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PUBLICATIONS

Volatile Organic Compound Concentrations and Estimation of Optimal Source Strengths to Achieve a High Level of Acceptance Indoors using Multi- Zone Simulation

Published

Author(s)

Helena Jarnstrom, William Stuart Dols, Cynthia H. Reed, Andrew K. Persily

Abstract

This study investigated the possibility of identifying chemical pollutant profiles and concentration levels that result in a high level of acceptance indoors. In addition, a multi-zone simulation tool, CONTAM, developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) (US), was used to estimate optimal source strengths for the pollutants of interest in a typical Finnish single family house. VTT indoor air and material emission databases were used to identify and differentiate chemical pollutant profiles and concentration levels that are measured in complaint vs. non-complaint residential buildings. The results indicate that certain volatile organic compound (VOC) profiles result in a high level of acceptance indoors. The simulation performed for a typical Finnish single family house showed that to achieve optimal total volatile organic compound (TVOC), formaldehyde, and single VOC concentration levels of less than 300 µg/m3, 30 µg/m3, and 10 µg/m3 , respectively, the specific emission rate (SER) should be less than 92 µg/m2h, 10 µg/m2h, and 4 µg/m2h respectively.
Proceedings Title
The 12th International Conference on Indoor Air Quality and Climate
Conference Dates
June 5-10, 2011
Conference Location
Austin, TX, US
Conference Title
Indoor Air 2011- International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate
Pub Type
Conferences

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Keywords

TVOC, VOC, formaldehyde, building simulation, multi-zone model
Indoor air quality, Fire and Buildings and Construction

Citation

Jarnstrom, H. , Dols, W. , Reed, C. and Persily, A. (2011), Volatile Organic Compound Concentrations and Estimation of Optimal Source Strengths to Achieve a High Level of Acceptance Indoors using Multi- Zone Simulation, The 12th International Conference on Indoor Air Quality and Climate, Austin, TX, US, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=907812 (Accessed December 14, 2024)

Issues

If you have any questions about this publication or are having problems accessing it, please contact reflib@nist.gov.

Created June 4, 2011, Updated October 12, 2021