The School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture on the Penn State University campus obtained LEED Gold certification. CertainTeed’s fiberglass insulation was installed in the exterior and interior walls, as well as around the skylights. The fiberglass materials use both pre-consumer and post-consumer recycled glass, and is GREENGUARD certified for low emissions.
Throughout the 1970s, the massive energy conservation movement impacted building design by inspiring the construction of airtight structures, sealed off from outside air that would improve overall energy efficiency. An unfortunate side effect of this was that various airborne toxins, moisture and resulting mold originating from inside the building were now sealed in, creating poor indoor air quality (IAQ). Now, building and design professionals are working hard to correct the design mistakes made some 30 years ago.
Workplace IAQ concerns were brought to the forefront in 1994, when the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued its first proposal for regulating IAQ. This led to the creation of a detailed inspection and compliance program of building maintenance, ventilation, relative humidity (RH), and carbon dioxide control for certain non-industrial work environments. Since then, improving IAQ in schools, healthcare and commercial buildings has become a high priority of the sustainable building movement, and rightly so. Poor IAQ, at a minimum, can cause headaches, nausea, respiratory irritation, coughing and difficulty with concentration among building occupants. When IAQ is at its worst, however, some building occupants are at risk for more severe respiratory diseases, such as Legionnaire’s disease and asthma.
Picking up where OSHA left off, the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) published its Standard 62.1, Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality, to provide guidelines for improving IAQ through better ventilation. The first version, written in mandatory, code enforceable language that clarified compliance and enforcement issues, was published in 1994. The standard’s goal is for buildings to achieve “acceptable indoor air quality,” defined as “air in which there are no known contaminants at harmful concentrations as determined by cognizant authorities and with which a substantial majority (80 percent or more) of the people exposed do not express dissatisfaction.”
Today, the best measure for improvement is to be proactive and use building science principles to prevent or correct problems with IAQ in buildings. In this article, we will discuss how adequate ventilation and moisture management techniques can greatly improve IAQ inside buildings. First, though, let’s take a look at some of the sources of poor IAQ.
Figure 1. Sheet metal ducts insulated with fiberglass liner and duct wrap minimize leakage to and from the outside environment and prevent pressure imbalances. Without insulation and periodic maintenance, ducts can pose a threat to IAQ due to the natural production of moisture during air transmission.
Where Poor IAQ Begins
IAQ can be threatened by a variety of things within a building, such as moisture, mold spores and dust mites, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and poorly designed air distribution systems.Moisture and Mold- Harmful VOCs
VOCs are carbon-based organic compounds and often come from solvents, cleaners and the exhaust given-off by mechanical and electrical equipment, as well as building materials and furnishings. In most airtight buildings, there is not adequate ventilation to allow appliances to exhaust freely, causing them to backdraft harmful combustion products, such as carbon monoxide, into the building’s interior. This stresses the importance of a good heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system to rid the building of these pollutants.
Poorly designed HVAC systems
A poorly designed HVAC system can create several problems. Inefficient equipment and leaky ducts can lead to more energy use and higher utility costs, not to mention discomfort for building occupants and other ventilation problems. Without insulation and periodical maintenance, ducts can also develop into a serious threat to IAQ, stemming from their natural tendency to produce moisture during air transmission. In the summer, condensation often forms on uninsulated ducts when cool air passes through warm ductwork. (The same is true in winter, when warm air passes through cold ducts.) Although this is a natural occurrence, it can create a breeding ground for harmful mold if dust or dirt is present and mixes with condensation. This is a major concern, as the ductwork is the vessel for conditioned air to be distributed throughout the building. (see Figure 1)
Properly insulated ductwork and a periodical duct cleaning schedule provides an excellent defense against this substantial contributor to poor IAQ and respiratory ailments in buildings.
Figure 2. With the help of a vapor retarder facing, fiberglass insulation minimizes excess moisture and the damage caused by it within buildings. Source of graph Oak Ridge National Laboratory (Wilkes).
Solutions for Poor IAQ
There are plenty of ways to minimize the sources of poor IAQ. Much can be achieved with good moisture management and HVAC duct design.Moisture management
It is extremely important to make sure the wall cavities and other unoccupied spaces of the building are properly equipped with quality insulation assemblies that include a breathable vapor retarder. This will not only increase the thermal performance of the building, but also minimize excess moisture. With the help of a vapor retarder facing, such as CertainTeed MemBrain, fiberglass insulation is a powerful weapon against moisture and the damage it causes in buildings. (see Figure 2)
A standard vapor retarder’s job is to resist the movement of water vapor to cold surfaces. A breathable vapor retarder, though, will change its permeability with the fluctuation of humidity levels from season to season. This “smart” facing helps reduce cavity condensation during winter and promotes drying to the inside during more humid seasons. Smart vapor retarders are available either separately or pre-attached to fiberglass batt and roll insulation. It is also recommended to seal off all penetrations in the building and install effective air barriers.
Ventilate it right
As stated earlier, an efficient HVAC system is vital for good IAQ. First off, choose energy-efficient HVAC equipment. Seal ductwork with appropriate mastic adhesive or tape to prevent leakage and locate ductwork in a conditioned or semi-conditioned space, wherever possible. This will minimize leakage to and from the outside environment, and prevent pressure imbalances. This can also be achieved by using ducted returns instead of wall or floor chases.
Also, design HVAC systems for proper exhaust ventilation and moisture removal, so that more moisture and pollutants are removed from the air. Of course, a more humid climate will require a system that will adequately handle more moisture.
For optimum leak-free performance and moisture management, opt for either sheet-metal ducts insulated with quality fiber glass liner and duct wrap, or ducts fabricated from fiberglass duct board, all with enhanced surfaces, whenever possible. For example, some fiberglass duct insulation products are GREENGUARD certified for very low indoor pollutant emissions.
According to the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association’s (NAIMA’s) Insulation Facts 34: The Facts About Mold Growth, fiberglass insulation is “inorganic and inert and does not support mold growth or act as nutrients for mold growth.” Fiberglass duct liners are also resistant to microbial attack, as described in ASTM International C 1338, Standard Test Method for Determining Fungi Resistance of Insulation Materials and Facings, and as required by ASHRAE 62.1, Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality, for HVAC air stream surfaces.
Maintenance
Once installed, the best way to ensure ducts stay mold-free and perform efficiently is through a regular maintenance schedule. This is vital, regardless of whether the ductwork is internally insulated or uses bare sheet metal. Since preventative maintenance is very important in HVAC system operation, many architects and engineers have begun to add this recommendation to their specifications.
Following these guidelines should provide a solid start toward fostering good IAQ in your facility. The important thing to realize is designing a building that’s merely airtight is not the answer to sustainability. The answer is designing a properly insulated building with adequate ventilation, an environment, which if well maintained, will provide a high level of IAQ. Good IAQ means a healthy building with healthier, happier, more productive occupants.
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