IAQ 2016 Defining Indoor Air Quality: Policy, Standards and Best Practices Co-Organized by ASHRAE and AIVC

Subtask 1 aims at defining the metrics to enable a proper consideration of both energy and IAQ benefit in building design and operation. A first step consists in determining a list of target pollutants commonly found in residential buildings by identifying pollutants that are listed as harmful. Existing IAQ metrics will be reviewed to propose the best scientifically-sounded index (or set of indices) for the evaluation of indoor air pollution. The IAQ indices consider different pollutants, exposure limits and aggregations. A last part of the subtask will be dedicated to the inclusion of energy in the proposed evaluation.

Individual effects of temperature and humidity on formaldehyde emissions from manufactured fiberboards have been studied previously, but their combined effects and possible correlation with initial emittable concentration (C0) of building materials have not been reported. This project investigates combined effects theoretically from a microcosmic perspective. A correlation between C0 and the combined effects of temperature and humidity is derived. The correlation could be helpful to estimate indoor formaldehyde exposure under varied temperature and humidity conditions in actual buildings. Influences of using different token parameters of humidity are also analyzed.

The objectives of Subtask 4 are to develop design and control strategies for energy efficient ventilation in residential buildings ensuring high indoor air quality. The strategies must go beyond the current common practice and actively utilize recent research findings regarding indoor air pollutants and combined heat, air and moisture transfer as well as take into account recent advances in sensor technology. Subtask 4 will utilize results of previous subtasks (metrics models, pollutant emission databases) together with existing knowledge to devise optimal and practically applicable design and control strategies.

Subtask 5 will identify and gather data from relevant case studies and field measurements where the strategies mentioned in conjunction with Subtask 4 can be examined and optimized. For instance, new ventilation patterns will be investigated in highly energy efficient residential buildings based on improved airtightness, increase insulation, use of materials, and possibly also new residential behavior. Several sites/climates will be proposed, and the field tests will include buildings declared as being energy efficient or recently refurbished to become so. The case studies will be validation experiments for the modelling work in Subtask 2 and Subtask 3.