United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Air and Energy Engineering
Research Laboratory
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
Research and Development
EPA/600/SR-95/065
June 1995
EPA Project Summary
Ventilation Technology Systems
Analysis
J. B. Priest, J. Mclaughlin, L. Christiansen, A. Zhivov, M. McCulley,
G. Chamberlin, M. Tumbleson, R. Maghirang, B. Shaw, Z. Li, J. Arogo,
and R. Zhang
The full report gives results of a
project to develop a systems analysis
of ventilation technology and provide a
state-of-the-art assessment of ventila-
tion and indoor air quality (IAQ) re-
search needs. Goals of the analysis
were to (1) define the state-of-the-art in
building design and operation, (2) iden-
tify emerging technologies and trends
that will influence IAQ, building design,
and operation, and (3) define and pri-
oritize ventilation research needs that
will improve IAQ.
This Project Summary was developed
by EPA's Air and Energy Engineering
Research Laboratory, Research Tri-
angle Park, NC, to announce key find-
ings of the research project that is fully
documented in a separate report of the
same title (see Project Report ordering
information at back).
Objective
The objective of this project was to de-
velop a systems analysis of ventilation
technology and provide a state-of-the-art
assessment of ventilation and IAQ re-
search needs.
Ventilation technology is defined as the
hardware necessary to bring outdoor air
into a building and to treat and effectively
distribute the outdoor air to and within the
occupied spaces of the building.
Purpose
IAQ is a broad topic. The purpose of
this systems analysis is to investigate the
relationship between ventilation and IAQ.
Goals
Goals of this analysis were to
1. define the state-of-the-art in building
design and operation,
2. identify emerging technologies and
trends that will influence IAQ, build-
ing design, and operation, and
3. define and prioritize ventilation re-
search needs that will improve IAQ.
General Description
The ventilation technology systems
analysis was developed in two phases.
Phase I was to determine the status of
applied ventilation technology and its im-
pact on IAQ, using surveys and interviews
with five groups of professionals involved
with IAQ and the heating, ventilating, and
air-conditioning (HVAC) industry: research-
ers, equipment manufacturers, design en-
gineers, construction contractors, and
building managers.
Phase 2 was to bring together 60-80
IAQ and ventilation experts for a Ventila-
tion and IAQ Consensus Workshop to
achieve the stated goals. The workshop
was held September 14-16, 1994, in Ra-
leigh, NC.
Findings
IAQ has become an issue as a result
of several influences: conservation prac-
tices, building construction techniques,
new construction materials, and a more
litigative environment. A lack of under-
standing and communication has re-
sulted in minimal accountability for over-
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all IAQ. IAQ is rarely designed for, rather
it is the by-product of, several systems
and contracted work coming together.
Codes and standards that define accept-
able IAQ are needed. The absence of
standards discourages designers, manu-
facturers, operators, and owners from
achieving IAQ conditions generally agreed
to be reasonable economically and impor-
tant to health.
Some owners, designers, builders, and
operators are recognizing that the costs
of achieving acceptable IAQ generally are
more than offset by the benefits of im-
proved productivity and health for building
occupants.
Research consensus topics that were
determined address the industry's knowl-
edge deficiencies. Research should pro-
ceed concurrently in (1) IAQ control—in-
cluding ventilation, air cleaning, and source
management, (2) understanding IAQ im-
pacts and health effects, and (3) risk as-
sessment/economic optimization of sys-
tems.
Ventilation research priorities are (1)
evaluate different system designs for their
impact on IAQ, (2) develop checklists, pro-
tocols, standards, and codes that guide
and regulate the design, construction, com-
missioning, operation, and maintenance
of HVAC systems, (3) define ventilation
effectiveness and the method of its field
verification, (4) develop advanced IAQ sen-
sors and control techniques, (5) develop
adequate models to predict air and con-
taminant distribution, (6) validate ASHRAE
Standard 62-1989 to see if it really results
in acceptable IAQ, and (7) measure effec-
tiveness of outdoor air supply strategies.
J. B. Priest, J. McLaughlin, L Christiansen, A. Zhivov, M. McCulley, G. Chamberlin,
M. Tumbleson, R. Maghirang, B. Shaw, Z. Li, J. Arogo, andR. Zhang are with the
University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801.
Russell N. Kulp is the EPA Project Officer (see below).
The complete report, entitled "Ventilation Technology Systems Analysis," (Order
No. PB95-212767; Cost: $27.00, subject to change) will be available only from:
National Technical Information Service
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
Telephone: 703-487-4650
The EPA Project Officer can be contacted at:
Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
United States
Environmental Protection Agency
Center for Environmental Research Information
Cincinnati, OH 45268
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use $300
BULK RATE
POSTAGE & FEES PAID
EPA
PERMIT No. G-35
EPA/600/SR-95/065
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