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Making buildings better

Indoor air quality

Saryu Vatal

Sustainable Construction Group

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Making buildings better

Temperature and humidity

Source: NF44 Understanding overheating – where to start

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Making buildings better

Pollutant Source Effects

Carbon dioxide Combustion, respiration Dizziness, suffocation, death

Carbon monoxide Combustion Lethal at low

concentrations

Hydrogen sulphide Organic waste Strong odour, irritant

Nitrogen dioxide Combustion appliances Lung irritant

Ozone Electrical equipment,

(motors), UV light sources Lung irritant

Sulphur dioxide Traffic, combustion Lung irritant

Radon Building materials, rocks Increase risk of lung

cancer

Other pollutants

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Designing for good IAQ

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Keeping pollutants out

Source: NF44 Understanding overheating – where to start

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Expelling pollutants

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System 1:

Natural

ventilation

with

intermittent

extract

System 3:

Continuous

mechanical

extract

ventilation

System 2:

Passive stack

ventilation

System 4:

Balanced

mechanical

supply &

extract

ventilation

Expelling pollutants

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here

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Making buildings better

How are we doing?

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ew

s.c

om

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Making buildings better

• Investigation of Ventilation Effectiveness, CLG Mar 2009

• Mechanical Ventilation in recently built Dutch homes – Architectural

Science Review Feb 2012

• MVHR in new homes – interim and final reports by ZCH, July 2013

• Assessment of MVHR systems and air quality in zero carbon homes -

NHBC Foundation, Aug 2013

Evidence base

Design Cleanliness

Commissioning

Noise

Installation Access Maintenance

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Making buildings better

Design and Installation issues

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Making buildings better

1. Early consideration of ventilation strategy in the process, taking

into account specific conditions of the site

2. Reality check design of system – keeping end users in mind

3. Procure against the spec – watch out for product substitutions

4. Installation – consider skills and training required

5. Test and commission – training and certification requirements

6. Provide simple guidance, handover and support for users

7. Maintain the systems, they are not ‘fit-and-forget’

Moving forward

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Making buildings better

Thank you!

Saryu Vatal

saryu.vatal@bsria.co.uk

Sustainable Construction Group