Visit from the Icelandic Architect Association Indoor environment Lars Gunnarsen Danish Building Research Institute

Indoor climate research Pleasure Comfort Produktivity Sickliness Avoidance of dangers Reproduction possible

Cumulative chart of time spent at home for different age groups Danes spend in average 16.3 hours at home on a weekday Average number of hours at home per weekday Persons (%)

Cumulative chart of dwelling area Average dwelling area is 48,9m 2 per person and 123,9m 2 per household

Introduction  Cost of the indoor climate 2500 euro/m 2. Half of all investments  Building envelope Volume/surface: 0.5 m. Many microclimates  Ventilation h – 3 l/s m 2 floor  Adverse effects of the indoor climate contra its protective effects  Intake fractions (single person) An apple80% A cigarette (the smoker)30% Air pollution from candle0.01% Air pollution from car in street % Air pollution from power plant10 -14

Definitions The definition of Health: Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity Preamble to the Constitution of the World Health Organization as adopted by the International Health Conference, New York, June, 1946; signed on 22 July 1946 by the representatives of 61 States Indoor climate is here defined as: All building related exposures that may impact the health of building occupants

Indoor air O 2 : 20,85 % CO 2 : 0,035% H 2 O: 1,3% (Volume) Exhalation air: O 2 : 15,3 % CO 2 : 3,6% H 2 O: 6,2% (volume) Produktion: CO 2 : 17 l/h H 2 O: 0,07 kg/h Sensibel varme: 100 W Consumption: Indoor air: 375 l/h (10,8 kg/døgn) O 2 : 20,6 l/h Adult human in sedentary activity (1,2 met) Lars Gunnarsen

Annoyance, symptoms and diseases

Poor indoor climate may result in annoyance and symptoms. Infectious diseases may to some degree be prevented by effective ventilation and large indoor space per occupant. Some indoor exposures impact the suffering of people with astma and allergy but the knowledge about importance of the indoor exposures for acquiring the diseases is rudimentary. At least four exposures indoor may lead to cancer. They are radon, environmental tobacco smoke, other combustion products and formaldehyde. Cardiovascular diseases may be developed as a result of exposure to environmental smoke and high levels of particle pollution. Noise and probably poor lighting may give stress that also may lead to cardiovascular diseases. Productivity is low in a poor indoor climate. Annoyances, symptoms and diseases

Annoyance within last 14 days At home Noise from neighbors Cold at feet Noise from traffic Temperature too high or low Draft Odor or stale air Noise from installations Vibrations Dwelling too dark Noise from industry Bad drinking water Static electricity Infra- or low frequency sound Skin irritation from hot water At least one Annoyed (%) Little or much annoyed

Noise in room Dry air Stale air Tobacco smoke Changing temperatures Dust/dirt Noise from other rooms Draft Little space Static electricity Bad illumination High temperature Unpleasant odor Low temperature Glare Cold at feet Noise from outside Annoyed (%) Several times per week or daily At work

Symptoms last 14 days – At home Brauer og Mikkelsen, 2002

Symptoms last 14 days – At work Brauer og Mikkelsen, 2002

Indoor airborne exposures

Radon Human bioeffluents Chemical substances Odors Asbestos Tobacco smoke Particles from indoor sources (High temperature surfaces, candles, cooking) Particles from outside Allergens of indoor origin (House dust mites, furred animals, moulds) Allergens from outside (pollen) Viruses and bacteria

Impact of outdoor sources for particle exposure indoor

Indoor air O 2 : 20,85 % CO 2 : 0,035% H 2 O: 1,3% (Volume) exhalation air: O 2 : 15,3 % CO 2 : 3,6% H 2 O: 6,2% (volume) Produktion: CO 2 : 17 l/h H 2 O: 0,07 kg/h Sensibel varme: 100 W Consumption: Indoor air: 375 l/h (10,8 kg/døgn) O 2 : 20,6 l/h Adult human in sedentary activity (1,2 met) Lars Gunnarsen

Ventilation rate (l/s pers) Dissatisfied (%)

Choosing construction products

Only for outdoor use

Humidity, mould and mites

0123 NoneWeakSomeLarge Mould odorNone WeakSomePoverfull Visible mould 0 m 2 3 m Hidden mould < 0,5 m m m 2 < 10 m 2 Mould growth in adjoining rooms---- Growth in ventilation systems ---- Meget støv---- Samlet---- Risk of eksposure to mould

Humid air

Risk perception

General recommendations  Poor indoor climate may increase the risk of attracting infectious diseases, cancer, cardiovascular diseases and maybe allergy  Avoid moisturizing construction products for a prolonged time  Smoking should not take place indoors  Outdoor paints and other construction products containing fungicides should not be used indoors  Persons suffering from allergies in particular suffer from a poor indoor climate.  When selecting construction products it is important to select products with low emissions both of odorous compounds but also of other adverse chemical compounds  Many ventilation systems should be better operated and maintained.

Authorities are recommended to immediately prioritize the following:  Targeted information campaigns about behavior to obtain good indoor air quality  Improved guidelines for monitoring of the indoor climate quality especially in homes  To identify homes with especially high radon concentrations and to reduce the exposure  To investigate the need for reduction of the exposure to formaldehyde, benzene and carbon dioxide in the indoor climate.

We need new knowledge about how the indoor climate affects us especially in the following fields  We need a major investigation of the importance for public heath of the indoor climate in dwellings  We need to develop new knowledge about the possibilities for reducing the annoyance caused by ventilation systems  We need to examine the health effects of exposure to particles indoors from ventilation and the possibilities for reduction of this exposure

Complex exposures related to building technology that may indicate increased risk of ill health Dampness Ventilation systems Building envelope

Dwellings Open plan offices Ventilation Particles Asthma and allergy Dampness Hot issues