Quality and Performance in Construction Delivered by Trusted expertise for the product manufacturing sector

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1 Quality and Performance in Construction Delivered by Building responsibly World-class high performing supply chains & products you can build on Trusted expertise for the product manufacturing sector

2 Internal air quality & the importance of good indoor environments Dr Andy Dengel, BRE Fire & Building Technology Group Building a better world together

3 Today s Presentation 1) Why is IAQ so important? 2) Sources of indoor air pollution 3) Effects of poor IAQ 4) Measurement of IAQ 5) BRE case studies and research: Commercial projects (mainly reactive work) Research & advisory projects (mainly proactive work) 6) Potential solutions to IAQ problems 7) Other key factors in indoor environments

4 Introduction to BRE Environment Director: Dr Andy Dengel Environment teams at BRE: IAQ, external air pollution, HVAC, lighting, noise Main areas of work: IAQ surveys : domestic, non-domestic, transport Testing of IAQ/HVAC products : ventilation systems, fans, filters, air purifiers, materials Testing of chemical emissions : VOCs and formaldehyde Research : Collaborative & Commercial

5 Why is IAQ so important?

6 The importance of good IAQ We spend on average 90% of our time indoors Some people spend up to 100% of time indoors (including those most vulnerable to poor IAQ) Poor indoor environments can affect: o Comfort o Health & Wellbeing (physical, mental) o Productivity o Learning o Healing and recuperation o Buildings and materials

7 IAQ : Increasingly a high profile area Every breath we take: the lifelong impact of air pollution Working party report in association with the Royal Society of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) Feb The impact of exposure to air pollution throughout a lifetime Indoor air quality acknowledged as very important A new working party is now being set up by RCPCH, RCP, BRE and other partners on Health Effects of Indoor Air on Children 2 Report is due at the end of

8 Sources of air pollution

9 Pollutant types and typical sources Source Outdoor air Combustion of fuel Tobacco smoke People Building materials Consumer products Furnishings Main pollutants SO 2, NOx, CO, O 3, particulates, biological particulates, benzene CO, NOx, VOCs, particulates CO, VOCs, particulates (CO 2 ), VOCs, water VOCs, formaldehyde, radon, fibres, other particulates, lead VOCs, formaldehyde, pesticides VOCs, formaldehyde Office equipment VOCs, O 3, Washing and cleaning Water, ammonia, VOCs Animals and fungi Allergens, spores, VOCs, mycotoxins Contaminated land Methane, VOCs (radon)

10 Outdoor sources of air pollution

11 Indoor sources of air pollution Building materials, furnishings, decorative finishes, consumer products, combustion of fuels, occupant activities (e.g. cooking, smoking/vaping), ingress from outdoors Odour Carbon dioxide Particles VOCs Formaldehyde Moisture Biological Tobacco smoke (ETS) Inorganic gases, NO 2, CO, Ozone, Radon (Diagram Courtesy of VEETECH Ltd.)

12 Natural ventilation and infiltration

13 Unintended consequences Build tight ventilate right?

14 Effects of poor IAQ

15 Potential effects range from discomfort to irritation to morbidity to mortality

16 Health concerns are wide-ranging and include: Effects of indoor air pollution -Effects on occupant comfort, irritation particularly of the eyes and respiratory system, -Increased risks of disease such as cancer and cardiovascular illness - Acute and lethal poisoning, as can occur through exposure to high concentrations of carbon monoxide. - Environmental tobacco smoke is a special case - being a complex mixture of gaseous and particulate pollutants - Mental health effects must not be underestimated - Psychosomatic effects in workplaces sick building syndrome?

17 Measurement of IAQ

18 Measurement methods - one size doesn t fit all Particulates: real-time monitors; gravimetric (filtration) methods VOCs: sorbent tube sampling/gcms; handheld PID monitors Formaldehyde: cartridge sampling/hplc; handheld monitors CO 2 : real-time monitors; Tiny Tags; sensors CO: real time monitors; sensors NOx & SOx: real time monitors; sensors; specialist tubes Ozone: real time monitors; specialist tubes Humidity: Tiny Tags; sensors Radon: specialist badges (available from Public Health England) Microbiological: Screening (TVC/TFC) pumped sampling on to plates Identification specialist microbiological work

19 Example 1 VOCs in air Active (pumped) sampling Hand held pump Conditioned sorbent tube stainless steel tube packed with Tenax EN ISO Typically 30 minutes at 500 ml/min (15 litres) Passive (diffusive) sampling Sorbent tube left uncapped at one end and typically deployed for 7-14 days BS EN ISO Analysis Thermal desorption & GC-FID/MS

20 Example 2 Formaldehyde in air Active (pumped) sampling Hand held pump Cartridge containing 2,4-dinitrophenyl hydrazine (2,4- DNPH) BS EN ISO Typically 30 minutes at 1.5 l/min (45 litres) Passive (diffusive) sampling Passive sampler containing 2,4-DNPH - typically deployed for 3-7 days BS EN ISO Analysis Solvent extraction & HPLC

21 Air quality sensors & monitors An ever-increasing range of new technology is available: Specialist use (e.g. industry) Commercial use (e.g. building sensors, measurements for environmental assessment schemes) Consumer use (e.g. low-cost monitors available via the internet) Therefore it is important to consider the applicability, accuracy and selectivity of such devices.

22 BRE Case Studies & Research

23 BRE commercial work - IAQ issues IAQ problems (incl. SBS ) Chemical emissions & odours Ventilation issues Re-entrainment of exhaust gases Moisture issues Thermal comfort issues Site investigations Schools & universities Offices Housing Aircraft cabins, trains, cars

24 Building materials & Consumer products Formaldehyde releases VOC emissions from decorative products VOC/formaldehyde emissions from building products Plug-ins and candles Cigarettes and e-cigarettes Aerosols & cosmetics

25 Research - Outdoor air pollution Stack emissions Re-entrainment Vehicular emissions Particles Source control Wind tunnel studies o Behaviour of plumes o Chemical releases o Fires o Shelter in place vs. evacuate Air Handling Units Stacks discharging horizontally

26 Research - IAQ in occupied buildings BRE Trust Future Cities o Development of IEQ protocols o Hospitals, care homes, schools, social housing o Physical measurements vs. occupant feedback Greenwatt Way (SSE) o Ten zero carbon houses in Slough o IAQ monitoring o MVHR systems problems Derwenthorpe(JRF) o Six CSH Level 3-4 houses in York o IAQ monitoring o MVHR problems (& move to MEV)

27 Research - Building materials ECO-SEE VOC and formaldehyde emissions testing Adsorption/Desorption behaviour Monitoring of test cells and demos

28 Potential Solutions to IAQ Problems

29 How do we tackle IAQ problems in buildings? Building Regulations ADC Contaminants from the ground (radon & other gases) ADD Toxic substances ADF Ventilation (and IAQ) ADJ Heating appliances ADL Conservation of fuel and power (airtightness) Product Requirements BSI/CEN/ISO standards (e.g. VOC emissions) EU biocides & Dangerous Substances regulations (ban or restrict substances e.g. asbestos) Consumer safety

30 How do we tackle IAQ problems in buildings? e.g. Building Regulations ADF Ventilation Parameter Nitrogen dioxide Carbon monoxide Total VOCs Ozone Mould growth Performance criteria 288 μg.m -3 1 hour average 40 μg.m -3 long-term average 100 mg.m minute averaging time 60 mg.m minute averaging time 30 mg.m -3 1 hour averaging time 10 mg.m -3 8 hours averaging time 300 µg.m -3 8 hours averaging time 100 µg.m -3 (offices only) No visible mould on external walls in a properly heated building

31 How do we tackle IAQ problems in buildings? Source Control Design Materials

32 Other key factors in indoor environments

33 IEQ : Contributing factors Indoor air quality Thermal comfort Environmental noise Building acoustics Lighting Materials Aesthetic & human factors Need to take a holistic view

34 building a better world together References o Crump D., Dengel A. and Swainson M., Indoor Air Quality in Highly Energy Efficient Homes. NHBC Foundation Report NF18, July o Dengel A. and Swainson M., Assessment of MVHR systems and air quality in zero carbon homes. NHBC Foundation Report NF52, August o

35 Thank you Relevant training courses: The Importance of Good Indoor Air Quality BRE Group Watford, UK WD25 9XX +44 (0) Planning for Daylight and Sunlight Webinar Planning For Daylight and Sunlight Course coming soon. Register your interest. BRE Academy is delighted to offer Ecobuild Workshop attendees 15% discount on our online courses. View our full range of online courses and book at using discount code ECOBUILD this offer expires 31/03/2018. Discount cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or discount. Discount valid on selected online courses only. Courses must be booked online and paid for in full at time of booking. Online BIM Level 2 Bundle is excluded from this offer. Discount applies to new bookings only.