solely for Dissertation; Topic : Indoor Air Quality

3.0 INDOOR AIR QUALITY AND ITS CONTAMINANTS - amended

2010-12-01T21:42:00.000+08:00

Types of contaminants, Where does it come from, Why is it harmful.

As explained earlier, the indoor air quality could be worse than the outdoor air quality, especially when the ventilation is poor. There are few factors that affect the quality of indoor air; such as the design and orientation of the space itself, as mentioned in the previous chapter. In the indoor spaces, contaminants are present as well. They are categorized into 3 main types- chemical, biological and physical. Contaminants enter our body through ingestion, inhalation or touch but in our case, we are discussing the main indoor pollutants which are mostly air-bone contaminants that affect humans through inhalation.

3.1 CHEMICAL CONTAMINANTS

Chemicals from furnishings and surface finishes in the interior could be the source of bad indoor air quality. These chemicals, otherwise known as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs); are released into the air at room temperature and can harm our health. VOCs are found in some of the most common materials such as composite wood; which includes particle board, plywood, hardwood and medium density fiberboard (MDF). All these wood are categorized as engineered wood panels or simply, “pressed wood”; made by binding together fibers of woods together with adhesives. These man-made woods are custom made which comes with specific measurements and sizes in order to match with certain international standards. Formaldehyde, commonly present in adhesives in these composite woods has been classified as carcinogens (cancer causing agents). It irritates the eyes and can cause respiratory problems such as stuffy nose, coughing and wheezing. In some cases it even can cause nausea and fatigue.

Solid wood is a good alternative for composite wood products, as it does not contain formaldehyde. A cheaper alternative is to use construction-grade plywood, which uses more stable formaldehyde glue. More stable formaldehyde glue means the formaldehyde particles present in the wood will not react to the room temperature easily because it forms a tighter bond between the particles; it is tightly bound and that prevents it to be released into the air. According to studies, the indoor air concentrations of formaldehyde are often higher than the legal tolerance value of 100 Nl l^-1 (0.1 PPM, 120 µg m^-3) formaldehyde².

In two of the case research, the houses that were built in older days (40 – 60 years back) have more furniture made of wood in the homes such as sofa, study table, cabinet, dining table, chair and so on. The houses built in the more recent years have more new materials as furniture such as glass and steel frames. Therefore there are less chance of formaldehyde releasing from the composite woods.

Benzene, another type of VOCs can enter the indoors in the form of motor vehicle exhaust. Houses built near the main roads or highways might face problem with benzene entering the living spaces, other than noise pollution. An attached garage will increase the risk of benzene entering the home through opened doors and windows. Quite a number of Malaysians stay in terraces, semi-detached houses, bungalow that have an attached car poach that might have a problem with vehicle smoke entering the home, which contains benzene that can harm human health.

Having indoor plants, especially the spider plant (Chlorophytumn comosum) could help remove chemical vapor from the air, formaldehyde in particular. The plant leaves metabolize and convert formaldehyde into tissue products such as sugars, amino acids and organic acids; a process called “metabolic breakdown”. When plants transpire water vapor (lose water) from their leaves, they pull the air around their roots which supplies their root microbes (microorganisms present on the roots) with oxygen. Besides oxygen, the root microbes also use other substances present in the surrounding air, such as toxic chemicals as source of food and energy. The microbes can rapidly adapt to chemical contaminants by producing new colonies that are resistant to the chemical. As a result, the longer they are exposed to the chemical, the more effective they are at breaking down that particular chemical. According to research, Malaysians do not normally have indoor plants in their homes, due to hygiene issues. But it is actually good for health to have a few indoor plants as long as the soil is well covered.

If homes were built before the 1950s, chances are that lead pipes could be found in that home. Our first inclination would be to replace the lead pipes because it is known that lead could harm our bodies. However, replacing any type of plumbing is expensive and tedious. Moreover, having lead pipes may not expose us to enough lead to be dangerous. The leaching of lead out of lead pipes happens when the water is sitting in the pipes. This could cause children experiencing learning disabilities from high exposures to the toxin, while adults can have kidney problems and high blood pressure. The Environmental Protection Agency suggests that the Maximum Contaminate Level (MCL); the highest level of toxin allowed in water for lead to be 0.015 mg/L. A good rule of thumb is to run the cold water tap in home for 30 seconds first thing in the morning before drinking the water to reduce the chance of exposure.

Besides the pipes, ceilings and floor finishes could also release toxins that could harm human health. Asbestos, often mixed with a cement-like material and sprayed or plastered on surfaces was used in insulation, fireproofing, wallboard, floor tiles and ceiling prior to the 1960s. These materials may crumble over time thus releasing asbestos. The asbestos fibers are tiny and small enough to float in the air, and can be inhaled. Severe cases of exposure to asbestos fibers can cause lung cancer and asbestosis, a chronic scarring of the lungs that hinders breathing.

3.2 BIOLOGICAL CONTAMINANTS

Biological contaminants are living organisms that can be hazardous to human health, such as molds, fungi, bacteria and viruses. It is concerned that having indoor plants will increase dust and mold spores in living spaces, due to the soil exposed. In fact, foliage plants (plants cultivated specifically for their ornamental leaves) will help reduce air bone microorganisms in the air provided that the soil is not exposed. At least two inches of gravel or other porous material such as stones on top of the soil will prevent mold growth. Scientific research had proven that plant-filled rooms have 50 to 60 percent less airbone microbes then similar rooms without plants. However, some allergy physicans argued that patients should remove all plants from their homes; due to the concerns that but there is no scientific basis for this recommendation. On the contrary, plants should be beneficial to all allergy patients provided the plants are grown in a manner to prevent mold growth on the soil surface as mentioned previously.

Molds generally grow in dark areas with sufficient nutrients and high moisture. High moisture levels can result from water that comes in from the outside through the floor, walls or roof; from plumbing leaks; or from moisture produced by the people living in the home through daily activities such as bathing, washing and cooking. Areas such as kitchen, bathroom, basement, garage and storerooms should be constantly checked for the presence of molds. In research case number 1, the house owner mentioned that rainwater leakage will sometimes occur from the ceiling in the dining room area. It is possible that molds grow in the crawl spaces inside the ceiling as the area is not exposed to sunlight. Rainwater residue could not evaporate entirely in that enclosed space and it is dark as well, a perfect place for mold to grow.

It is also encouraged to measure the moisture level in the air to prevent mold growth and other health problems. A hygrometer, available from hardware stores is needed to find the relative humidity in living homes. Recommended indoor relative humidity is 30 % to 50 %. It is not difficult to detect mold: the discolouration and the smell. Often, a musty or earthy smell indicates the presence of molds. But even if we do not notice discolourations or smells, dampness are indications of moisture problems that will probably cause mold growth.

In addition to the damage mold can do to our walls, and fabrics, molds growing inside the home can cause health problems because they release spores and chemicals that can be toxic and irritating. The health effects of mold can range from being insignificant to causing allergic reactions and even chronic illness, such as environmental sensitivities; depending on the type of mold present, the amount and degree of exposure, and the health condition of the occupants. Therefore any sign of mold in the home should be taken seriously and the mold should be removed as soon as possible.

Besides mold, bacteria and viruses in homes can cause serious health problems to human beings. One of the carrier of bacteria and viruses is pets in homes. Pets are living organisms and therefore will shed dead skin flakes and hair; produce urine, faeces and saliva. The particles or microorganisms from their waste products linger on carpets, furniture, floors and walls at home. In the case of individuals with allergies like asthma and skin diseases, having pet in homes is actually a very serious offence. Therefore it is advisable to keep indoor living area a pet-free zone to avoid allergy responses and also for hygiene purposes. In the research, it is found out that some Malaysians keep pet inside their houses, even letting the pets sleep on their own bed. As mentioned before it is advisable to keep pets outside because they will shed and leave fur on the bed sheets, pillows and carpets; not to mention the ticks from their body.

3.2 PHYSICAL CONTAMINANTS

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas which is produced from the decay of radium. It is generally found in rocks, soils, and underground water. Traces of radon could enter a building through foundation cracks, floor drains, joints between basement walls and floors and so on. Although there are no immediate health effects, long-term exposure to radon could cause lung cancer; It is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. The Environmental Protection Agency and the Surgeon General recommend that all homes should test their radon levels below the third floor, due to its fatal consequences. The average radon level is 1.3 picocuries per liter (pCi/L); it is suggested that action to be taken if the radon level is above 4 picocuries per liter.

3.0 INDOOR AIR QUALITY AND ITS CONTAMINANTS

2010-11-23T09:41:00.002+08:00

Types of contaminants, Where does it come from, Why is it harmful.

3.1 CHEMICAL CONTAMINANTS

Chemicals from furnishings and surface finishes in the interior could be the source of bad indoor air quality. These chemicals, otherwise known as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs); are released into the air at room temperature and can harm our health. VOCs are found in some of the most common materials such as composite wood; which includes particle board, plywood, hardwood and medium density fiberboard (MDF). All these wood are categorized as engineered wood panels or simply, “pressed wood”; made by binding together fibers of woods together with adhesives. These man-made woods are custom made which comes with specific measurements and sizes in order to match with certain international standards. Formaldehyde, commonly present in adhesives in these composite woods have been classified as carcinogens (cancer causing agents). It irritates the eyes and can cause respiratory problems such as stuffy nose, coughing and wheezing. In some cases it even can cause nausea and fatigue.

3.2 BIOLOGICAL CONTAMINANTS

3.2 PHYSICAL CONTAMINANTS

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas which is produced from the decay of radium. It Is generally found in rocks, soils, and underground water. Traces of radon could enter a building through foundation cracks, floor drains, joints between basement walls and floors and so on. Although there are no immediate health effects, long-term exposure to radon could cause lung cancer; It is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. The Environmental Protection Agency and the Surgeon General recommend that all homes should test their radon levels below the third floor, due to its fatal consequences. The average radon level is 1.3 picocuries per liter (pCi/L); it is suggested that action to be taken if the radon level is above 4 picocuries per liter.

PROPOSED QUESTIONNAIRES

2010-11-15T23:26:00.001+08:00

The following questions are draft versions - yet to be confirmed.

What type of house do you live in?

[ ] terrace

[ ] semi-detached

[ ] condominium / apartment

[ ] bungalow

How many stories does your house have?

[ ] one

[ ] two

[ ] more than two

How big is your home? (in square meters)

[ ] < 100

[ ] 101 – 200

[ ] 201 – 300

[ ] 301 – 400

[ ] > 400

Your house is located ______

[ ] near a forest reserve/ recreational park

[ ] beside highways/ main roads

[ ] in developed housing areas

Does your house is built with cross ventilation? (openings opposite each other)

[ ] Yes

[ ] No

Do you have ventilation systems (at least ceiling fan or air-conditioning) to help circulate the air in rooms of your house?

[ ] Yes

[ ] No

Do you have openings in your house that always lets in natural wind into the house interior?

[ ] Yes

[ ] No

Does your bedroom have openings which let in natural sunlight?

[ ] Yes

[ ] No

Which area of the house do you spend most of your time in?

[ ] Bedroom

[ ] Study room / Office

[ ] Living Room

[ ] Kitchen

How often do you fall sick in a year?

[ ] < 3 times

[ ] 3 – 6 times

[ ] > 6 times

A more detailed interview sessions with the occupants of the research cases & more thorough observations

2010-11-15T23:16:00.002+08:00

Interview sessions with the house owners and also observations were conducted and carried out after the measurements were taken and the results shown in ASHRAE 62.1, to verify the accurateness of the application.

Research case 1 is a 218 square meters terrace house with 2 and a half storey. After all the necessary informations were keyed in, the results shown that the critical zone is the storage room. There is this musty smell that comes to the nose once step foot inside the store room. The air inside is stagnant as well, probably because there is absolutely no openings that could bring in natural wind or sunlight except the door, which is then kept closed at all times.

There are many boxes stacked on the racks in the store room, as well as old magazines and newspapers piled up on the floor. After quick observations, it was found that the opening beneath the door leaves a seam of crack even when the door is shut. This is a problem as there is no proper shading for the storeroom during heavy rains because the rain water may splash inside the store room through the crack. The floor of the store room is of cement finish, which worsen the problem because the pores on the cement surface could retain water. True enough, if stepped bare footedly on the cement floor, one could feel the cool and slightly damp surface. The newspapers which were placed directly on the cement floor; soaked up the rainwater and there is no natural sunlight that could dry them up. This condition probably causes the air to be musty-smelling.

The house owner sees no reason to install a window for the storeroom, because they are not going to live inside the store room; it is just storage for junks and unused stuffs. But they did admit that they do not want to linger for a long time in the store room because once they step into it, the air inside is suffocating them; probably due to the store room is constantly shut tightly, leaving no chance for any natural wind to enter the room.

Overall, the 6 people who live in this house is satisfied with the ventilation conditions of the house, most of the rooms have natural wind and sunlight entering the interior; but some of them did mention that the study room 2 in the ground floor is stuffy and hot during the afternoons, when it is not raining. Even though a ceiling fan is installed in this room, the hot air could not get out of the room; meaning there is no fresh and cool air circulating inside the room. After observing the design of the whole house, it turned out to be the study room 2 is located at the deepest corner of the whole plan. This is a disadvantage as being located in the innermost corner of a house, natural wind from the outside could not reach the room, even though it is located just beside the living room with sliding door openings to the outdoors. The stretch of distance from the living room to the study room is too long for the wind to reach.

It is assumed that a smaller house has better ventilation, because the natural wind from the outside can reach the insides of the houses more efficiently. At the last case research, it is found out that the study room 2 has the least air circulation rate, due to the design of the house plan- the room is located in the innermost corner of the house, which is hard for natural wind to reach. But does this indicates that smaller house really have better ventilation?

Research case 2 is also a terrace house with a total of 3 people living in, but the area is smaller than the one in research case 1 (with approximately 100 square meters); and also only has one storey. This single-storey terrace was built about a decade earlier than the terrace house in research case 1.

After the test with the application, it is found that the dining area is labeled as the critical zone. According to the layout plan, the dining room is connected to the living room openly, that is without any walls. The sliding doors which acts as the main entrance invites natural wind into the house. One could feel a slight breeze while sitting in the dining room, but the problem with the dining room is there is no ventilation system to help in circulating the air. Although it is not entirely hot or stuffy sitting in the dining room, having at least a ceiling fan would help improve the air circulation. Not having a ventilation system to help circulating the air would not be a big problem during cool weather, but in this country, especially in the city; weather is hot most of the times.

Windows in houses are designed to let in natural sunlight and natural wind; letting both the elements in to the house is important for the occupants living in the house. This is because wind encourages air exchange and sunlight kills germs and bacteria. In observing the design of the house, it was found out that the rooms in the corner of the house – bedroom 1, bedroom 2 and the study room have only standing fans to help keep the occupants cool, not even ceiling fans were installed. The occupants of the two bedrooms also complained that they would keep sneezing and have a runny-nose in the morning when they wake up every day. This is probably due to the design of the rooms: there are no windows to let in natural wind and sunlight. As mentioned earlier, it is crucial for some natural wind and sunlight to enter a space for the sake of the occupant’s health and well-being. Natural wind helps to circulate the air; while natural sunlight helps to kill bacteria and germs. The absence of windows in both the bedrooms is probably the reason the occupants wake up sneezing every morning. Having a window could bring in natural wind, which helps exchanging the air inside the room with fresher, cleaner air from outside. Also, natural sunlight will help to kill any bacteria that linger on the pillow, blanket and bed sheet in the bedrooms.

It is common sense that higher places have higher ventilation rates. But does the statement apply to apartments and condominiums, which are built higher than terrace houses? Both the research cases below were done in apartments and condominiums to verify the statement.

Research case 3 is an apartment unit approximately 150 square meters with 4 persons living in. It is located on the 7^th floor. The spaces inside this apartment unit are a living room, a kitchen, 2 bedrooms and a washroom. Despite the window opening in the living room, the family living inside this apartment complains that the spaces inside the house are quite warm. The only explanation is perhaps there are no other openings that are sufficient to let the warm air out from the spaces. Even though there is a door (main entrance), opposite the door is another unit which blocks the wind outside from entering the living room through the main entrance.

ASHRAE 62.1 application results show that the bedroom beside the kitchen has insufficient ventilation, probably due to the fact that there are no extra openings in the bedroom besides the door; and outside air from windows in living room could not enter this space.

During interview sessions, the occupants of the house mentions that cooking for long hours in the kitchen in this apartment unit is uncomfortable – they feel hot. Actually it is normal to feel hot when cooking in the kitchen as cooking uses fire and fire gives out heat. But in typical kitchens, there are usually windows to keep air circulating; and there are normally exhaust hoods which are metal coverings over the stove that leads to a vent which help exhaust smokes and fumes emitted from the cooking. They do have the exhaust hood in their kitchen over the stove but it is not sufficient for keeping the heat from cooking in check. Perhaps windows or openings might help the condition.

Research case 4; a condominium unit with approximately 200 square meters located on the 12^th floor but has only 2 occupants. The design of the unit is almost the same as the unit in research case 3; the outside wind is only able to enter the interior through the living room windows and the master bedroom windows but the living room is quite airy compared to the living room in research case 3 There space that was labeled “critical” is the bedroom. There are no other openings for both the rooms except the doors which is kept closed at all times. One can feel the air in the closet stagnant but not until the extent of suffocating like the storage room in research case 1; the air is somewhat cooler. As oppose to research case 3, both the occupants do not have problems with the heat emit during cooking in the kitchen as they seldom cook in their unit.

2.0 FACTORS THAT AFFECT INDOOR AIR QUALITY

2010-11-09T20:09:00.001+08:00

Types of houses, When was it built

The rate of ventilation in a house is calculated based on the number of openings (eg. doors, windows, etc.) that were installed in the house; which means the more openings, the more ventilation. Houses built in the past few decades were built “tighter” as to save energy and cost. A “tighter” house means the houses were built in such a way so that it is harder to “breathe” – almost none or less ventilation. Therefore, it would be logical to say that the more energy efficient a home is, the bigger chance the air inside that home is unhealthy.

In olden days, houses were built “loose” so that they could “breathe”. Take the olden days shop houses as example; they were built with internal courtyards. Cross ventilation designs were also designed to maximize ventilation, to cool the home in the hot weather. Internal courtyard invites natural air to come in homes; while cross ventilation helps circulates the air. The concept of cross ventilation is very straightforward actually: picture a room with openings on the opposite of each other. The cool air from outside enters the room through a opening, and in return, forces warm air in that room out from another opening. This encourages the circulation of air, which results in cooler interior.

But during these days if we were to build our houses more loose, will we be spending extra money on cooling electricity bills; because air leakage can lead to higher bills? Many of the modern Malaysian houses installed air-conditioning in their homes. Therefore, these homes must be built “tightly” or closed to avoid air leakage. Will air ventilation be lesser in the “tightly built” homes? Also, it is common sense that higher places have higher ventilation rates. But does the statement apply to apartments and condominiums, which are built higher than terrace houses?

Research cases were done to verify the theories stated above. Below are the studies and research of ventilation of 4 houses, aided by ASHRAE 62.1 application. Nonetheless, a few research were done on existing modern Malaysian houses (with/without air-conditioner turned on) to determine whether the ventilation is sufficient.

Research Case no.1: TWO-AND-A-HALF STOREY TERRACE RESIDENTIAL HOUSE

The first type of house studied is a typical two-and-a-half storey terrace, with total area of approximately 218sqM; also built with cross ventilation (note the opening from main entrance and the opening from the backyard; which is directly opposite each other). The ASHRAE 62.1 application shows that the critical area is the storeroom, very likely because it has no other openings except one door but it is kept closed at all times. The storeroom in this house is used to store old newspapers, old magazines, old books and so on. Although there is not much dust, the air is stagnant and musty smelling. This is probably due to the opening crack of the door which lets in rainwater during the heavy rain, and the newspapers get socked with rainwater. Besides the storeroom, the study room 2 is also lack of ventilation. It is located in the innermost corner of the house where the wind entering from the main entrance and backdoor will not be able to reach.

Overall, the house is quite ventilated, due to the presence of cross-ventilation. The main entrance (sliding doors opening with 1.5M), the backyard door and also the window openings from the master-bedroom allows cool air in the house and at the same time, forcing out warm air from inside the house.

Research Case no.2: SINGLE-STOREY TERRACE RESIDENTIAL HOUSE

The second research on residential house ventilation is a single-storey terrace with total area of approximately 100sqM, and a total of 3 persons is living in the home.

With reference from the floor plan sketch above, wind from outside enters through the main entrance (sliding doors), windows in the master-bedroom and windows in the kitchen. The hatched areas in red (bedroom 1, bedroom 2 and study room) represent the areas with insufficient ventilation. One will feel the stuffiness once step foot inside the three rooms, due to lack of air circulation. Although the study room doors were kept open at all times, wind entering from the main entrance and the backdoor in kitchen is still unable to reach into the study room. ASHRAE 62.1 application does not label the dining room as critical zone but in actual, it feels warm to sit in the dining room, which indicates the sliding door opening (which measures about 0.9 meters) in the main entrance, is not sufficient for more wind to enter.

Research Case no.3: APARTMENT UNIT

An apartment unit, approximately 150 square meters with 4 persons living in is the next research case. The spaces inside this apartment are a living room, a kitchen, 2 bedrooms and a washroom. Despite the window opening in the living room, the family living inside this apartment complains that the spaces inside the house are quite warm. The only explanation is perhaps there are no other openings that are sufficient to let the warm air out from the spaces. Even though there is a door (main entrance), opposite the door is another unit which blocks the wind outside from entering the living room through the main entrance. ASHRAE 62.1 application results show that the bedroom beside the kitchen has insufficient ventilation. There are no extra openings in the bedroom besides the door, and outside air from windows in living room could not enter this space.

Research Case no.3: CONDOMINIUM UNIT

The last research case is a 200 square meter condominium unit, with only 2 people residing. The situation is almost the same as research case number 3; the outside wind is only able to enter the interior through the living room windows and the master bedroom windows. Although the living room in this research case quite airy compared to the living room in research case 3; there are two spaces that are labeled “critical” – the closet and the bedroom. There are no other openings for both the rooms except the doors which is kept closed at all times.

2010-11-09T18:36:00.000+08:00

1.2 METHODOLOGY

As mentioned above, the research will be conducted by a few methods.

One of the methods is by analyzing the results obtained from ASHRAE 62.1 application. The ASHRAE 62.1 application, available for iPhone and iPad users at the iTunes website; is created by ASHRAE, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers which aims to “serve humanity and promote a sustainable world through advancements in technology”. This application is convenient for civilians like us to perform calculations on the minimum rate of ventilation required in a space based on Standard 62.1. There are also other ASHRAE standards for different situations and Standard 62.1 is specially created as a guideline for the ventilation for acceptable indoor air quality. ASHRAE 62.1 application is functions roughly like the “62MZCalc.xls” Microsoft Excel spreadsheet that comes with each copy of the standard. 62MZCalc.xls is the table which displays the facts and figures on the ventilation of a particular space. The key-in information that are essential for the application to calculate the whether the ventilation is sufficient is the type of space, the space’s total area in square meter, and the maximum number of persons that will be in the space.

Here’s an example how the application works; with reference from Screen Shot 1 and Screen Shot 2 below.

First we need to give a name for the zone we want to calculate. For example: “Living Room”. Then we need to select the space type, which is defaulted. Next, the total area of the space in square meters and the maximum number of people that will be in that space (zone population) are keyed-in. After the said information were keyed-in, the screen immediately shows whether the space is labelled as “critical zone” or not.

With reference from the proposed results (critical zone or not), we will then proceed to analyze the design of the interior space tested to reconfirm the results from this application, with is also another research method.

Screen Shot 1: The essential information that is Screen Shot 2: The defaulted space types which

needed to be keyed-in and below shows whether once chosen, also shows the defaulted figures to

it is a critical zone or not. allow the final calculations to be made.

Besides those two methods used, case studies will be referred to determine the common contaminants (biological contaminants, chemical contaminants or physical contaminants) present in homes.

$19.90 app for iPhone and iPad users- the ASHRAE 62.1

2010-11-01T13:38:00.002+08:00

So I was browsing through the internet, and doing some research on Indoor Air Quality.

Google lead me to this ASHRAE website;

which leads me to the STANDARD AND GUIDELINES page;

which in turn, leads me to the ASHRAE 62.1 standard booklet,

and also the ASHRAE 62.1 app for iTune users.

ASHRAE stands for The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, which aims to "serve humanity and promote a sustainable world through advancements in technology".

ASHRAE has a number of standards and guidelines for many different conditions; but the one standard and guideline that is relevant here is the ASHRAE 62.1, Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality which "sets a minimum ventilation rates and other requirements for commercial and institutional buildings"; meaning that this standard is a guideline for the acceptable amount of ventilation in a building.

Below is the description; copied-and-pasted from the iTune website:

"The ASHRAE 62.1 iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad application allows you to perform comprehensive minimum ventilation calculations for a wide variety of commercial buildings based upon Standard 62.1, using either I-P or SI units. This app is based upon the "62MZCalc.xls" Excel spreadsheet that accompanies each copy of the Standard. You can do pretty much everything in this app that you can do in the Excel spreadsheet, in addition to creating multi-system projects and emailing results so you can perform further analysis. "

Which means, iPhone or iPad users can now conduct an indoor air quality test themselves!

The instructions given sounds simple and straightforward enough: just to key in the relevant numbers, and immediately the result will be shown.

You can even email the results to your own computer, which after downloaded, automatically opens to a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet that displays a detailed version of what you've keyed in just now; together with the calculated results.

So I happily downloaded this app thinking that it will make my life so much easier, because previously when I was searching through the web for equipments that could help measure indoor air quality level, these instruments turned up. I was like ???

OK even if I paid a few (not a few but many) hundred ringgit to buy the instruments, I wouldn't be able to fully understand how it works. Researches using these type of instruments were meant to be for qualified professionals with that area of expertise, not a dissertation-writing student like me.

Lucky for me to bump into the ASHRAE 62.1 app website. RM60 + is much much more reasonable for me. Besides there is online help too.

Yesterday, 31st October 2010.

Status: after downloading the ASHRAE 62.1 app

After downloading I started to explore the app. You could start a new project (i.e., your research). There is already a sample project inside:

PROJECT NAME: KIEHL MANUFACTURING

This sample project is the research on the Kiehl products (skincare) manufacturing factory which comprises of the spaces/zones like: break room, conference room, locker rooms, office spaces, labelling and casing spaces, food preparation spaces, baking room, dry preparation room etc.

The numbers are all already keyed in and the results clearly shown. It was so complicated, all the technical terms and units.

This is the GLOBAL SETTINGS tab, which enables us to choose between IP or SI units; which are different unit measurement for the values we key in or the units used in the results shown.

There is a HELP tab / step-to-step guide on the terms and units needed to key in, and an explanation of the produced results.

So I started a new project: my house, I wanted to know what is the Indoor Air Quality is like in my own home.

*keys-in PROJECT NAME, BUILDING TYPE, BUILDING ADDRESS, and the others*

First zone I keyed in is the living room.

1. *keys-in ZONE NAME (Living Room)*

2. *keys-in SPACE TYPE (Bedroom/ Living Room)*

The SPACE TYPE is already defaulted with a number of options ***(see the print screen below).

3. *keys-in FLOOR AREA*

I measured my living room area which is

9m x 4m = 45 SqM

4. The ZONE POPULATION tab automatically changes with the SPACE TYPE chosen and the FLOOR AREA keyed-in.

The result is immediately shown on the bottom of the print screen on the left.

***(print screen with reference from above)

By choosing a space, the three measurements below (airflow/unit area; airflow/person and def. occupant density) changes according to the space chosen, which the numbers were all defaulted. You could change the numbers manually too but in my case, I didn't because I don't completely understand what it refers too.

Now to the next page, Inputs 2.

The terms were getting extremely hard to understand here, even with the help of the "HELP" tab earlier. But what we need to key-in in this page basically is just the ***UNIT TYPE FOR SECONDARY ZONE AIRFLOW and ***AIR DISTRIBUTION TYPE.

***UNIT TYPE FOR SECONDARY ZONE AIRFLOW

In this tab I go for ITU which means the ventilation system provided is supplied to the zone from a circulated system. (eg. ceiling fan circulates the air from the bottom of the space to the top of the space.)

***AIR DISTRIBUTION TYPE

The code I've chosen for my Living Room area is CSFR, which are the initials for Ceiling Dupply Floor Return - we have a ceiling fan in our Living Room ceiling that circulates the air.

Then, to page 3, which displays a more in-depth calculated results based on the numbers keyed-in and the default options selected.

Now I know why it is $19.90 for this app.

It is very structured and organized; with defaulted calculations and options designed for civilians like us who does not possess the skills of a trained professional but want to know the indoor air quality level of our own homes.

After tested on the living room area, I am going to test on other areas in my house, and then followed by some of my friend's relatives houses.

"Ignorance is bliss" ? Nope. Not for Indoor Air Quality.

2010-11-01T10:13:00.005+08:00

In times of haze and other serious air conditions, people are encouraged to stay indoors because logically thinking; indoor air is cleaner than outdoor air, as it is shielded from the polluted outdoor air. But still, whether the air is polluted or not, us city people are spending most of our time indoors, to protect ourselves against harsh weather conditions. Little do we know that the air indoors could be a few times worse than the outdoor air.

Think this: the air outdoors is constantly circulating, whether it is polluted or not; because of the presence of wind, weather, and natural air purifiers - the trees and greeneries. The indoor air, on the other hand, is shielded and this means low ventilation or in some cases, none at all. The air in a particular room will remain the same or possibly worse, but it definitely will not be any fresher.

In our own society, here in Malaysia, we tend to spend most of our time indoors too: we work indoors, we eat indoors, we sleep indoors. Therefore, it is crucial for our people to realize the presence of the Indoor Air Quality issue. The best place for us to start to get to know the importance of having good indoor air quality is our own homes, because home is our sanctuary; it is the place where we seek refuge. We feel the safest when we are in our homes. But is it really the safest place for us, now? Without us knowing, dangers are hidden inside out homes.

Like the ice berg, only one ninth of the tips is visible. The rest, the bigger danger, lurks underneath the surface of the sea which is hidden from out eyes. The ice berg theory applies the same to the Indoor Air Quality issue - we can't really see the danger of polluted indoor air; until when it finally hit us.

Why we are so happily naive, thinking that indoor air is cleaner than the outdoor air?

My guess is that we really can't sense or feel how polluted indoor air could be, that's why we are so ignorant.

For example;

1. Through our eyes, we can see how polluted outdoor air is: the blurry visions due to haze; due to wastes products released into the open air by factories. Our eyes may water, our throats irritated by the harmful particles in the haze. We feel uncomfortable.

2. Through our noses, we can smell the smoke from a vehicles' exhaust. It hurts our noses to smell the exhaust smoke and we react instinctively - stay far away from the vehicle.

Whereas for indoor air, most of the pollutants are colourless and odourless. That's why we always assume indoor air is cleaner and more purified than the outdoor air. We can't see the danger of polluted indoor air.

Before we start telling people how polluted the air in their homes are, we must first make them realize the existence and significance of "Indoor Air Quality" - how? By conducting researches through readily available softwares / equipments. The outcome of that research serves as a fact, or a proof on how polluted indoor air in that particular space actually is. Perhaps through these black-and-white results, people will finally realize the importance of Indoor Air Quality.