Ensuring good indoor air quality in buildings
Ensuring good indoor air quality in buildings was written by Vina Kukadia and Stuart Upton and published by the BRE Trust in March 2019.
According to the United Nations, in 2016, 54.5% of the world’s population was living in urban settlements, with 23%, or 1.7 billion, living in cities with at least a million inhabitants. That is expected to rise to 60% by 2030.
With the growth in urbanisation comes the risk of increased air pollution, which the World Health Organization estimates is the cause of three million deaths globally each year.
While outdoor air pollution can impact the quality of indoor air in buildings, an array of other factors also negatively affect indoor environments and the health of occupants. This is a critical issue given that people living in developed countries typically spend 90% or more of their time indoors, with the most susceptible individuals, such as the elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions, spending almost all their time inside.
Indoor air quality (IAQ) is complex, with many factors affecting it, including a wide range of pollutants and sources, building types, locations and décor. Exposure to different pollutants can cause health effects ranging from the worsening of asthmatic conditions and skin irritation, to premature deaths caused by heart and lung disease.
This free BRE Trust publication summarises the issues that building owners, designers and facilities managers face when seeking to provide good indoor air quality. It gives an overview of the sources and types of pollutants likely to affect different indoor environments in urban areas, and summarises current regulations, standards and guidance in the UK. It also includes short case studies to illustrate strategies for improving indoor air quality.
Its contents are:
- Introduction.
- Air pollutants and their sources.
- Impact of poor IAQ on health, wellbeing and productivity.
- Indoor air quality standards and guidelines.
- Mitigating air pollutants in the indoor environment.
- Case studies.
- Appendix.
- References.
- Acknowledgements.
Ensuring good indoor air quality in buildings can be downloaded free at: https://www.bregroup.com/bretrust/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2019/03/Ensuring-Good-IAQ-in-Buildings-Trust-report_compressed-2.pdf
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Air Quality Taskforce.
- Air quality.
- At a glance - Indoor air quality.
- BRE articles.
- BREEAM and air quality.
- BREEAM Indoor air quality plan.
- BREEAM Indoor air quality Ventilation.
- BREEAM Indoor pollutants VOCs.
- Bringing a breath of fresh air to the design of indoor environments.
- Building Research Establishment.
- Clean indoor air for healthy living - New air filter standards.
- Effective ventilation in buildings.
- Health effects of indoor air quality on children and young people.
- Human comfort in buildings.
- HVAC industry defines post COVID-19 changes.
- Indoor air quality.
- Indoor environmental quality.
- Locating ventilation inlets to reduce ingress of external pollutants into buildings: A new methodology IP 9 14.
- The history of non-domestic air tightness testing.
Featured articles and news
Investors in People: CIOB achieves gold
Reflecting a commitment to employees and members.
Scratching beneath the surface; a guide to selection.
ECA 2024 Apprentice of the Year Award
Entries open for submission until May 31.
UK gov apprenticeship funding from April 2024
Brief summary the policy paper updated in March.
For the World Autism Awareness Month of April.
70+ experts appointed to public sector fire safety framework
The Fire Safety (FS2) Framework from LHC Procurement.
Project and programme management codes of practice
CIOB publications for built environment professionals.
The ECA Industry Awards 2024 now open !
Recognising the best in the electrotechnical industry.
Sustainable development concepts decade by decade.
The regenerative structural engineer
A call for design that will repair the natural world.
Buildings that mimic the restorative aspects found in nature.
CIAT publishes Principal Designer Competency Framework
For those considering applying for registration as a PD.
BSRIA Building Reg's guidance: The second staircase
An overview focusing on aspects which most affect the building services industry.
Design codes and pattern books
Harmonious proportions and golden sections.
Introducing or next Guest Editor Arun Baybars
Practising architect and design panel review member.
Quick summary by size, shape, test, material, use or bonding..