Air Background & Requirements Flashcards
Air pollution is the number one cause of?
Premature mortality
How many annual deaths in the US and internationally are caused by air pollution?
50,000 and 7M
What are some of the leading causes of poor air
quality?
Agricultural Activity, Construction, Combustion sources, Particulate Matter, and Pollution
Memory Clue: ACCPP
How many liters of air do we breathe daily?
15,000 liters
What are some of the causes of poor indoor air quality?
Airborne bacteria on surfaces Indoor combustion sources Off-gassing from building materials Outdoor sources Poor ventilation conditions (VOCs + PAHs)
What are some of the ways that poor indoor air quality can impact bodily function?
Asthma, allergies, upper respiratory illnesses, diminish productivity.
Sick building syndrome symptoms (SBSs): eye, nose, and throat irritation, fatigue, and headache.
What are the most effective ways of treating poor indoor air quality?
Air filtration
Pollution sources avoidance
Proper ventilation
What is the air quality standard set by the EPA?
National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)
What are the 6 major air pollutants?
Carbon Monoxide Nitrogen Dioxide Sulfur Dioxide Lead Ozone Particulate Matter
Memory Clue: CM, ND, SD, L, O, PM
What bodily reactions can VOCs trigger?
Allergies Asthma Nausea Headaches Respiratory Irritation
Memory Clue: AANHRi
What are the standards for Volatile Substances?
a. Formaldehyde levels < 27 ppb.
b. Total volatile organic compounds < 500 μg/m³
What are the standards for Particulate Matter and Inorganic Gases?
a. Carbon monoxide < 9 ppm.
b. PM₂.₅ < 15 μg/m³.
c. PM₁₀ < 50 μg/m³.
d. Ozone < 51 ppb.
What is the standard for Radon?
Radon < 0.148 Bq/L [4 pCi/L] in the lowest occupied level of the project
How many smokers are there in the US? Internationally?
US: 42M
International: 1 B
How many premature deaths per year are attributed to smoking?
400,000
How much does smoking decrease the average life vs a non-smoker?
10 years
How many ingredients are in cigarettes?
How many compounds are created when burned? How many are carcinogenic?
600
7,000
69
What does indoor smoking ban relate to?
Building policy or local code reflects the following: Smoking and the use of e-cigarettes is prohibited inside the project.
What does outdoor smoking ban relate to?
A smoking ban within 7.5 m [25 ft] (or the maximum extent allowable by local codes) of all
entrances, operable windows and building air intakes.
a. A smoking ban on all decks, patios, balconies, rooftops and other regularly occupied exterior
building spaces.
b. The hazards of smoking, in all areas beyond 7.5 m of the building entrances (if smoking is
permitted in this areas). These signs are to be placed along all walkways with a distance of not
more than 30 m [100 ft] between signs.
What activities can degrade indoor air quality?
Cooking
Cleaning
Building operations and maintenance
Presence of occupants
What does Ventilation Design represent?
One of the following requirements is met for all spaces:
a. Ventilation rates comply with all requirements set in ASHRAE 62.1-2013 (Ventilation Rate Procedure
or IAQ Procedure).
b. Projects comply with all requirements set in any procedure in ASHRAE 62.1-2013 (including the Natural Ventilation Procedure) and demonstrate that ambient air quality within 1.6 km [1 mi] of the building is compliant with either the U.S. EPA’s NAAQS or passes the Air Quality Standards feature in the WELL Building Standard for at least 95% of all hours in the previous year.
What does demand controlled ventilation represent?
For all spaces 46.5 m² [500 ft²] or larger with an actual or expected occupant density greater than 25 people per 93 m² [1,000 ft²], one of the following requirements is met:
a. A demand controlled ventilation system regulates the ventilation rate of outdoor air to keep carbon dioxide levels in the space below 800 ppm (measured at 1.2-1.8 m [4-6 ft] above the floor).
b. Projects that have met the Operable windows feature demonstrate that natural ventilation is
sufficient to keep carbon dioxide levels below 800 ppm at maximum intended occupancies (measured at 1.2-1.8 m [4-6 ft] above the floor).
What does system balancing represent?
After the HVAC system is installed, the following requirement is met:
a. After substantial completion and prior to occupancy, the HVAC system has (within the last 5 years),
or is scheduled to, undergo testing and balancing.
In what ways can indoor air quality be degraded by volatile organic compounds (VOCs)?
Off-gassing:
- paints
- finishes
- other coatings
- use of cleaning products
- air fresheners
- personal care products
- other materials brought into the building.
