrated between pages 13 and 16...and keep in mind this is over 60 years ago but the principles still apply today.

Old and rare books related to IEQ and Human Factor Design

Old and rare books related to IEQ from Laurens (The Physiological Effects of Radiant Energy, 1933), Vernon (The Principles of Heating and Ventilation, 1934) and Bedford (Modern Principles of Ventilation and Heating, 1937)

Our three latest additions to our library have arrived! I’ve been harvesting a bumper crop of information from these treasures whose information is just as valid today as it was when they were written.I love this old stuff because it established the “why” and it stands the test of time.

Every day I come across someone who is ambivalent or ignorant to the importance of “human factor design” with most focusing on the “mechanics of doing” rather than the science of “understanding why”…it an unfortunate byproduct of our system which is based on judging the construction industry by “how” it put things together to meet the minimum requirements of the building code.

As I have said before, the contractors are the first and last people to touch the project…it behooves us to teach them the “why” before we teach them the “how”.

Transsolar Climate Engineering, High Comfort Low Impact

We’re back! I’ve been away working on a new comprehensive course on Energy, Buildings and Indoor Environmental Quality. Happy to say we’re finished and look forward to delivering this program across the country – more on this later.

I want to draw your attention to my latest read: TransSolar’s High Comfort Low Impact publication and have to say it’s a home run in our ballpark of studying design principles and philosophies on energy and indoor environmental quality. We’ve talked about TransSolar before but just in case you’re new to this international firm, their scope is to, “…ensure the highest possible comfort in the built environment with the lowest possible impact on the environment.”

So simple yet so powerful – an approach which has taken them into the coveted design rooms across the globe, working as specialized energy and indoor climate consultants on such projects as the Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok, Thailand to the newly commissioned Manitoba Hydro Office Tower, Winnipeg, Canada to the Klimahaus® Bremerhaven, Germany.

High Comfort Low Impact is an inside look at TransSolar’s approach based on human factor design with explanations on the bodies sensory systems and how the study of human anatomy opens up an immense appreciation for what architecture should be about – putting the needs of the occupants first and then support this with low impact designs, materials and methods of construction. What we like most about TransSolar is their in-depth understanding and use of low temperature radiant heating and high temperature radiant cooling with displacement ventilation, heat recovery and low exergy systems - they get the whole comfort and energy thing - true leaders in indoor environmental design. You can and should learn more about TransSolar and be sure to add, “High Comfort Low Impact” to your library.

High Comfort Low Impact
Transsolar Climate Engineering
Editors: Monika Lauster, Erik Olsen
fmo-publishers, 2008
ISBN: 978-3-937934-02-0

Additional study material:

• E-x-e-r-g-y 101 – Maybe you’ve heard the word but never understood its meaning. This HPAC Magazine article uses Star Wars hero Master Yoda as the master of E^5: Energy, Efficacy, Efficiency, Entropy and Exergy.
• The power in Mean Radiant Temperature(MRT):  By and large the world of architecture and HVAC design still unfortunately focus on air temperature as the exclusive metric for comfort. This narrow approach completely misses the definition of human based comfort. Learn the power of MRT.
• Thermal Comfort Research with Manikins: Since the early days before WWII Thermal Manikins have been used to research thermal comfort. Learn more about this unique field of study.

Modern Hydronic Heating, 3rd Edition - John Siegenthaler, P.E.

Modern Hydronic Heating  

Never thought it was possible to make it any better but industry colleague John “Siggy” Siegenthaler, P.E., steps up his latest edition with current information, photo’s and new mechanical, electrical and architectural illustrations not found in other design text books. Updated are numerous resources including list of key words, sample questions and exercises with suggested reading material for further studies. Also new is a wide range of simple and useful formulas that should be part of every person’s tool kit. If you’ve been looking for an all-in-one resource addressing the power of integrated modern hydronics including practical real world applications for geo and solar thermal systems – it’s time to donate away those dozen antiquated books for this single source one of a kind instruction manual that will serve educators, students, designers and trade persons well into the future of high performance hydronic systems.

…and the best part is if you order it before February month end from Siggy himself you’ll get the introductory hot off the press price – a $49 savings!

Robert Bean, R.E.T., P.L.(Eng.)
Journal of Indoor Environmental Quality
Editor

 

Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality

The 2010 edition of Standard 62.1, Ventilation for acceptable Indoor Air Quality, and the 2010 edition of Standard 62.2, Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality in Low-Rise Residential Buildings are now available in the ASHRAE Bookstore (http://www.ashrae.org/publications/page/1279)

The 2010 edition of both documents combine the 2007 versions with approved and published addenda thereby providing easy-to-use consolidated standards.

The history of the standards originates from the first publication in 1973 as Standard 62. Both 62.1 and 62.2 are updated on a regular basis using ASHRAE’s continuous maintenance procedures. According to these procedures, Standard 62.1 and 62.2 are continuously revised by addenda that are publicly reviewed, approved by ASHRAE and ANSI, and published in a Supplement approximately 18 months after each new edition of the standard, or in a new, complete edition of the standard, published every three years.

These two standards are utilized worldwide often referenced in building codes and regional standards including such influential programs as Energy Star.

See: ENERGY STAR Qualified Homes 2011 Inspection Checklists http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/bldrs_lenders_raters/downloads/InspectionChecklists.pdf

If you’re in the business of indoor environmental quality these updated resources are for you.

For further information on indoor air quality see these links:

1. http://www.healthyheating.com/Thermal_Comfort_Working_Copy/Definitions/humidity.htm
2. http://www.healthyheating.com/Definitions/Particulate_matter.htm
3. http://www.healthyheating.com/IAQ/IAQ_animation.htm
4. http://www.healthyheating.com/IAQ/IAQ_animation_lungs.htm

Glazed Over – Raising the Awareness to Improve Building Enclosures

Journal of Building Enclosure Design - Current Issue

Excerpt:  “In my message to you in the Summer 2009 issue of Journal of Building Enclosure Design, I discussed the need to raise awareness to improve building enclosures. I outlined several examples in that article, such as recognizing David Altenhofen for his efforts to establish Building Enclosure Councils (BECs) throughout the country, the work Congressman Russ Carnahan (D-Mo.) is doing to bring awareness to the issue of high-performing buildings, the programs held at the 12th Canadian Conference on Building Science and Technology, and the December 2009 Ecobuild America Conference held in Washington, D.C.

Each of these examples addressed a consistent theme: education. These examples all focused on the need to improve our knowledge base to better utilize the latest technology to advance our building systems and to gain greater return on our investments. Investing in education is money well spent.”Henry L. Green, Hon. AIA, President, National Institute of Building Sciences

Visit the National Institute of Building Sciences and download the Journal of Building Enclosure Design

RBc: Henry gets it right with, “Investing in education is money well spent.”

Somehow clients and architects need to get beyond interior and exterior aesthetics as primary driving forces in form. Why? Because there is piling up of discouraged engineers and building scientists who despite their best efforts face a constant battle over enclosures and systems attributable to what is wrongly perceived as high fee’s related to the design and management of comfortable, healthy and energy efficient structures.

Remember sustainability is branch of philosophy and there is still significant philosophical conflicts occurring between what is scientifically right (engineers, architects and interior designers) and what creative enclosure gets built (architects, interior designers and clients).

Education brings awareness to the issue of high-performing buildings but as we have all experienced, having the knowledge means nothing unless it is applied/ executed in practice.

For further commentary on this topic read:

Are you paying too much for down grades?

Radiant Based HVAC - Starts with the architecture.

Thermally Active Surfaces in Architecture

Excerpt: “Departing from the simple question Why do we heat and cool buildings with air?, this book focuses on the technique of thermally active surfaces. This technique uses water in building surfaces to heat and cool bodies - a method that is at once more efficient, comfortable, and healthy. This technique thus imbues the fabric of the building with a more poignant role: its structure is also its primary heating and cooling system. In doing so, this approach triggers a cascading set of possibilities for how well buildings are built, how well they perform, and how long they will last: pointing the way toward multiple forms of sustainability.” Source: Princeton Architectural Press

Learn more here: http://www.papress.com/html/book.details.page.tpl?isbn=9781568988801

RBc: I’ve just reviewed this new addition to our library of recommended reading for design professionals. Author Kiel Moe is an Assistant Professor of Architecture at the Northeastern University School of Architecture and has done an outstanding job illustrating the benefits of thermally active surfaces. We have been preaching thermally activated building systems (TABS) for many years and we’re pleased to see a section in this new resource from www.healthyheating.com contributor Geoff McDonell, B.Sc., P.Eng., LEED™ Ap. For more articles from Geoff use the search feature above.

The quality of this book is equal to any higher education text book on architecture, structural design, interior design and HVAC engineering with outstanding easy to understand graphics. We especially appreciate the inclusion of design details from numerous TABS projects from around the world.

A must have for the student or design professional.

Canadian Building and Health Sciences Network - Proceedings

Excerpt: "Understanding the effects of the built environment on our health is a complex business. Thorough research addressing questions such as “What is the best way to construct a house to reduce the stressful effects of noise exposure?” or “Which ventilation strategies both conserve energy and reduce exposure to potential allergens?” requires expertise from many scientific disciplines, including acoustics, architecture, biology, chemistry, engineering, epidemiology, geography, mathematics, medicine, physics, psychology, public health, and urban planning – and probably others as well. Although there exist international associations bringing together some of these disciplines, there has been no co-ordinated effort to bring together Canadian scientists to study these questions, across all building types, in the Canadian geographical and cultural context. Similarly, there are few examples of co-ordinated Canadian design guidelines, recommended practices, regulations, standards, or codes that address the full breadth of built environment effects on Canadian’s health and wellbeing.

Faced with requests for guidance on how to design, construct, operate, and maintain healthful indoor environments, the NRC Institute for Research in Construction (NRC-IRC) began in 2005 to develop the Canadian Building and Health Sciences Network (CBHSN). The network is intended to facilitate the development of collaborative teams that will conduct innovative, interdisciplinary research intended to improve the health of Canadians by improving the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the built environment."

RBc: We highly recommend our readers download and read the proceedings.
http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/obj/irc/doc/pubs/nrcc51222/nrcc51222.pdf

Other suggested readings:

Indoor Environmental Ergonomics
http://www.healthyheating.com/Human_Factors/Human_Factors.htm

Healthy Buildings Conference
http://www.healthyheating.com/IEQ_Radiant.htm

Alvar Aalto as a Healthy Building Architect
http://www.healthyheating.com/what_makes_a_good_%20architect.htm

Predicting Residential Exposure to Phthalate Plasticizer Emitted from Vinyl Flooring: Sensitivity, Uncertainty, and Implications for Biomonitoring

Predicting Residential Exposure to Phthalate Plasticizer Emitted from Vinyl Flooring: Sensitivity, Uncertainty, and Implications for Biomonitoring Xu, Y., Cohen Hubal, E.A., Little, J.C.

Excerpt: Because of their substantial and widespread use, phthalates have become ubiquitous environmental contaminants (Koch et al. 2003; Weschler and Nazaroff 2008; Wormuth et al. 2006). More than 3.5 million tons of phtha¬lates are used worldwide each year, primarily as plasticizers in flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products (Cadogan and Howick 1996). Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is an important phthalate, with more than two million tons produced globally each year (Lorz et al. 2002). About 90% of phthalates are found in numerous consumer products, including floor and wall coverings, car interior trim, cloth¬ing, gloves, footwear, wire insulation, artificial leather, and toys (Afshari et al. 2004; Bornehag et al. 2005; Müller et al. 2003). DEHP is mainly used in PVC products such as vinyl flooring (VF), where it is typically present at concentrations of about 20–40% (wt/wt) (Clausen et al. 2004; Deisinger et al. 1998). Because phthalate plasticizers are not chemically bound to the product materials, they are emitted slowly into the surrounding environment (Müller et al. 2003; Wormuth et al. 2006) and have become widely recognized as major indoor pollutants.

Source credit: Environmental Health Perspectives

(pronounced THAL-alates)

RBc: other useful readings include: Current State of the Science: Health Effects and Indoor Environmental Quality 

Also available at the above page:

1. Elements That Contribute to Healthy Building Design
2. In Search of a Common European Approach to a Healthy Indoor Environment
3. Childhood Asthma and Environmental Interventions
4. Improving Indoor Environmental Quality for Public Health
5. Bringing Green Homes within Reach: Healthier Housing for More People
6. Associations between ambient, personal, and indoor exposure to fine particulate matter.
7. The Relationship of Housing and Population Health: A 30-Year Retrospective Analysis

EPA and DOE Join States to Speed Energy Efficiency Progress in the United States

WASHINGTON – As part of the Obama Administration’s commitment to increasing energy efficiency and reducing costs, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced today the creation of the State Energy Efficiency (SEE) Action Network. This network is meant to help states achieve maximum cost effective energy efficiency improvements in homes, offices, buildings and industry by 2020. Strengthening energy efficiency initiatives across the country helps to save money and protect the environment at the same time.

For further information Contact:
Enesta Jones
jones.enesta (at) epa.gov
202-564-7873
DOE PUBLIC AFFAIRS:
202-586-4940
_________

Past deliverables from the network have included, “The Rapid Deployment Energy Efficiency (RDEE) Toolkit” which is designed to help state and local authorities and energy efficiency program administrators plan and implement successful programs as they advance energy efficiency through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

The Toolkit was developed under the guidance of and with input from the Leadership Group of the National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency, with support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

RBc: A quote from the tool kit includes something we support, “The measure mix (the technologies that are cost-effective for the program to rebate) of HVAC programs varies largely based on weather and primary fuel (electric or gas). For example, in some areas of the country measures such as ground source heat pumps and hydronic heating systems are cost-effective and have been incorporated into residential HVAC programs.”

We suggest readers learn more about low temperature radiant hydronic heating systems.

New Guidance on Clearing the Indoor Air through Improved IAQ

A reminder and update from 2010. ASHRAE have revised some of the position statements on IAQ, be sure to read them at the right price of free.

ATLANTA – Ensuring good indoor air quality (IAQ) means everyone breathes a little easier: occupants who experience improved health, comfort and productivity, and owners who see increased building value and reduced risk.

New guidance for achieving enhanced IAQ is available from five leading building industry associations and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The book and CD provide strategies needed to achieve good IAQ using proven technologies and without significantly increasing costs.

“The health and comfort of buildings occupants is too important to leave IAQ as an after-thought in design, construction and operation,” said Andrew Persily, Ph.D., chair of the committee that wrote the new guidance. “There is plenty of experience out there to help avoid IAQ problems in buildings, allowing all of us to breathe a little easier.

The Indoor Air Quality Guide: Best Practices for Design, Construction and Commissioning is a collaboration between ASHRAE, the American Institute of Architects, the Building Owners and Managers Association International, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors of North America and the U.S. Green Building Council.

The book describes 40 strategies for achieving critical IAQ objectives related to moisture management, ventilation, filtration and air cleaning and source control. It also highlights how design and construction teams can work together to ensure good IAQ strategies are incorporated from initial design through project completion.

The full publication complete with a CD that contains detailed guidance essential for practitioners to design and achieve good IAQ is available in hard copy or electronically for $29.

To order, contact ASHRAE Customer Service at 1-800-527-4723 (United States and Canada) or 404-636-8400 (worldwide), fax 404-321-5478, or visit www.ashrae.org/bookstore.

For further information contact: Jodi Scott, Public Relations, 678-539-1140, jscott(at)ashrae.org

RBc: This is another powerful example of what is possible through the collaborative effort amongst industry groups. I have written about ASHRAE as a collaborator in the Sept/Oct Issue of HPAC Canada.

Biomimicry Institute 2006-2009 Report - Now Available

The Biomimicry Institute is a not-for-profit organization that promotes the study and imitation of nature’s remarkably efficient designs, bringing together scientists, engineers, architects and innovators who can use those models to create sustainable technologies.

Visit the Biomimicry Institute and download the 2006-2009 Report

RBc: We’re big fans of Biomimicry. Designers could learn a lot by studying the human skin….a 20 sq.ft. washable, stretchable, breathable surface that senses temperature and pressure and keeps our insides in and the outside out.

The 11th edition of Mechanical and Electrical Equipment for Buildings immortalized in music on YouTube

Ya gotta love it... The 11th edition of Mechanical and Electrical Equipment for Buildings (MEEB) immortalized in music on YouTube...thanks to Leonard R. Bachman, Associate Professor, University of Houston for bringing this to our radar screen.

ASHRAE Releases free IAQ Guide

ASHRAE Releases free IAQ Guide

The Indoor Air Quality Guide: Best Practices for Design, Construction and Commissioning is designed for architects, design engineers, contractors, commissioning agents, and all other professionals concerned with IAQ.

Developed in cooperation with the American Institute of Architects, The U.S. Green Building Council, the Builders and Owners Management Association International, the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors of North America, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

This comprehensive publication provides both summary and detailed guidance.

The summary guidance gives you:

• Best practices for all aspects of IAQ building design, commissioning and construction, including designing for maintainability
• Tools and material for demonstrating the value of IAQ to clients
• 40 strategies for achieving 8 critical IAQ objectives

Download the Indoor Air Quality Guide Summary Guidance for Free by visiting ASHRAE.org

RBc: For further studies in IAQ visit "Man_sneezing", "Particulate matter"