Research on the indoor air quality in new houses in Hokkaido [Japan]

• Published in: Journal of the Hokkaido Forest Products Research Institute (Japan) Vol. 21; no. 2
• Main Authors: Ishii, M.(Hokkaido. Forest Products Research Inst., Asahikawa (Japan)), Akitsu, H, Isaji, S, Asakura, N, Matsumoto, K, Suzuki, M, Itoge, O, Murata, S, Kobayashi, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: 01.06.2007
• Subjects: AIR POLLUTION; ALDEHIDOS; ALDEHYDE; ALDEHYDES; COMPOSE VOLATIL; COMPUESTO VOLATIL; CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS; ENCUESTAS; ENQUETE; HOUSING; LOGEMENT; MATERIALES DE CONSTRUCCION; MATERIAU DE CONSTRUCTION; POLLUTION ATMOSPHERIQUE; POLUCION DEL AIRE; SURVEYS; VENTILACION; VENTILATION; VIVIENDA; VOLATILE COMPOUNDS
• ISSN: 0913-140X

It was researched on the indoor air quality in new houses in Hokkaido. At that time, it was measured their airtightness and ventilation volume. Their results were as follows: 1) The results of the measurements of the VOC (volatile organic compounds) in some houses showed that the concentrations of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, toluene and tetradecane exceeded the guideline values of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan (MHLW). The concentrations of other VOCs that had the guideline values were low. Acetaldehyde was distributed uniformly from low to high concentrations. 2) Airtightness performance of measured houses met the standard of the equivalent opening area of 2.0square cm/square m for areas I and II in the energy-saving standard. 3) There were some houses that had insufficient ventilation rates under usua1 operation. 4) The volumes of the VOCs like toluene, xylene and ethylbenzene that diffused from building materials for which MHLW has shown the guidelines were small. There were many houses that had high volumes of methylethylketone, ethylacetate and butylacetate. 5) The concentrations of the VOCs used as solvents became sufficiently low when after ventilation for one month.