NAFA Guide To Air Filtration Fifth Edition Chapter 12 Indoor Air Quality presented by the National Air Filtration Association

Indoor Air Quality Sick Building Syndrome -SBS Building Related Illness -BRI ASHRAE Standard 62 Ventilation Rate Procedure Indoor Air Quality Procedure Museums Libraries Commercial Healthcare Schools In the early 1970’s, the oil embargo against the United States prompted many commercial buildings to close off or restrict the outdoor air intake to buildings. By 1980, indoor air quality was an issue. Sick Building Syndrome related to buildings that gave people flu-like symptoms. Building Related Illness gave people actual diagnosed illnesses.

IAQ - The Issue Buildings can make people sick Sick people are not productive Sick people do not renew the lease Sick people sue everybody Indoor air quality gave rise to a new science of building research – finding out why a building was having problems. This effort was aided by thousands of lawsuits brought against building owners. Most of these lawsuits were settled out of court for many thousands of dollars.

Sick Building Syndrome Smoke, Odors, CO2, CO, Etc. No Abnormal Medical Findings May be Controlled by Ventilation Adjustments

Building Related Illness Infections caused by Pathogens Allergic Reactions Specific Medical Findings May Require Significant Renovation

ASHRAE Standard 62. 1(commercial buildings) & 62 ASHRAE Standard 62.1(commercial buildings) & 62.2 (residential buildings) “Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality.” “…to specify minimum ventilation rates and indoor air quality which will be acceptable to human occupants and are intended to avoid adverse health effects.”

ASHRAE Std. 62.1 Ventilation Rate Procedure Specifies the quantity and quality of air supplied to building – see page 12.4 IAQ Procedure – identify and reduce or eliminate contaminants Natural Ventilation Procedure Most engineers use the Ventilation Rate procedure because it is easier, faster, and does not involve potential future lawsuits.

Most all buildings start off operating a high levels of efficiency (as designed by the engineer). The problem is they start to degrade on day one and undergo continuous degradation over time. If not maintained properly, the may quickly degrade into ta “sick” building. A sick building is one where occupants experience non-specific flu-like symptoms (runny nose, watery eyes, upper respiratory discomfort, sore throat, etc.) while in the building and then these symptoms disappear when they leave the building. A building can go from non-specific symptoms to very specific symptoms and these are called Building Related Illnesses. Some examples include Legionnaires Disease, Pontiac Fever and humidifier fever. With 4 million commercial buildings in the US, this chart estimates we have about 35% with some kind of problem – that’s abut 1.2 million buildings causing people problems.

Contaminant Sources Outdoor Air – too many to list Ozone, Carbon Monoxide, Nitrogen Dioxide, Sulphur Dioxide Vehicle Exhaust Same as above Office Equipment VOC’s, Formaldehyde, Ammonia, Ozone PEOPLE Slide is self explanatory

Contaminant Sources Building Materials and Furnishings VOC's, Formaldehyde Cleaning Agents VOC's Environmental Tobacco Smoke Dozens Slide is self explanatory

Natural Ventilation Procedure Design in which outdoor air is provided through openings to the outdoors, permitted for any zone or portion of zone in conjunction with mechanical ventilation (Allowing for operable windows in LEED designed buildings)

Applications Source removal HVAC filtration - during “AC process” Dilution - to acceptable levels Commercial buildings, museums, libraries Healthcare Schools - municipal buildings

ASHRAE 62.1 Classes of Air Class 1 – low contaminants-can be transferred or recirculated Class 2 – Moderate contaminants-mild odors or irritants…inappropriate for transfer or recirculation Class 3 – Significant contaminants-offensive odors or irritants…shall not be recirculated or transferred to any other space Class 4 – highly objectionable fumes or gases, potential dangerous particles, shall not be recirculated ASHRAE Standard 62 has four classes of air – there are numerous opportunities for air filtration application to clear air that may be objectionable as a class but cleanable and returned to Class 1 condition. Example is air from bathrooms (Class 2) in commercial building could be cleaned of particulate and molecular contaminants and recirculated to the building air saving thousands of cfm of outdoor air treatment.

Costs Per Square Foot 2.00 per square foot for heating & cooling costs $11.00 per square foot for other costs $20.00 per square foot for wages & salaries

IAQ Testing Applications Particulate Contaminants Gas Phase Contaminants System Integrity Comfort Parameters Typical problems can come from particulate contaminants such as paper dust and laser printer dust. Also, furniture and fixtures can off gas many chemicals causing gas-phase contaminants. Sometimes the system gets out of balance and creates pockets of uneven air distribution. Stagnant air becomes stale and smelly from human effluents. Also, systems can get unbalanced as to too hot or too cold conditions. All of these can create a work environment that decreases productivity and causes complaints and illnesses.

IAQ Summary ASHRAE Standard 62 defines quantity and quality of air supplied to building Minimums of outside air prescribed People are principle source of indoor contaminants Control strategies include filtration, source removal or dilution

Sample Questions There are three procedures for engineers to use in ASHRAE Standard 62? Ventilation Rate, Indoor Air Quality, Natural Ventilation Procedure Name for issue when a person comes into a building and experiences flu-like symptoms? Sick Building Syndrome A major source of pollution in a building is? People

Thank you. Other Questions?