Effects of Renovation Work on Air Quality and Occupants Health in University Buildings

• Published in: Clean (Weinheim. Print) Vol. 37; no. 6; pp. 475 - 480
• Main Authors: Hasegawa, Asako, Schleibinger, Hans, Nong, Gang, Lusztyk, Ewa
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY-VCH Verlag 01.06.2009; WILEY‐VCH Verlag; Wiley-VCH
• Subjects: Air pollution; Chamber test; Controlling strategy; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Hydrology; Hydrology. Hydrogeology; Indoor Air; Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs); concrete; chlorides; volatile organic compounds; concentration; air; construction materials; pollution; halides; quality; buildings; Air pollution; Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs); strategy; Chamber test; performances; slabs; Controlling strategy; Indoor Air
• ISSN: 1863-0650; 1863-0669
• DOI: 10.1002/clen.200800215

This study aimed to prevent chemical air pollution and reduce its influence on occupants' health in a university building under renovation. Since starting the renovation work, the occupants' health status was monitored using questionnaires every summer and winter. According to a first questionnaire collected before the renovation, subjective symptoms were not observed. However, some occupants complained about odor after moving into their new rooms. Therefore, all interior materials used for the construction work were examined in small chambers to obtain their chemical emission characteristics. The assembled floor, which was a polyvinyl chloride floor sheet combined with a concrete slab by adhesive, was predicted to be the main source of odor in the renovated rooms. Two strategies were implemented individually in rooms to remove these odorous chemicals; a chemical filter in indoor air conditioning units and forced ventilation with hot‐humid outdoor air. The performance of each technique was validated by measuring the indoor concentration before and after operation. These results showed that both strategies had a significant effect on reducing volatile organic compounds (VOCs), in a practical way. Research Article: Strategies to protect the health of occupants from the effects of indoor chemical pollution in an official building under renovation were developed and validated. Occupants had their health status monitored using questionnaires and all the interior materials used for construction work were examined to obtain their chemical emission characteristics.