Criteria and measurement of indoor air quality in sustainable buildings

Modern building design often specifies airtight structures with minimum fresh air ventilation in order to optimise energy consumption. However at the same time there has been an increase in the sources of indoor air pollution and consequently reduction in indoor air quality (IAQ), resulting in a proliferation of sick building syndrome and other building related illnesses. This paper presents some preliminary findings of an ongoing research programme at the University of Brighton and highlights the importance of providing healthy indoor environments and its significance to sustainable buildings where efficient use of energy and other resources are fundamental. The wide ranges of pollutants are identified and suitable indicators are evaluated together with appropriate methods of measurement. The paper includes analysis of computer simulations performed to assess the IAQ provided by domestic heating systems. The initial results suggested that a mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery can provide acceptable IAQ with the best use of energy, thus demonstrating its potential for use in sustainable buildings.