Residential air-leakage and indoor air quality in Rochester, New York

Technical Report · Tue Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5136317· OSTI ID:5136317

Offermann, F. J.; Dickinson, J. B.; Fisk, W. J.; Grimsrud, D. T.; Hollowell, C. D.; Krinkel, D. L.; Roseme, G. D.

A sample of 58 occupied homes in Rochester, New York, most of which incorporated special builder-designed weatherization components, were studied to assess (1) the effectiveness of construction techniques designed to reduce air leakage; (2) the indoor air quality and air-exchange rates in selected tight houses, and (3) the impact on indoor air quality of mechanical ventilation systems employing air-to-air heat exchangers. The specific leakage area was measured in each house using the fan pressurization technique. Houses built with polyethylene vapor barriers and joint-sealing were as a group 50% tighter and had a 30% lower overall average heat loss coefficient (W//sup 0/C-m/sup 2/) than a similar group of houses without such components. Mechanical ventilation systems with air-to-air heat exchangers were installed in nine relatively tight houses, some of which had gas stoves and/or tobacco smoking occupants. Air-exchange rates and indoor concentrations of radon (Rn), formaldehyde (HCHO), nitrogen dioxide (NO/sub 2/), and humidity were measured in each house for one-week periods with and without mechanical ventilation. More detailed measurements including concentrations of carbon monoxide, and inhalable particulates were made in two of these houses by a mobile laboratory. In all nine houses, air-exchange rates were relatively low without mechanical ventilation, 0.2 to 0.5 ach, and yet indoor concentrations of Rn, HCHO, and NO/sub 2/ were below existing guidelines. Mechanical ventilation systems were effective in increasing air-exchange rates and in further reducing indoor contaminant concentrations. The average sensible effectiveness of the heat exchangers was 0.65 +- 0.16. We conclude that when contaminant source strengths are low, acceptable indoor air quality can be compatible with low air-exchange rates.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (USA); R.I.T. Research Corp., Rochester, NY (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00098
• OSTI ID: 5136317
• Report Number(s): LBL-13100; ON: DE82020640
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320101* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Residential Buildings-- (-1987)
AIR FLOW
AIR INFILTRATION
AIR QUALITY
ALDEHYDES
BUILDINGS
CHALCOGENIDES
DIFFUSION BARRIERS
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
EFFICIENCY
ELEMENTS
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
FEDERAL REGION II
FLUID FLOW
FLUIDS
FORMALDEHYDE
GAS FLOW
GASES
HEAT EXCHANGERS
HOUSES
NEW YORK
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN DIOXIDE
NITROGEN OXIDES
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RADON
RARE GASES
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
USA
VENTILATION
WEATHERIZATION