Indoor Environmental quality

Question 1

Air Quality Standards

Answer 1

The level of pollutants prescribed by regulations that is not to be exceeded during a given time in a defined area. (EPA)

Question 2

Ambient Temperature

Answer 2

The temperature of the surrounding air or other medium (EPA).

Question 3

ASHRAE

Answer 3

American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.

Question 4

Bake-out

Answer 4

A process used to remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from a building by elevating the temperature in the fully furnished and ventilated prior to human occupancy.

Question 5

Carbon Dioxide Concentration

Answer 5

An indicator of ventilation effectiveness inside buildings. CO2 concentrations greater than 530 parts per million (ppm) above outdoor conditions generally indicate inadequate ventilation. Absolute concentration of greater than 800 to 1000ppm generally indicate poor air quality for breathing. CO2 builds up in a space when there is not enough ventilation.

Question 6

Commissioning (Cx)

Answer 6

The process of verifying and documenting that a building and all of its systems and assemblies are planned, designed, installed, tested, operated and maintained to meet the owner’s project requirement.

Question 7

Commissioning Plan

Answer 7

A document that outlines the organization, schedule, allocation of resources and documentation requirements of the commissioning process.

Question 8

Commissioning Report

Answer 8

A report that details the commissioning process, including a commissioning program overview, identification of the commissioning team, and description of the commissioning process activities.

Question 9

Contaminant

Answer 9

An unwanted airborne element that may reduce indoor air quality (ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2007).

Question 10

Controllability Of Systems

Answer 10

The percentage of occupants who have direct control over temperature, airflow and lighting in their spaces.

Question 11

Daylighting

Answer 11

The controlled admission of natural light into a space, used to reduce or eliminate electric lighting.

Question 12

Flush-out

Answer 12

The operation of mechanical systems for a minimum of two weeks using 100 percent outside air at the end of construction and prior to building occupancy to ensure safe indoor air quality.

Question 13

Indoor Air Quality

Answer 13

The nature of air inside the space that affects the health and well-being of building occupants. It is considered acceptable when there are no known contaminants at harmful concentrations and a substantial majority (80%) or more) of the occupants do not express dissatisfaction. (ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2007)

Question 14

Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV)

Answer 14

A rating that indicates the efficiency of air filters in the mechanical system. MERV rating range from 1 (very low efficiency) to 16 (very high efficiency).

Question 15

Off-gassing

Answer 15

The emission of volatile organic compounds from synthetic and natural products.

Question 16

Particulates

Answer 16

Solid particles or liquid droplets in the atmosphere. The chemical composition of particulates varies, depending on location and time of year. Sources include dust, emissions from industrial processes combustion products from the burning of wood and coal combustion products associated with motor vehicle or nonroad engine exhausts and reaction to gase in the atmosphere EPA

Question 17

Pollutant

Answer 17

Any substance introduced into the environment that harms the usefulness of a resource or the health of humans, animals or ecosystems. (EPA) Air pollutants include emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), mercury (Hg), small particulates (PM2.5) and large particulates (PM10).

Question 18

Sick Building Syndrome (SBS)

Answer 18

A combination of symptons, experienced by occupants of a building, that appear to be linked to time spent in the building but cannot be traced to a specific cause. Complaints may be localized in a particular room or zone or be spread throughout the building. (EPA)

Question 19

Thermal Comfort

Answer 19

The temperature, humidity and airflow ranges within which the majority of people are most comfortable, as determined by ASHRAE Standard 55-2004. Because people dress differently depending on the season, thermal comfort levels vary with the season. Control setpoints for HVAC systems should vary accordingly, to ensure that occupants arecomfortable and energy is conserved.

Question 20

Ventilation Rate

Answer 20

The amount of air circulated through a space, measured in air changes per hour (the quantity of infiltration air in cubic feet per minute divided by the volume of the room). Proper ventilation rates, as prescribed by ASHRAE Standard 62, ensure that enough air is supplied for the number of occupants to prevent accumulation of carbon dioxide and other pollutants in the space.

Question 21

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Answer 21

The amount of carbon compounds that participate in atmospheric photochemical reactions and vaporize (become a gas) at normal room temperatures, measured in gram per liter. VOCs off gas from many materials, including adhesives, sealants, paints, carpets, and particleboard. Limiting VOC concentrations protects the health of both construction personnel and building occupants.