Abstract

Scientific literature on the effects of ventilation on health, comfort, and productivity in non-industrial indoor environments (offices, schools, homes, etc.) has been reviewed by a multidisciplinary group of European scientists, called EUROVEN, with expertise in medicine, epidemiology, toxicology, and engineering. The group reviewed 105 papers published in peer-reviewed scientific journals and judged 30 as conclusive, providing sufficient information on ventilation, health effects, data processing, and reporting, 14 as providing relevant background information on the issue, 43 as relevant but non-informative or inconclusive, and 18 as irrelevant for the issue discussed. Based on the data in papers judged conclusive, the group agreed that ventilation is strongly associated with comfort (perceived air quality) and health [Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) symptoms, inflammation, infections, asthma, allergy, short-term sick leave], and that an association between ventilation and productivity (performance of office work) is indicated. The group also concluded that increasing outdoor air supply rates in non-industrial environments improves perceived air quality; that outdoor air supply rates below 25 l/s per person increase the risk of SBS symptoms, increase short-term sick leave, and decrease productivity among occupants of office buildings; and that ventilation rates above 0.5 air changes per hour (h-1) in homes reduce infestation of house dust mites in Nordic countries. The group concluded additionally that the literature indicates that in buildings with air-conditioning systems there may be an increased risk of SBS symptoms compared with naturally or mechanically ventilated buildings, and that improper maintenance, design, and functioning of air-conditioning systems contributes to increased prevalence of SBS symptoms.

Practical Implications

Ventilation requirements in many existing guidelines and standards may be too low to protect occupants of offices, schools, and homes from health and comfort problems and may not be optimal for human productivity. Higher ventilation rates can increase energy costs in relation to building operation, but these can be reduced by lowering pollution loads on the air indoors, e.g., by prudent and systematic maintenance of heating/ventilation/air-conditioning (HVAC) systems and by reducing superfluous pollution sources indoors. Energy costs can also be reduced by using efficient heat recovery systems. Source control and new ways of conditioning air are required.

• IAQ: Health
• ventilation - Air Infiltration and Ventilation in Buildings

1. Subjective perceptions, symptom intensity and performance: a comparison of two independent studies, both changing similarly the pollution load in an office  

1. Indoor exposure to molds and allergic sensitization
2. Indoor viable mold spores - a comparison between two cities, Erfurt (eastern Germany) and Hamburg (western Germany)  

1. Criteria for moisture control
2. Effect of wind on flow distribution in unglazed transpired-plate collectors
3. The new ASHRAE design guide for humidity control in commercial buildings  

1. Air turbulence and sensation of draught
2. Airflow characteristics in the occupied zone of ventilated spaces.
3. Impact of temperature and humidity on the perception of indoor air qualit
4. Indoor air quality in the 21st century: search for excellence
5. Subjective perceptions, symptom intensity and performance: a comparison of two independent studies, both changing similarly the pollution load in an office
6. The impact of sorption on perceived indoor air quality.
7. Thermal Comfort