Article
Construction & Building Technology
Aurora Monge-Barrio, Maira Bes-Rastrollo, Sara Dorregaray-Oyaregui, Purificacion Gonzalez-Martinez, Nerea Martin-Calvo, Dolores Lopez-Hernandez, Ainhoa Arriazu-Ramos, Ana Sanchez-Ostiz
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted daily life in Spanish schools and globally, posing a challenge to provide the best environmental conditions for children's face-to-face learning. Research shows that COVID-19 prevention protocols have affected indoor environmental conditions, with a need for mechanical ventilation and heating recovery to complement natural ventilation.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2022)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Murat Mustafa, Malcolm J. Cook, Robert S. McLeod
Summary: This study investigates the ability of mechanical ventilation with heat recovery and natural ventilation systems to maintain thermal comfort in an auditorium with high internal heat gains and tiered seating. The results show that a thermally comfortable environment can be achieved for up to 80% of the year using mixed mode ventilation and intelligent design strategies. Natural ventilation mode also provides increased fresh air supply capacity, which is important for mitigating airborne viral transmission.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Chuloh Jung, Gamal El Samanoudy
Summary: Due to the expansion of the education industry in Dubai, universities have built many dormitories. These dormitories might have lower indoor air quality compared to public and educational buildings due to the emissions from furniture that contains formaldehyde. This study aimed to investigate and improve the indoor air quality in a newly constructed university dormitory by measuring TVOC and HCHO concentrations in three identical rooms.
Review
Construction & Building Technology
Leela Kempton, Dan Daly, Georgios Kokogiannakis, Mark Dewsbury
Summary: Sealing gaps in a house to reduce energy consumption may lead to reduced indoor air quality, but the evidence for direct correlations between increased airtightness and indoor air quality is limited.
JOURNAL OF BUILDING ENGINEERING
(2022)
Review
Construction & Building Technology
Minh Tien Tran, Wenjuan Wei, Claire Dassonville, Christophe Martinsons, Pascal Ducruet, Corinne Mandin, Valerie Hequet, Pawel Wargocki
Summary: As the importance of indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in schools becomes more recognized, a systematic strategy for assessing IEQ needs to be developed. This paper provides a summary of parameters measured in school classrooms to characterize the quality of thermal, acoustic, visual environments, and indoor air quality (IAQ). The review of literature from Europe and North America over the past ten years identified 88 papers that described measurements in schools. The review reveals inconsistencies in measurement methods, parameters, and concentrations, suggesting the need for a standardized rating scheme and protocols for assessing classroom IEQ.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Wei Su, Zhengtao Ai, Jing Liu, Bin Yang, Faming Wang
Summary: Ventilation is crucial for maintaining good indoor air quality (IAQ), but inadequate ventilation is a common problem in many buildings due to the lack of natural or mechanical ventilation. Chinese guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic recommend opening windows for natural ventilation in rooms without mechanical systems. This study examines the effectiveness of this method and explores the relationship between ventilation duration, frequency, and IAQ under different air change rates. The findings suggest that an acceptable IAQ can be achieved with recommended ventilation frequency when the air change rate is equal to or greater than 6 times per hour.
Review
Construction & Building Technology
Nima Izadyar, Wendy Miller
Summary: This review paper examines the impact of ventilation on the spread of aerosols and suggests efficient strategies such as personalized ventilation systems and consideration of design features to control indoor aerosol transmission. It emphasizes the importance of ventilation rates and suggests the use of filtration and decontamination devices to enhance ventilation performance.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Vegard Heide, Laurent Georges, Hilde Breesch
Summary: This study investigates the indoor air quality (IAQ) in 58 bedrooms with different levels of renovation. It is found that extensive window openings can result in low CO2 concentrations, but the presence of curtains may affect this outcome. The study also confirms that opening the door while keeping the window closed can lead to relatively low CO2 concentrations. Additionally, there is no clear correlation between indoor temperature and the duration of window opening. Ultimately, the results suggest that high IAQ can be achieved through window ventilation, even in renovated buildings with improved envelope airtightness.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Ihab Hasan Hatif, Haslinda Mohamed Kamar, Nazri Kamsah, Keng Yinn Wong
Summary: This study compares the effectiveness of different air distribution systems, including mixing ventilation (MV), displacement ventilation (DV), and stratum ventilation (SV), and evaluates specific influencing factors for each system. The results show that no single system consistently outperforms others, and the effectiveness depends on different conditions. DV and SV systems may have higher infection risks in certain situations, while MV systems are recommended for use when people's locations and relative positions are unclear.
JOURNAL OF BUILDING ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Ling-Yi Chang, Tong-Bou Chang
Summary: The Executive Yuan in Taiwan plans to install air-conditioning (A/C) in all elementary schools within two years. However, the use of A/C will close the doors and windows, leading to the accumulation of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the classrooms. Excessive indoor CO2 concentration can reduce cognitive performance and learning efficiency. Therefore, it is important to introduce external air into the classrooms to increase air exchange rate and reduce CO2 concentration.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Tianhu Zhang, Yuxin Zhang, Aoqi Li, Yi Gao, Yandi Rao, Qingxin Zhao
Summary: Ventilation is an effective method for removing indoor air pollutants, and the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method provides an efficient approach to studying the removal efficiency. However, the CFD method is often constrained by long computational times. This study investigates the kinetic characteristic of air pollutant removal by ventilation to reduce computational time. The results show that the Langmuir-Hinshelwood (L-H) kinetic model accurately predicts the removal efficiency of VOCs in the absence of barriers, while the removal of particulate matter is less accurately predicted. The L-H kinetic model is a useful tool for designing ventilation strategies when airflow-determined pollutants are present.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Wenjuan Wei, Pawel Wargocki, Yao Ke, Simon Bailhache, Thierno Diallo, Samuel Carre, Pascal Ducruet, Marta Maria Sesana, Graziano Salvalai, Carlos Espigares-Correa, Olivier Greslou, Johann Zirngibl, Corinne Mandin
Summary: The PredicTAIL method is developed to predict the changes in indoor environmental quality (IEQ) prior to deep energy renovation (DER). Through simulations, it is found that renovation strategies have significant impacts on IEQ parameters, and the PredicTAIL method is sensitive in guiding renovation design.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Behrouz Pirouz, Stefania Anna Palermo, Seyed Navid Naghib, Domenico Mazzeo, Michele Turco, Patrizia Piro
Summary: The study aims to analyze indoor airflow patterns in HVAC systems and the impact of outlets/windows, simulate aerosol trajectory from a human sneeze, investigate the effect of opening windows on ACH, and demonstrate the role of dead zones in ventilation. Results show that CFD simulation can optimize occupant placement and reduce health risks by considering inflow/outflow and windows. The study highlights the discrepancy between actual and theoretical ACH due to short circuits and dead zones.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Dadi Zhang, Kwok-Wai Mui, Ling-Tim Wong
Summary: In the past two decades, there has been a significant increase in research on indoor environmental quality (IEQ) assessment due to advances in data collection and analytical techniques. This study examines and summarizes the IEQ models proposed in the literature from 2001 to 2022, identifying ten key questions related to indicator selection, data collection, analysis methods, interpretation, and implication. The answers to these questions provide practical instructions for the development of an improved, standardized, and repeatable IEQ assessment model.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Karolina Bralewska, Wioletta Rogula-Kozlowska, Adrian Bralewski
Summary: This study aimed to determine the concentrations of selected gaseous indoor air pollutants in a typical Polish sports center, evaluate the efficiency of the ventilation system, and identify the factors determining air quality. The results showed higher concentrations of pollutants during the heating season, except for CO2 outside. CO2 concentrations were mainly influenced by physical activity, while VOC, NO2, and SO2 concentrations were mainly influenced by outdoor sources. Specific substances were found only in indoor air and were influenced by specific indoor sources. The findings can be used to improve indoor air quality in sports facilities and minimize adverse health effects.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Parth Bansal, Steven Jige Quan
Summary: This study investigates the relationship between urban form and canopy layer urban heat island (CUHI) using a relatively large sample of microclimate sensors in Seoul, Korea. The study compares different statistical models and finds that the spatially explicit gradient boosting decision tree (GBDT) model has the highest accuracy. The study also shows that the effect of urban form on CUHI varies at different time instances during the day. These findings provide valuable insights for planners to understand the complexity of urban climate and reduce CUHI magnitude.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Miaomiao Liu, Salah Almazmumi, Pinlu Cao, Carlos Jimenez-bescos, John Kaiser Calautit
Summary: Windcatchers provide effective low-energy ventilation and summer passive cooling in temperate climates. However, their use in winter is limited due to significant ventilation heat loss and potential discomfort. This study evaluates the applicability of windcatchers in low-temperature conditions, highlighting the need for control strategies to reduce over-ventilation and the integration of heat recovery or thermal storage to enhance winter thermal conditions.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Review
Construction & Building Technology
Behrouz Nourozi, Aneta Wierzbicka, Runming Yao, Sasan Sadrizadeh
Summary: This article presents a systematic review of ventilation solutions in hospital wards, aiming to enhance pathogen removal performance while maintaining patient and healthcare staff comfort using air-cleaning techniques. The study reveals the importance of proper ventilation systems in reducing infection risk and adverse effects of cross-contamination.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Zhen Yang, Weirong Zhang, Hongkai Liu, Weijia Zhang, Mingyuan Qin
Summary: The study examines the influence of personalized local heating on the thermal comfort of occupants in old residential buildings. The findings reveal that personalized local heating can increase the overall thermal sensation of occupants, but only a few methods are effective in enhancing thermal comfort. The chosen heating methods and background temperature affect the participants' selection of heating parts.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Hong Cheng, Dan Norback, Huilin Zhang, Liu Yang, Baizhan Li, Yinping Zhang, Zhuohui Zhao, Qihong Deng, Chen Huang, Xu Yang, Chan Lu, Hua Qian, Tingting Wang, Ling Zhang, Wei Yu, Juan Wang, Xin Zhang
Summary: The home environment and sick building syndrome (SBS) symptoms in five southern Chinese cities have been studied over time. The study found a decrease in asthma prevalence and an increase in allergic rhinitis. Cockroaches, rats, mice, mosquitoes or flies were identified as consistent biological risk factors for SBS symptoms, while redecoration, buying new furniture, and traffic air pollution were identified as other risk factors.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Chaojie Xing, Zhengtao Ai, Zhiwei Liu, Cheuk Ming Mak, Hai Ming Wong
Summary: This study experimentally investigated the emission characteristics of droplets around the mouth during dental treatments. The results showed that the peak mass fraction of droplets occurs within the size range of 20 μm to 100 μm, and droplets with a diameter less than 200 μm account for over 80% of the mass fraction. The dominant emission direction of droplets is towards the dummy's head and chest, forming an approximately cone shape.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Zhijian Liu, Zhe Han, Lina Hu, Chenxing Hu, Rui Rong
Summary: This study compared the effects of different respiratory behaviors on the distribution of aerosols in a ward and the risk of infection for healthcare workers using numerical simulation. It was found that talking in the ward significantly increased aerosol concentrations, particularly short periods of talking. Wards designed with side-supply ventilation had lower overall infection risk. Talking alternately between healthcare workers and patients slightly extended the impact time of aerosols.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Yan Yan, Mengyuan Kang, Haodong Zhang, Zhiwei Lian, Xiaojun Fan, Chandra Sekhar, Pawel Wargocki, Li Lan
Summary: In a high-density city, opening windows for sleep may lead to increased indoor temperature, higher PM2.5 concentration, and noise disturbance, which can negatively impact sleep quality.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Yan Bai, Liang Liu, Kai Liu, Shuai Yu, Yifan Shen, Di Sun
Summary: This study developed a non-intrusive personal thermal comfort model using machine learning techniques combined with infrared facial recognition. The results showed that the ensemble learning models perform better than traditional models, and the broad learning model has a higher prediction precision with lower computational complexity and faster training speed compared to deep neural networks. The findings provide a reference for optimizing building thermal environments.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Yue Lei, Zeynep Duygu Tekler, Sicheng Zhan, Clayton Miller, Adrian Chong
Summary: Mixed-mode ventilation is a promising solution for achieving energy-efficient and comfortable indoor environments. This study found that occupants can thermally adapt when switching between natural ventilation (NV) and air-conditioning (AC) modes within the same day, with the adaptation process stabilizing between 35 to 45 minutes after the mode switch. These findings are important for optimizing thermal comfort in mixed-mode controls, considering the dynamic nature of thermal adaptation.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Nan Mo, Jie Han, Yingde Yin, Yelin Zhang
Summary: This study develops a method based on the LCZ framework for a comprehensive evaluation of urban-scale heat island effects, considering the impact of geographic factors on LST. The results show that Guilin's geomorphological conditions lead to abnormal heat island effects during winter, and the cooling effects of mountains and water bodies vary seasonally in different built areas, with LCZ 2 exhibiting the strongest cooling effect.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Tunga Salthammer
Summary: Monitoring the potential formaldehyde emission of wood-based materials through test chamber investigations has significantly contributed to reducing indoor formaldehyde concentrations. However, the different methodologies used in these procedures prevent direct result comparison. Empirical models for converting formaldehyde steady-state concentrations based on temperature, humidity, air change rate, and loading were developed in the 1970s and have been modified to accommodate the development of lower-emitting materials. Formaldehyde emissions from wood-based materials are complex and require nonlinear regression tools for mathematical analysis.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Katarina Stebelova, Katarina Kovacova, Zuzana Dzirbikova, Peter Hanuliak, Tomas Bacigal, Peter Hartman, Andrea Vargova, Jozef Hraska
Summary: This study investigated the impact of reduced short-wavelength light on the hormone melatonin metabolite 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (u-sMEL) and examined the association between previous day's light exposure and u-sMEL. It was found that reducing short-wavelength light during the day did not change the concentration of u-sMEL. Personal photopic illuminance was positively correlated with u-sMEL in the reference week. The illuminance had a significant impact on u-sMEL, as shown by the evaluation of the mean of all three urine samples. However, this correlation was not found in the experimental week.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Ruoxin Xiong, Ying Shi, Haoming Jing, Wei Liang, Yorie Nakahira, Pingbo Tang
Summary: This study proposes a data-model integration method to identify and calibrate uncertainties in machine learning models, leading to improved thermal perception predictions. The method utilizes the Multidimensional Association Rule Mining algorithm to identify biased human responses and enhances prediction accuracy and reliability. The study also evaluates different calibration techniques and discovers their potential in enhancing prediction reliability.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Beichao Hu, Zeda Yin, Abderrachid Hamrani, Arturo Leon, Dwayne McDaniel
Summary: This paper introduces an innovative super-resolution approach to model the air flow and temperature field in the cold aisle of a data center. The proposed method reconstructs a high-fidelity flow field by using a low-fidelity flow field, significantly reducing the computational time and enabling real-time prediction.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)