Indoor Air Quality in

Buildings
• Indoor air pollutants in buildings and their transport dynamics with respect to
building ventilation systems.

• Design methodology in handling indoor air quality in buildings and enclosed

spaces.

• Building environmental assessment method.

 Energy
Indoor OutDoor
for Ventilation
Polution Source
Ventilation
Ventilation
for pollution control

Indoor Outdoor
Exposure Exposure
Total Air Exposure

Health
Introduction
• Research on the urban population has confirmed that people spend
more than 90% of their daily lifespan in indoor environments. People
spend a large proportion of their time in offices, educational
institutes, and other commercial and industrial buildings. Exposure to
indoor air pollutants has a significant impact on both human health
and effectiveness in the workplace.
Indoor Air Quality
• Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) refers to the air quality within and around
buildings and structures, especially as it relates to the health and
comfort of building occupants. Understanding and controlling
common pollutants indoors can help reduce your risk of indoor health
concerns.
Indoor air pollutants in buildings
• Pollution present in all types of buildings can injure individuals all over
the world, with almost 4 million fatalities each year related to
exposure to household air pollutants.
Types of indoor air pollution
Emissions from combustion of solid fuels
• for cooking and heating causes indoor pollution, as well as outdoor.
Particulate matter generated from burning wood, coal or other solid
fuels causes health consequences such as strokes, pneumonia, lung
cancer and heart disease. Cooking appliances in the developed world,
including gas-powered systems, can also contribute to poor indoor air
quality due to release of gases such as nitrogen oxide.
Biological contaminants
• Air infiltrating through cracks in the building exterior is a recognised
cause of damp, leading to mould and fungi growth within walls and
buildings, and consequential microbial pollution of indoor air.
Research has shown that asthma risk increases by up to 40% when
occupants live in homes with mould. Organically derived gases, such
as radon, can also generate a form of indoor pollution that presents
major health risks.
Causes of indoor air pollution
• Poor ventilation can result in carbon dioxide build-up, or accumulation of
moisture that can trigger allergens or damp and mould growth.
• Chemicals, including flame retardants, pesticides and fragrances, have been
associated with negative health impacts.
• Toxic building materials have been common construction materials for
decades and causes health issues from exposure to polluted indoor air
• Occupier activities including cooking or heating with solid fuels, smoking,
cleaning or decorating using VOC
• The relationship between outdoor and indoor pollution is not distinct.
Outdoor pollution can penetrate into indoor environments through openings
and cracks in the building fabric. Most exposure to outdoor air pollution
occurs when we're within buildings.
Status of Mechanical Ventilation and Air
Distribution Systems
Design methodology in handling indoor air quality in
buildings and enclosed spaces.

• A wide range of factors affect indoor air quality. Beyond a building's

technical features, enhancing indoor air quality necessitates taking
significant steps to reduce outdoor pollution. However, it also
necessitates making an effort to increase awareness and modify daily
routines and behaviors in the usage of a facility.