Environmental and Wellness Attributes and Regulations Flashcards
What is Sustainable Design
seeks to minimize the negative environmental impact of the interior environment through efficiency and moderation in the use of materials, energy, and reuse of space” while improving human health and wellbeing.
What is indoor environmental quality
includes air quality, access to daylight and views, pleasant acoustic conditions, occupant control over lighting, and thermal comfort.
What are causes of poor indoor air quality
Contaminants from indoor sources. These can include tobacco smoke, formaldehyde and VOC’s from building materials and finishes.
Contaminants from outdoor sources. Introduced from venting or windows poorly located near parking garages, for example.
Biological contaminants. These are such as mold, mildew, bacteria, viruses, mites, pollen and animal dander.
Poor ventilation. When there is not adequate supply of fresh air, contaminants and pollutants are not diluted or flushed out.
What are symptoms of poor indoor air quality
Sick building syndrome. When an occupant’s health symptoms can’t be traced to a particular source. These disappear after the occupants leave the building.
Building related illness. The occupant’s health symptoms can be linked to a particular building contaminant. But the symptoms don’t improve after leaving the building.
Multiple chemical sensitivity. A condition brought on by exposure to chemical contaminants. Sufferers experience long-term sensitivity that returns every time they’re exposed to the chemical.
Ambient Air
air surrounding a building; the source of outdoor air brought into the building
cool air
air whose temp is less than the avg space temp
exhaust air
air removed from a space and discharged to outside the building by means of mechanical or natural ventilation systems
indoor air
air in an enclosed occupiable space
makeup air
any combo of outdoor and transfer air intended to replace exhaust air and exfiltration
outdoor air
ambient air and ambient air that enters a building through a ventilation system, through intentional openings for natural ventilation or by infiltration
primary air
air supplied to the ventilation zone prior to mixing with any locally recirculated air
recirculated air
air removed from a space and reused as supply air
return air
air removed from a space to be recirulated or exhausted
supply air
air delivered by mechanical or natural ventilation to a space and composed of any combo of outdoor air, recirculated air or transfer air
transfer air
air removed from one indoor space to another
ventilation air
that portion of supply that is outdoor air plus any recirculated air that has been treated for the purpose of maintaining acceptable IAQ
warm air
air whose temp is greater than the avg space temp
air-cleaning system
a device or combo of devices applied to reduce concentration of airborne contaminates such as microorganisms, dust, fumes, respirable particles, other particulate matter, gases, vapors, or any como
air conditioning
the process of treating air to meet requirements of a conditioned space by controlling its temp, humidity, cleanliness and distrobution
breathing zone
the region within occupied space between planes 3 and 72 in above the floor and more than 2 ft from the walls or fixed air conditioning equipment
ceiling return
air removed from the space more than 4.5 ft above floor
ceiling supply
air supplied to the space more than 4.5 ft above the floor
Multiple chemical sensitivity
A condition brought on by exposure to chemical contaminants. Sufferers experience long-term sensitivity that returns every time they’re exposed to the chemical.
building related illness
The occupant’s health symptoms can be linked to a particular building contaminant. But the symptoms don’t improve after leaving the building.