HEATING, VENTILATION & SERVICES 73
A HEALTHY APPROACH TO INDOOR AIR QUALITY
Stephan Lang of Daikin explains how ‘whole-building approaches’ to heating, ventilation and air conditioning in new build homes can balance energy effi ciency and the vital need to improve indoor air quality.
N
ew build homes must be built in compliance with a vast array of requirements, and in recent times a key focus has been on both the environmental impact and the energy effi ciency of these homes. In December 2021, Building
Regulations were announced, for example, and will apply from June 2022, stating CO2
emissions from new build
homes must be reduced by 31% compared to current standards. Due to the increased airtightness needed to meet these requirements, indoor air quality (IAQ) could be adversely impacted if the house is not designed and built correctly.
WHY IAQ IS IMPORTANT
Air pollution has long been considered a major health issue. he World ealth rganisation W has often voiced this concern, and has proclaimed air pollution from both indoor and outdoor sources as the single most signifi cant environmental risk to global health, contributing toward the deaths of over seven million people each year.
When coupled with the statistic that people spend an estimated 90% of their time indoors, the importance of ensuring IA is closely monitored is clear. A wide range of factors contributes to IAQ from various sources, both inside and outside the home – everything from in- dustrial practices to road traffi c generates air pollutants, including carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2
emitted from the oor and wall coverings, along with furniture and appliances. he physical ill effects from air pollutants are well documented, but there is also rapidly mounting evidence for the impact on mental health, with conditions like bipolar disorder and depression being linked back to poor air quality. Additionally, it shows detrimental links to children’s ability to learn and concentrate.
HVAC SYSTEMS ) and particu-
late matter. hese types of pollutants, and natural allergens like pollen, can easily in- fi ltrate homes through natural or mechan- ical ventilation or through the building’s fabric. here are plenty of indoor contrib- utors to air pollution too, such as mould, dust, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
he design focus for A systems in new build homes is usually centred around the effi ciency of the system and the energy use associated with it. or most clients this is a key requirement, and it also contributes the highest rewarding factors in A assessments. owever, A systems that maintain high indoor air quality are also rewarded
under the same assessments by controlling humidity, temperature, the management of pollutants, and ensuring a good supply of fresh air. As such, the correct choice of A systems can satisfy both energy effi ciency and IA requirements.
HEAT RECOVERY A signifi cant issue for energy effi ciency is the amount of heat wastage through ventilation systems, particularly those that exchange indoor air for fresh outdoor air. owever, building effective heat recovery into the system can signifi cantly reduce the effects of this issue and contribute further to the overall energy effi ciency of the system and home. nits with this heat retention ability will utilise heat from certain areas of the home and use this air to heat another area. ome units can even
CENTRALISED HEAT RECOVERY VENTILATION SYSTEMS ARE AN OPTION THAT HOUSE- BUILDERS CAN USE TO IMPROVE INDOOR AIR QUALITY
WWW.HBDONLINE.CO.UK
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92
