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P Ole Fanger

Publications and source records attributed to P Ole Fanger.

2 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

What is IAQ?

UNLABELLED: In spaces for human occupancy indoor air quality (IAQ) is often defined as the extent to which human requirements are met. But what requirements do people have in relation to indoor air? The desire is that the air be perceived as fresh and pleasant, that it has no negative impact on their health, and that the air is stimulating and promotes their work, i.e. it increases their productivity and the learning of their children in the classroom at school. Present ventilation standards and guidelines do not care about productivity and learning and have the very modest requirement that the indoor air shall be 'acceptable,' meaning that the most sensitive group of persons (usually 20%) perceive the air as unacceptable while the remaining less sensitive persons may find the air barely acceptable. With such a modest aim it is not surprising that comprehensive field studies in many countries in buildings in which ventilation standards are met show high percentages of dissatisfied persons and of those suffering from sick building syndrome symptoms. Recent studies show that improvement of IAQ by a factor of 2-7 compared with existing standards increases office productivity and school learning significantly, while decreasing the risk of allergic symptoms and asthma in homes. To make indoor air acceptable, even for the most sensitive persons, an improvement of 1-2 orders of magnitude may be required. The paper will discuss the development of new methods that can provide such substantial improvements of IAQ while maintaining or even decreasing ventilation and energy usage. A paradigm shift is required and further future shifts are foreseen where we learn how to make indoor air equally fresh and pleasant as outdoors when it is best. Or even better, i.e. 'out of this world.' PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The paper estimates an enormous potential for improving IAQ in practice utilizing new emerging technologies. This will enable us to provide IAQ which is acceptable even for the most sensitive persons. Already modest improvements compared to present minimum standards and typical conditions in practice can significantly decrease the risk of asthma/allergy in homes, improve learning in schools and increase productivity.

Air Pollution, Indoor↗
PubMed2004

The performance and subjective responses of call-center operators with new and used supply air filters at two outdoor air supply rates.

UNLABELLED: A 2 x 2 replicated field intervention experiment was conducted in a call-center providing a telephone directory service: outdoor air supply rate was adjusted to be 8% or 80% of the total airflow of 430 l/s (3.5 /h) and the supply air filters were either new or had been in place for 6 months. One of these independent variables was changed each week for 8 weeks. The interventions did not affect room temperature, relative humidity or noise level. The 26 operators were blind to conditions and each week returned questionnaires recording their environmental perceptions and Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) symptoms. Their performance was continuously monitored by recording the average talk-time every 30 min. Replacing a used filter with a clean filter reduced talk-time by about 10% at the high ventilation rate but had no significant effect at the low rate. Increasing the outdoor air supply rate reduced talk-time by 6% with a new filter in place but increased talk-time by 8% with a used filter in place. The interventions also had significant effects on some SBS symptoms and environmental perceptions. The present results indicate that increasing outdoor air supply rate and replacing filters can have positive effects on health, comfort and performance. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Supply air filters should be changed frequently not just because their airflow resistance increases progressively but because they degrade air quality with negative consequences for health, comfort and the performance of office work, all of which are factors that affect office productivity (profitability). Increasing outdoor air supply rates may only be beneficial when new filters are installed. Unwanted negative effects may be produced when used filters are in place. Filter condition (used or new) should always be recorded to make it possible to draw sound conclusions in studies of the effects of outdoor air supply rates on building occupants.

Air Movements↗