Combined Model for IAQ Assessment: Part 1—Morphology of the Model and Selection of Substantial Air Quality Impact Sub-Models

Piasecki Piasecki,Kostyrko Kostyrko

doi:10.3390/app9183918

Abstract

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is one of the most important elements affecting a building user’s comfort and satisfaction. Currently, many methods of assessing the quality of indoor air have been described in the literature. In the authors’ opinion, the methods presented have not been collected, systematized, and organized into one multi-component model. The application purpose of the assessment is extremely important when choosing IAQ model. This article provides the state-of-the-art overview on IAQ methodology and attempts to systematize approach. Sub-models of the processes that impact indoor air quality, which can be distinguished as components of the IAQ model, are selected and presented based on sensory satisfaction functions. Subcomponents of three potential IAQ models were classified according to their application potential: IAQ quality index, IAQ comfort index, and an overall health and comfort index. The authors provide a method for using the combined IAQ index to determine the indoor environmental quality index, IEQ. In addition, the article presents a method for adjusting the weights of particular subcomponents and a practical case study which provides IAQ and IEQ model implementation for a large office building assessment (with a BREEAM rating of excellent).

Highlights

We proposed the use of a calibration curve Indoor Air Quality Index System (IAQI) = f(cTVOC ) for conversion to PD* %
The combined model of the IAQindex presented in this paper had not yet been previously developed, and we were limited in determining the IEQindex, we only took into account two of the most well-known pollutants (i.e., CO2 and TVOC) separately
The first variant uses sub-indices of indoor air quality (IAQ) for two pollutants, CO2 and TVOC, which are described in Table 5, as well the sub-index of the third pollutant, HCHO, where these differences in the approaches mean one must combine them into one submodel IAQ in order to be used in indoor environmental quality (IEQ) calculation

Summary

Introduction

In 1998, Fanger [1] presented an approach to the quantitative determination of perceived IAQ based on the level of dissatisfaction of residents caused by bad odors and irritants, smoke, and other sources of pollution. This approach provided two new measures of IAQ: the olf, which quantifies the pollution generated from a strong source of human bio-pollutant in the range of the impact of emitted odors on perceived air quality, and the decipol, measuring the perceived air quality in an indoor space with a source of pollution of one olf at a ventilation rate of 10 l/s

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Conclusion