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
The 5 elements of seiri, seiton, seiso, seiketsu and shitsuke.
Shading for housing, a design guide
A look back at embedding a new culture of shading.
The Architectural Technology Awards
The AT Awards 2025 are open for entries!
ECA Blueprint for Electrification
The 'mosaic of interconnected challenges' and how to deliver the UK’s Transition to Clean Power.
Grenfell Tower Principal Contractor Award notice
Tower repair and maintenance contractor announced as demolition contractor.
Passivhaus social homes benefit from heat pump service
Sixteen new homes designed and built to achieve Passivhaus constructed in Dumfries & Galloway.
CABE Publishes Results of 2025 Building Control Survey
Concern over lack of understanding of how roles have changed since the introduction of the BSA 2022.
British Architectural Sculpture 1851-1951
A rich heritage of decorative and figurative sculpture. Book review.
A programme to tackle the lack of diversity.
Independent Building Control review panel
Five members of the newly established, Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommended, panel appointed.
Welsh Recharging Electrical Skills Charter progresses
ECA progressing on the ‘asks’ of the Recharging Electrical Skills Charter at the Senedd in Wales.
A brief history from 1890s to 2020s.
CIOB and CORBON combine forces
To elevate professional standards in Nigeria’s construction industry.
Amendment to the GB Energy Bill welcomed by ECA
Move prevents nationally-owned energy company from investing in solar panels produced by modern slavery.
Gregor Harvie argues that AI is state-sanctioned theft of IP.
Experimental AI housing target help for councils
Experimental AI could help councils meet housing targets by digitising records.
BSRIA Occupant Wellbeing survey BOW
Occupant satisfaction and wellbeing tool inc. physical environment, indoor facilities, functionality and accessibility.