Ventilation Positive Pressure Intervention Effect on Indoor Air Quality in a School Building with Moisture Problems

Camilla Vornanen-Winqvist, Kati Järvi, Sander Toomla, Kaiser Ahmed, Maria A. Andersson, Raimo Mikkola, Tamás Marik, László Kredics, Heidi Salonen and Jarek Kurnitski
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Camilla Vornanen-Winqvist: Department of Civil Engineering, Aalto University, Rakentajanaukio 4, 02150 Espoo, Finland
Kati Järvi: Department of Civil Engineering, Aalto University, Rakentajanaukio 4, 02150 Espoo, Finland
Sander Toomla: Department of Civil Engineering, Aalto University, Rakentajanaukio 4, 02150 Espoo, Finland
Kaiser Ahmed: Department of Civil Engineering, Aalto University, Rakentajanaukio 4, 02150 Espoo, Finland
Maria A. Andersson: Department of Civil Engineering, Aalto University, Rakentajanaukio 4, 02150 Espoo, Finland
Raimo Mikkola: Department of Civil Engineering, Aalto University, Rakentajanaukio 4, 02150 Espoo, Finland
Tamás Marik: Department of Microbiology, University of Szeged, Közép Fasor 52, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary
László Kredics: Department of Microbiology, University of Szeged, Közép Fasor 52, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary
Heidi Salonen: Department of Civil Engineering, Aalto University, Rakentajanaukio 4, 02150 Espoo, Finland
Jarek Kurnitski: Department of Civil Engineering, Aalto University, Rakentajanaukio 4, 02150 Espoo, Finland

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 2, 1-23

Abstract: This case study investigates the effects of ventilation intervention on measured and perceived indoor air quality (IAQ) in a repaired school where occupants reported IAQ problems. Occupants’ symptoms were suspected to be related to the impurities leaked indoors through the building envelope. The study’s aim was to determine whether a positive pressure of 5–7 Pa prevents the infiltration of harmful chemical and microbiological agents from structures, thus decreasing symptoms and discomfort. Ventilation intervention was conducted in a building section comprising 12 classrooms and was completed with IAQ measurements and occupants’ questionnaires. After intervention, the concentration of total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) and fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) decreased, and occupants’ negative perceptions became more moderate compared to those for other parts of the building. The indoor mycobiota differed in species composition from the outdoor mycobiota, and changed remarkably with the intervention, indicating that some species may have emanated from an indoor source before the intervention.

Keywords: ventilation; positive pressure; indoor air quality; mycobiota; indoor air questionnaire; moisture damage (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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