Migration of aerosol particles inside a two-zone apartment with natural ventilation: A multi-zone validation of the multi-compartment and size-resolved indoor aerosol model
Since decades, indoor aerosol models have been introduced to understand the behaviour of indoor aerosols. However, studies about model validation in multi-zone form are very rare because of the lack of high quality and well-controlled measurements. We utilized state-of-the-art measurement and modelling approaches to validate the Multi-Compartment and Size-resolved Indoor Aerosol Model (MC-SIAM) inside a two-zone apartment with natural ventilation. According to the MC-SIAM simulations, the ventilation rates ranged from 0.06 to 0.31 h–1 during closed windows and it was as high as 2.1 h–1 when a window was open; c...
Source: Indoor and Built Environment - September 3, 2014 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Molgaard, B., Ondraček, J., Št'avova, P., Džumbova, L., Bartak, M., Hussein, T., Smolik, J. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
Energy consumption analysis of a residential building with phase change materials under various cooling and heating conditions
Phase change materials (PCMs) absorb or release a large amount of heat when changing phase from solid to liquid or vice versa. When this characteristic of PCM is utilized, it can be employed effectively for energy conversation in buildings. To apply PCM to buildings, the thermal characteristics of PCM must be considered, such as the melting temperature and temperature range of the phase changes. In addition, the characteristics of the heating and cooling system, which influence the cycle of PCM absorbing and releasing heat, should also be taken into account. The purpose of this study was to provide guidelines for a method ...
Source: Indoor and Built Environment - September 3, 2014 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Kim, T., Ahn, S., Leigh, S.-B. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
Fungal contamination of carpet industry in Gwalior Madhya Pradesh (India)
The working environment in carpet industry was assessed for fungal contamination in Gwalior (India). The sampling was carried out in five carpet units that were selected randomly. The Petri plates containing potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium was exposed for a period of 15 min near the workplace (exposed) and outside environment (control). They were covered again with aluminium foil before transporting them to the laboratory for further analysis. It was found that various types of fungal species viz., Aspergillus niger, A. parasitics, Fusarium sp., Alternaria sp., Penicillium sp., Trichoderma sp., Curvularia sp., Cladospori...
Source: Indoor and Built Environment - September 3, 2014 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Wani, K. A., Mamta, K., Khan, T. A., Lone, R. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
The effect of indoor plants on human comfort
This study conducted a series of experiments to investigate the effects of characteristics, such as colour, odour and size of plants on human comfort, which was evaluated by a satisfaction survey and physiological measurements. Different kinds of plants with different levels of colour (green, tint and multicolour), odour (no odour, slight scent and strong scent) and size (small, medium and large) were chosen for the experiment design. A survey of participants’ satisfaction degree as well as measurements from electroencephalogram (EEG), electrocardiogram (ECG), oxyhaemoglobin saturation, fingertip blood flow, skin res...
Source: Indoor and Built Environment - September 3, 2014 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Qin, J., Sun, C., Zhou, X., Leng, H., Lian, Z. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
Measurement of ventilation rate in livestock buildings with radioactive tracer gas technique: Theory and methodology
This study has initiated a development of a radioactive TGT for an accurate determination of ventilation rates in naturally ventilated animal buildings. The radioactive TGT can be applied to other larger naturally ventilated buildings, such as warehouses, aircraft hangers and depositories, as well as to smaller rooms such as offices, class rooms and store. (Source: Indoor and Built Environment)
Source: Indoor and Built Environment - September 3, 2014 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Samer, M., Muller, H.- J., Fiedler, M., Berg, W., Brunsch, R. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
An investigation of thermal comfort adaptation behaviour in office buildings in the UK
Around 40% of total energy consumption in the UK is consumed by creating comfortable indoor environment for occupants. Occupants’ behaviour in terms of achieving thermal comfort could have a significant impact on a building’s energy consumption. Therefore, understanding the interactions of occupants with their buildings would be essential to provide a thermal comfort environment that is less reliance on energy-intensive heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems, to meet energy-saving and carbon emission targets. This paper presents the findings of a year-long field study conducted in non-air-conditioned...
Source: Indoor and Built Environment - September 3, 2014 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Liu, J., Yao, R., McCloy, R. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
Advanced visualization and simulation techniques for modern construction management
Visual simulation has emerged as a key planning tool for an intended built environment because it enables architects, engineers and project managers to visualize the evolution of a construction process before a project starts. The process thus enables efficient construction, reducing time and cost through planning and controlling resources, machines and materials. On the other hand, construction industry has evolved from traditional on-site building to offsite modern methods of construction (MMC). Highly efficient and effective onsite planning and management processes are urgently needed, and this would require implementin...
Source: Indoor and Built Environment - September 3, 2014 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Rohani, M., Fan, M., Yu, C. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
Integrating requirements for the delivery of information relating to construction-product compositions
Information on the compositions of construction products is useful to construction designers, builders and occupants to help establish good indoor air quality and building environment. Existing measures to deliver this information, such as labelling or material safety data sheets, have not been adequate for construction products. The study aims to evaluate the status of the current information-delivery system and clarify requirements for a future system. A questionnaire survey on the current status and requirements of an information-delivery system for construction-product compositions was conducted in Japan. In total, 203...
Source: Indoor and Built Environment - September 3, 2014 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Azuma, K., Funaki, R., Hasegawa, A., Shinohara, N., Yamaguchi, M., Fujita, K.-O., Kikuchi, Y., Tanabe, S.-I. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
Numerical investigation on particle deposition in a chamber with an attached-wall heat source
The deposition of particles in a chamber with an attached-wall heat source is investigated numerically by the random walk model of Lagrangian method. The particle trajectories are evaluated by tracking 4,000 particles with a density of 1,400 kg m–3. The purpose of the present paper is to study the effect of the heat source length on the deposition of particles (2.5 µm–10 µm) and the particle deposition pattern on the attached-wall surface above the heat source. Numerical results show that the particle deposition fraction increases with the heat source length and the increase of the heat source lengt...
Source: Indoor and Built Environment - September 3, 2014 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Chen, X., Li, A., Gao, R. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
Major factors affecting the aerosol particulate concentration in the underground stations
Based on the estimation of mass balance with measurement at several places in the underground stations, such as concourse, platform and tunnel, it was found that a major fraction of PM10 was metallic particles which were generated by the friction between train wheel and rail, brake disk and shoe, and pantograph and catenary in the tunnel. According to an analysis on the variation pattern, the spread direction, and the transport time of PM10, and on the elemental composition of PM10 at various places in underground stations, the particles generated and accumulated in the tunnel appear to be scattered and transported to the ...
Source: Indoor and Built Environment - September 3, 2014 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Park, J. H., Young Woo, H., Chuel Park, J. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
Global concerns on human settlement and cross-cutting issues in living environments
(Source: Indoor and Built Environment)
Source: Indoor and Built Environment - September 3, 2014 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Yoon, H. H. G. Tags: Editorial Source Type: research
