Evaluation of building ventilation systems
Over the past several years, NIOSH has responded to health hazard evaluation requests from workers in dozens of office environments. Typically, the employees have complained of headache, eye and upper respiratory tract irritation, dizziness, lethargy and the inability to concentrate. Most often inadequate ventilation has been blamed for these complaints. Of paramount importance in the evaluation and correction of these problems is an effective evaluation of the building's ventilation system. Heating, ventilating and air-conditioning conditions that can cause worker stresses include: migration of odors or chemical hazards between building areas; reentrainment of exhaust from building fume hoods or through heat wheels; buildup of microorganisms in the HVAC system components; and poor odor or environmental control due to insufficient fresh outdoor air or system heating or cooling malfunction. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of building ventilation systems, the ventilation problems associated with poorly designed or operating systems, and the methodology for effectively evaluating system performance.
- Research Organization:
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH
- OSTI ID:
- 5638772
- Journal Information:
- Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J.; (United States) Vol. 47:4; ISSN AIHAA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
320100* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Buildings
AIR CONDITIONING
AIR POLLUTION
BUILDINGS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
OFFICE BUILDINGS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
POLLUTION
SPACE HVAC SYSTEMS
TESTING
VENTILATION
VENTILATION SYSTEMS