Abstract
Assessments of Indoor Environment Quality (IEQ) present a very significant challenge when analyses are undertaken mainly in buildings that include a particularly sensitive and vulnerable population, such as elderly people. In order to maintain an indoor environment that is adequate for occupants, it is necessary to comply with a set of requirements (for TVOC, the Portuguese threshold values) regarding concentrations of airborne pollutants and hygrothermal comfort conditions. This paper studies IEQ in compartments in 3 buildings in two cities in central Portugal, Viseu and Covilhã, which hold elderly care centers. The following environmental parameters were continuously recorded: air temperature, relative humidity, concentration of carbon dioxide, formaldehyde, and total volatile organic compounds and ventilation rates. An analysis of the obtained results was performed, taking recommended guidelines and threshold values into account, thus making it possible to evaluate the IEQ conditions and hygrothermal comfort in the selected indoor spaces. On the basis of the conclusions reached and the observed problems of hygrothermal comfort and indoor pollutants in the indoor spaces, a number of recommendations are proposed, specifically in terms of climate control, ventilation, and maintenance, in order to obtain an overall improvement of IEQ.
Highlights
In developed countries, people spend more than 90% of their time indoors
In order to maintain an indoor environment with acceptable air quality and levels of thermal comfort, it is necessary to comply with the reference levels for temperature and relative humidity (Tint e RH), with minimum values of air change rates (ACH) and with maximum values of concentrations of indoor air pollutants
Indoor air ventilation plays a very important role, for Indoor Environment Quality (IEQ), since the levels of pollutants are controlled through ACH, and in the conservation of the building, often preventing the development of pathologies related to humidity; these pathologies may cause the degradation of certain components of buildings which, in turn, leads to a decrease in IEQ for occupants
Summary
People spend more than 90% of their time indoors. Indoor environmental conditions are strongly related to health, well-being, and overall performance [1]. With people spending so much time inside buildings, the issue of Indoor Environment Quality (IEQ) becomes especially important; a set of functional requirements exist to provide increased occupant comfort. In order to maintain an indoor environment with acceptable air quality and levels of thermal comfort, it is necessary to comply with the reference levels for temperature and relative humidity (Tint e RH), with minimum values of air change rates (ACH) and with maximum values of concentrations of indoor air pollutants. Indoor air ventilation plays a very important role, for IEQ, since the levels of pollutants are controlled through ACH, and in the conservation of the building, often preventing the development of pathologies related to humidity; these pathologies may cause the degradation of certain components of buildings which, in turn, leads to a decrease in IEQ for occupants.
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