GREEN BUILDINGS

Submitted by:P.S.S. tejR. ShilpaCH. SiddardhaR. SidharthP. harsha

TOPIC : INDOOR AIR QUALITY

Introduction • Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a term which refers to the

air quality within and around buildings and structures, especially as it relates to the health and comfort of building occupants.

• IAQ can be affected by gases (including carbon monoxide, radon, volatile organic compounds), particulates, microbial contaminants (mould, bacteria) or any mass or energy stressor that can induce adverse health conditions.

Indoor air quality standardsGuideline for Maximum Concentrations for Specific Indoor Air

Contaminants

Parameter Averaging Time Limit for

Acceptable Indoor Air Quality

Unit

Carbon dioxide 8hrs 1800 Mg/m³

1000 ppm

Carbon monoxide 8hrs 10 Mg/m³

9 ppm

formaldehyde 8hrs 120 µ/gm³

0.1 ppm

ozone 8hrs 100 µ/gm³

0.5 ppm

Note : The guidelines specified have a wide margin of safety such that even if they areexceeded occasionally, toxic effects are unlikely to occur .

Indoor air quality standards

Parameter Limit for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality

units

Suspended / Respirable Particulate Matter

150 μg/m³

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)

3 ppm

Total Bacterial counts 500 CFU/m3

Total Fungal Counts 500 CFU/m3

Recommended Maximum Concentrations for Specific Classes of Contaminants

Indoor air quality standardsGuideline Values for Specific Physical Parameters

ASHRAE(American society of heating refrigerating and air-conditioning engineers)

• (ASHRAE) comprises representatives from all vantages of the heating, ventilation, refrigeration, and air-conditioning (HVAC) industry.

• ASHRAE is a standard that provides minimum requirements for energy efficient designs for buildings except for low-rise residential buildings.

• ASHRAE Standard 62 provides basic equipment and system requirements and minimum ventilation rates which are expected to result in indoor air quality “acceptable” to human occupants

• ASHRAE Standard 62-2001 establishes the standard of care for the design of commercial, institutional, and residential ventilation systems to “provide indoor air quality that will be acceptable to human occupants and is intended to minimize the potential for adverse health effects.”

• Building codes in most states reference ASHRAE(Standard 62), either in part or in its entirety, as part of their definition of minimum ventilation requirements.

• Although the title of the standard implies that it focuses strictly on ventilation, it goes much further by including provisions for managing sources of contamination, controlling indoor humidity, and filtration of the building air.

Fundamentals of good indoor air quality according to ASHRAE

• Acceptable indoor air quality is typically not achieved by addressing any one specific building product, system, or procedure.

• Rather, it is the result of the following fundamental elements.1. Contaminant source control2. Proper ventilation3. Humidity management4. Adequate filtration• Careful attention to each of these fundamentals during the

design and construction of the building and HVAC system, followed by proper maintenance throughout the life of the building can significantly reduce the risk of indoor air quality related problems

1. Contaminant source control• Controlling the source of contaminants is fundamental to any IAQ strategy.• The source of contaminant can be from both indoors and outdoors.• Indoor air contaminants:• Indoor contamination can also be in the form of particles or chemicals. They may come

from building occupants and their activities, be emitted from furnishings and wall coverings, or be brought into the building with the intake air from outdoors.

• Today, microbial contamination, in the form of mold and mildew, is a major indoor pollutant.

• When mold spores and other microbiological particles become airborne, some building occupants may experience allergic reactions and other health-related effects.

• What can be done to reduce the potential for microbial growth inside buildings?• Proper selection and specification of building materials and HVAC equipment are key

places to start.• ASHRAE Standard 62-2001 cites three specific air-handling equipment characteristics that

significantly reduce the likelihood of the HVAC system becoming a source of microbial contamination:

i. sloped drain pansii. cleanable interior surfaces andiii. accessibility.

i. Sloped non corrosive drain plans• The condensate drain pan located under the cooling coil is well

recognized as a potential source of microbial contamination.• Until recently, most air handlers and terminal units with cooling

coils were designed with flat drain pans.• Because the drain pan is in the air stream, any microbial spores

that are released can be easily circulated throughout the system.

• Also, the residual slime sometimes clogs drain lines, forcing condensate to overflow into the bottom of the air handler or leak out into the building.

• This results in more wet surfaces, further increasing the potential for mold growth, not to mention the obvious damage to furnishings, equipment, and the building structure itself.

Figure : Double-Sloped, TrappedCondensate Drain Pan

• Today all commercial air-handling product from the smallest fan-coil to the largest central station air handler and rooftop units—are available with double sloped, noncorrosive drain pans.

• Large air-handling equipment typically features galvanized or stainless steel drain pans, while the smaller terminal products use pans constructed of polymer or galvanized steel.

• Sloped drain pans significantly reduce the amount of water in the air-handling system which, in turn, significantly reduces the risk of microbial contamination.

ii. Cleanability• Improper HVAC equipment selection, operation, and maintenance

can cause dirt and moisture to accumulate within the equipment and ductwork.

• Even when operated properly, unexpected and unavoidable events, such as equipment malfunctions or power outages, can cause the equipment and duct system to become wet.

• Such occurrences demand that regular inspections of the air handler and duct system for signs of moisture or mold and fungi growth become part of the routine HVAC system maintenance.

• If infestations are found, these areas must be properly cleaned immediately and the cause of the contamination must be determined and corrected.

• ASHRAE 62-2001 addresses the issue of inspecting and cleaning ventilation systems by listing specific inspection intervals in (see Figure ).

Minimum Maintenance Activity and Frequency ASHRAEStandard 62-2001

Item activity Minimum frequency

Filters and air cleaning devices Maintain according to the O&M(operation & maintenance) manual

According to O&M manual

Outdoor air dampers and actuators Visually inspect or remotely monitor for proper function

Every three months or in accordance with 0&M manual

humidifiers Visually inspect for cleanliness and microbial growth and clean when fouling is observed

Once per year during cooling season or as specified in the 0&M manual

Dehumidification coils ᶦᶦ ᶦᶦ

Drain pans and other adjacent surfaces subjected to wetting

ᶦᶦ ᶦᶦ

Outdoor air intake louvers, bird screens, mist eliminators, and adjacent areas

Visually inspect for cleanliness and integrity and clean when necessary

Every six months or as specified in the 0&M manual

Air handling systems except for units under 2,000 cfm

Measure minimum quantity of outdoor air flow rates are less than 90% of the minimum outdoor air rate in the 0&M manual, they shall be adjusted or modified to bring them above 90% or shall be evaluated to determine if the measured rates are in accordance with this standard

Once every five years

Cooling towers Maintain to prevent transport of contaminants from the floor drain to the plenum

Periodically according to 0&M manual

Floor drains located in plenums or rooms that serve as air plenums

Maintain to prevent transport of contaminant from the floor drain to plenum

Periodically according to 0&M manual

iii. accessibility• Obviously, a cleanable surface is of

limited value if it cannot be accessed easily.

• This section of the standard clearly requires that cooling coils and drain pans must be readily accessible for inspection, cleaning, and maintenance in their normal operating position.

• Large access doors or removable panels are necessary to meet this requirement.

• In addition, the equipment must be positioned and installed within the building to assure adequate access to all major components without substantial unit disassembly.

• In commercial central-station air-handling equipment, access is typically provided with hinged doors or removable panels.

• This same logic applies to system ductwork. Ductwork access should be provided at areas where dirt is likely to accumulate—for example, at changes in velocity or direction—as well as immediately before and after any duct mounted devices such as humidifiers, turning vanes, and fire dampers.

Figure : Examples of Cleanability and Accessibility Features on Air Handlers

Outdoor air contaminants:• Contaminants can also enter a building from outdoors through the outdoor air

intake, or by infiltration through cracks and openings in the building envelope.• “Make-up air inlets and exhaust air outlets shall be located to avoid

contamination of the make-up air.”• In other words, the outdoor air intake must not reintroduce exhaust air into the

building.• In built-up (applied) systems, this requirement usually can be met through careful

placement of outdoor air intakes relative to exhaust fans, flue vents, etc.• “Contaminants from sources such as cooling towers, sanitary vents, vehicular

exhaust from parking garages, loading docks, and street traffic should be avoided.”

• “Special care should be taken to avoid entrainment of moisture drift from cooling towers into the make-up air and building vents.”

• Even outdoor air of acceptable quality can become contaminated if it is brought into the building through contaminated outdoor air intakes and ductwork.

• Missing or damaged screens on outdoor air intake openings can allow birds and rodents to enter these areas and soil them with nesting materials and feces.

2. PROPER VENTILATION• Another very important element of achieving

acceptable indoor air quality is proper ventilation.• ASHRAE Standard 62-2001 offers two methods for

determining the amount of outdoor air required to properly ventilate indoor occupied spaces for acceptable IAQ:

i. Ventilation rate procedure &ii. Indoor air quality procedure

Outdoor air requirements for different spaces

i. Ventilation rate procedure• The Ventilation Rate Procedure dictates both the quantity and quality of

ventilation air necessary to assure adequate dilution of contaminants generated in the occupied space.

• Sometimes referred to as the “dilution solution,” it provides a prescriptive ventilation method for achieving acceptable indoor air quality.

• Specifically, it prescribes a three-step approach:a) First, determine the quality of the outdoor air. The designer cannot

simply assume that the quality of the outdoor air surrounding the building is acceptable for use as ventilation air.

• Particulate or gaseous filtration is necessary if outdoor air exceeds the threshold levels referenced.

b) Second, if the outdoor air is unacceptable, the standard advises that it be cleaned or filtered.

• In other words, a building designer faced with unacceptable outdoor air is encouraged to treat the outdoor air before it enters the building.

c) Lastly, determine the amount of outdoor air required in each space.

ii. Indoor air quality procedure• The Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Procedure presents an alternative,

performance based method for achieving acceptable indoor air quality by setting limits on the concentration of all known and specifiable contaminants.

• More specifically, the IAQ Procedure sets limits for 10 contaminants, prescribes a subjective analysis to determine acceptable odor levels, and describes the use of treated, recirculated air to reduce the minimum outdoor airflow rates presented in the standard.

• Odor control is another objective of this procedure. Many odor-causing contaminants cannot be measured in terms of concentration levels or do not have established concentration thresholds.

• Therefore, a designer cannot comply with the IAQ Procedure without a subjective evaluation of the completed system.

3. Humidity control• Uncontrolled moisture in buildings can contribute to unacceptable indoor air

quality, occupant discomfort, and damage to the building structure and furnishings.

• One source of building moisture is water vapour contained in the indoor air.• ASHRAE Standard 62-2001 recommends maintaining indoor relative humidity

levels between 30 percent and 60 percent.• Humidity levels less than 30 percent cause some people respiratory discomfort

while humidity levels over 70 percent near surfaces for extended periods of time promote the growth of some forms of mold and fungi.

• “High humidities can support the growth of pathogenic or allergenic organisms. Examples include certain species of fungi, associated mycotoxins, and dust mites…Relative humidity in habitable spaces preferably should be maintained between 30 percent and 60 percent relative humidity to minimize growth of allergenic and pathogenic organisms.”

• Controlling indoor moisture levels is one way to control propagation of fungi and dust mites inside buildings: in the carpets, wall coverings, and furnishings, as well as within the HVAC system itself.

• However, moisture also enters buildings with humid outdoor air brought in for ventilation purposes.

• Uncontrolled infiltration of outdoor air due to inadequate building pressurization, permeation through porous building materials, and from respiration and perspiration of the building occupants all contribute moisture to the indoor environment.

• Humidity control is especially challenging in buildings with high occupant densities, such as schools and auditoriums, due to their high ventilation rates.

• the two most common types of HVAC systems from the standpoint of their ability to control space humidity.

i. Constant-Volume (CV) Systemsii. Variable-Air-Volume (VAV) Systems

4. FILTRATION• The fourth IAQ fundamental, filtration, is a means

of controlling contaminants by reducing their concentrations to acceptable levels, or by removing them The fourth IAQ fundamental, filtration, is a means of controlling contaminants by reducing their concentrations to acceptable levels, or by removing them.

• Filtration takes one or two forms, reflecting the two general types of contaminants:

• Particulate filtrates• Gaseous filtrates

i. Particulate filtration• Most HVAC applications implement particulate filtration

to remove particles from the air brought into and recirculated within the building.

• “Particulate contaminants” describes a broad class of airborne physical matter that exists as discrete grains or particles.

• Members of this class include pollen, microorganisms, skin flakes, dust, fumes, and smoke; and their particle sizes range from 0.01 to more than 100 microns.

• Particles of 10 microns or less generally pose the greatest health hazard because they are small enough to penetrate the natural defences of the body’s respiratory system.

Figure : Common Particle Contaminants and Their Characteristics

Gaseous filtration• Particulates are not the only contaminants of

concern in recirculated and outdoor air streams. When inside a building, concentrations of certain gases and vapours can be detrimental to occupant health.

• Before discussing the filtration process through gas we need to know the different types of gasses that are hazardous.

• These hazardous gasses are called VOC’s (volatile organic compounds)

What is a VOC?• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are organic

chemicals that have a high vapour pressure at ordinary, room-temperature conditions.

• Their high vapour pressure results from a low boiling point, which causes large numbers of molecules to evaporate or sublimate from the liquid or solid form of the compound and enter the surrounding air.

• VOCs are numerous, varied, and ubiquitous. They include both human-made and naturally occurring chemical compounds.

• Harmful VOCs are typically not acutely toxic, but instead have compounding long-term health effects

Common VOC pollutantsi. Second-hand smoke: Second-hand smoke is tobacco smoke

which affects other people other than the 'active' smoker.ii. Radon: Radon is an invisible, radioactive atomic gas that results

from the radioactive decay of radium, which may be found in rock formations beneath buildings or in certain building materials themselves.

iii. Carbon monoxide: One of the most acutely toxic indoor air contaminants is carbon monoxide (CO), a colourless, odourless gas that is a by-product of incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. Common sources of carbon monoxide are tobacco smoke, space heaters using fossil fuels, defective central heating furnaces and automobile exhaust.

iv. Carbon dioxide: Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a surrogate for indoor pollutants emitted by humans and correlates with human metabolic activity Humans are the main indoor source of carbon dioxide.

v. Ozone: Outdoor air used for ventilation may have sufficient ozone to react with common indoor pollutants as well as skin oils and other common indoor air chemicals or surfaces. Reactions between ozone and on-board substances, including skin oils and cosmetics, can produce toxic chemicals as by-products. Ozone itself is also irritating to lung tissue and harmful to human health.

vi. Paints and coatings: A major source of man-made VOCs are coatings, especially paints and protective coatings.vii. Chlorofluorocarbons and chloro carbons: Chlorofluorocarbons, which are banned or highly regulated, were widely used cleaning products and refrigerants.

Back to gaseous filtration• Controlling VOC concentrations pose a special

challenge. Filtration and source control are difficult because a building contains thousands of different VOCs of countless origins, including construction materials, furnishings, and cleaning supplies.

• The overwhelming number of potential VOCs inside a building makes individual measurement difficult and expensive. As a result, the most common way of dealing with indoor VOCs is to eliminate their sources whenever possible, then dilute whatever concentrations remain with outdoor air.

FRESH AIR REQUIREMENTS• Everyone knows it’s important to introduce fresh air

into buildings. However, there are two questions to be answered:

• How much air does a building need, and if you don’t have the proper measurement tools, how can you be sure you’re delivering it?

• First, things first: if you don’t have the air balancing tools, how do you measure the volume of fresh air?

• However, there is a simple and fairly accurate method of determining the amount of fresh air by using only a thermometer as your test instrument.

The percentage of outside air can be calculated using these three simple temperature measurements.

• OAT- Outside Air Temperature. This is the temperature of the air entering the system or equipment from the outdoors.

• RAT - Return Air Temperature. This is the return air entering the equipment. This temperature may be different from the temperature entering the return grilles due to duct loss or gain.

• MAT - Mixed Air Temperature. This is the air temperature past the outside air inlet where the temperatures of the return air and the outside air have mixed together. This may be in the return plenum, or in the blower compartment.

• The formula is:• Fresh Air % = ((MAT - RAT) / (OAT - RAT)) X

100

Fresh Air % = ((MAT - RAT) / (OAT - RAT)) X 100

Here’s an example of how the formula works. let's say the Outside Air Temperature is 100F, the Return Air Temperature is 75F, and the Mixed Air Temperature is 80F. Apply the formula:

Fresh Air % = ((80 - 75) / (100 - 75)) X 100Fresh Air % = (5 / 25) X 100

Fresh Air % = 0.2 X 100Fresh Air % = 20%

In this example, 20% of the total airflow of the system is being pulled into the system from outside.

• Next, to find the fresh cfm, multiply the percentage of fresh air by the fan airflow. Let’s say we have a 3 ton system moving 1,200 cfm. Multiply the 20% fresh air by the 1,200 cfm to find a fresh air cfm of 240.

• The rate changes depending on the type of building and the activity or processes going on in them.

Building use and required fresh air (in cfm) per person:

Thank you