1. INDOOR AIR QUALITY

2. Americans spend 80 – 90% of their time indoors INDOOR AIR QUALITY

3. Environmental Protection Agency- Indoor air is 2 – 10x more contaminated than the outside air INDOOR AIR QUALITY

4. World Health Organization- 40% of all buildings pose significant health hazards from indoor air INDOOR AIR QUALITY

5. Indoor Air Quality IAQ 20% of workers report building related irritations or illnesses EPA – poor IAQ is the number one health problem in the US INDOOR AIR QUALITY

6. Prior to 1973, when energy was cheap, large quantities of outdoor air were used to ventilate buildings INDOOR AIR QUALITY

7. After the Oil Embargo of 1973: Energy costs rose New energy conservation devices began to limit the amount of outside air entering a building Buildings were “tightened” to reduce air leakage Air quality was ignored in the pursuit of energy efficient buildings INDOOR AIR QUALITY

8. Contaminants in buildings are so widespread that virtually every building contains one or more recognized contaminants INDOOR AIR QUALITY: CONTAMINANTS

9. Sick Building Syndrome or Building Related Illness Diagnosed when more than 20% of the building’s occupants complain of symptoms such as headaches, upper respiratory irritation, or eye irritation – and when these symptoms disappear after leaving the building or on weekends INDOOR AIR QUALITY: CONTAMINANTS

10. Building products, HVAC systems, interior finishes and furnishings, and equipment all provide contaminants in the indoor environment INDOOR AIR QUALITY: CONTAMINANTS

11. Atmospheric Impurities Air normally contains both oxygen and small amounts of carbon dioxide along with varying amounts of particulate materials Permanent Impurities  Arise from natural processes such as wind erosion, evaporation of sea spray and volcanic activity Artificial Impurities  More dangerous and prevalent INDOOR AIR QUALITY: CONTAMINANTS

12. Air contaminants can be: Particulate or gaseous Organic or inorganic Visible or invisible Toxic or harmless INDOOR AIR QUALITY: CONTAMINANTS

13. Classifications of Air Contaminants: 1.Solid particles - Dust fumes or smoke 2.Liquid particles - Mist and fog 3.Nonparticulates - Vapors and gases INDOOR AIR QUALITY: CONTAMINANTS

14. 1.Solid Particles - Dust Consists of solid particles projected into the air by natural forces or by human activity INDOOR AIR QUALITY: CONTAMINANTS

15. 1.Solid Particles - Fumes Solid airborne particles usually 100x smaller than dust particles Commonly formed by condensation or vapors of normally solid materials

16. INDOOR AIR QUALITY: CONTAMINANTS 1.Solid Particles - Smoke Solid or liquid particles about the same size as fumes Produced by the incomplete combustion of organic substances

17. INDOOR AIR QUALITY: CONTAMINANTS 1.Solid Particles - Smoke Also encompasses airborne living organisms Submicroscopic viruses to large pollen grains Includes bacterial and fungus spores

18. INDOOR AIR QUALITY: CONTAMINANTS 2.Liquid Particles - Mist Very small airborne droplets of a liquid that are formed by spraying, mixing, violent chemical reactions, evaporation, or escape of a dissolved gas when pressure is released

19. INDOOR AIR QUALITY: CONTAMINANTS 2.Liquid Particles - Fog Very fine airborne droplets usually formed by the condensation of vapor

20. 3.Nonparticulates – vapors and gases Carbon Dioxide Tobacco Smoke Carbon Monoxide Nitrogen Oxide Nitrogen Dioxide Sulfur Oxide Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons Ozone INDOOR AIR QUALITY: CONTAMINANTS

21. 3.Nonparticulates – vapors and gases Carbon Dioxide  Odorless gas  Produced by humans and by the combustion of carbon in machinery  Excess in the air – stuffiness and discomfort  High concentrations of people – theater  Concentrations in the air above 5% are dangerous

22. INDOOR AIR QUALITY: CONTAMINANTS 3.Nonparticulates – vapors and gases Tobacco Smoke  Largest contributor of combustion particles in the interior environment

23. INDOOR AIR QUALITY: CONTAMINANTS 3.Nonparticulates – vapors and gases Carbon Monoxide  Odorless gas  Produced by the incomplete combustion in furnaces, stoves and fireplaces  Interferes with oxygen intake  Headaches, dizziness, sleepiness and muscular weakness  High levels result in unconsciousness and death

24. 3.Nonparticulates – vapors and gases Nitrogen Oxide  Yellow brown gas  Product of high temperature combustion  Respiratory irritation, lung damage, suppression of the immune system INDOOR AIR QUALITY: CONTAMINANTS

25. 3.Nonparticulates – vapors and gases Nitrogen Dioxide  Colorless and odorless gas  Used in chemical processes as a catalyst or oxidizing agent  Irritates mucous membranes in the eye, nose and throat  Shortness of breath

26. INDOOR AIR QUALITY: CONTAMINANTS 3.Nonparticulates – vapors and gases Sulfur Oxide  Coal/oil based heating systems  Irritates the respiratory tract  Complicates cardiovascular disease

27. INDOOR AIR QUALITY: CONTAMINANTS 3.Nonparticulates – vapors and gases Polynuclear Aromatic HydrocarbonsCoal/oil based heating systems  Burning wood or coal  Barbequing or burning food  Cancer causing irritants

28. INDOOR AIR QUALITY: CONTAMINANTS 3.Nonparticulates – vapors and gases Ozone  Irritating blue gas  Copy machines, laser printers, photocopiers, high voltage electronic equipment, electrostatic air cleaners  Toxic and explosive  Inflames the windpipe – shortness of breath, dizziness, asthma  Risk highest in poorly ventilated offices

29. INDOOR AIR QUALITY: CONTAMINANTS Other Pollutants: 1.Odors 2.Volatile Organic Compounds 3.Biological Contaminants 4.Mineral and Glass Fibers 5.Lead 6.Pesticide Residues

30. 1.Odors Signal poor maintenance and possible unsafe conditions Odor perception affected by temperature and humidity Decreases as humidity and temperature increases Generally a ventilation issue INDOOR AIR QUALITY: CONTAMINANTS

31. 2.Volatile Organic Compounds - VOC’s Chemical compounds that tend to evaporate at room temperature and normal atmospheric pressure Contain one or more carbon atoms INDOOR AIR QUALITY: CONTAMINANTS

32. 2.Volatile Organic Compounds - VOC’s Invisible fumes or vapors Enter the air when the surfaces of solid materials evaporate or off gas a room temperatures Mild to serious health effects

33. INDOOR AIR QUALITY: CONTAMINANTS 2.Volatile Organic Compounds - VOC’s Formaldehyde Most widespread VOC Major contributor to SBS Colorless, strong smelling gas Used in the manufacture of synthetic resins and dyes Used as a preservative and disinfectant

34. INDOOR AIR QUALITY: CONTAMINANTS 2.Volatile Organic Compounds - VOC’s Formaldehyde At high levels formaldehyde causes tearing, burning and stinging eyes, a tingling sensation in the nose and sneezing, soreness and dryness of the throat Irritation persists after removal of the source

35. INDOOR AIR QUALITY: CONTAMINANTS 2.Volatile Organic Compounds - VOC’s Formaldehyde At extreme levels formaldehyde causes pulmonary edema, lung inflammation, pneumonia and death

36. INDOOR AIR QUALITY: CONTAMINANTS 2.Volatile Organic Compounds - VOC’s Formaldehyde Particleboard Interior laminated panels Glues Fabric treatments Paints Interior grade plywood Medium density fiberboard (MDF) Carpeting

37. INDOOR AIR QUALITY: CONTAMINANTS 3.Biological Contaminants Everything organic releases particles or microscopic bits of solid or liquid matter that can stay airborne for long periods of time

38. INDOOR AIR QUALITY: CONTAMINANTS 3.Biological Contaminants Need 4 things to grow in a building: A source Water Nutrients Favorable temperatures

39. INDOOR AIR QUALITY: CONTAMINANTS 3.Biological Contaminants Generally the result of inadequate preventive maintenance Mechanical systems – major source

40. INDOOR AIR QUALITY: CONTAMINANTS 4.Mineral and Glass Fiber Breakdown of the lining of interior ductwork and fireproofing Fire resistant acoustic tiles and fabrics Asbestos

41. INDOOR AIR QUALITY: CONTAMINANTS 5.Lead Banned from paint in the US in 1978 Improperly glazed ceramics

42. INDOOR AIR QUALITY: CONTAMINANTS 6.Pesticide Residues Prior to 1980, buildings were treated with pesticides that contained toxic substances

43. Energy Conservation Goal: Achieving a balance between energy conservation and acceptable IAQ INDOOR AIR QUALITY: CONTAMINANTS

44. Energy Conservation Means of reducing energy consumption while providing adequate ventilation: 1.Heat recovery 2.Tracking occupancy 3.Opening outside dampers 4.Segregating smokers

45. INDOOR AIR QUALITY: CONTAMINANTS Energy Conservation 1.Heat recovery - between exhaust and make-up outside air

46. INDOOR AIR QUALITY: CONTAMINANTS Energy Conservation 2.Tracking Occupancy - Providing only the ventilation necessary for the current number of people in the building

47. INDOOR AIR QUALITY: CONTAMINANTS Energy Conservation 3.Opening Outside Dampers - Opening outside dampers 1 hour after occupancy to take advantage of the dilution capacity of large volumes of room air, and the natural dissipation of contaminants during long vacant periods

48. INDOOR AIR QUALITY: CONTAMINANTS Energy Conservation 4.Segregate Smokers