Association of Ventilation Rates and CO2 Concentrations with Health andOther Responses in Commercial and Institutional Buildings

Abstract

This paper reviews current literature on the associations of ventilation rates and carbon dioxide concentrations in non-residential and non-industrial buildings (primarily offices) with health and other human outcomes. Twenty studies, with close to 30,000 subjects, investigated the association of ventilation rates with human responses, and 21 studies, with over 30,000 subjects, investigated the association of carbon dioxide concentration with these responses. Almost all studies found that ventilation rates below 10 Ls-1 per person in all building types were associated with statistically significant worsening in one or more health or perceived air quality outcomes. Some studies determined that increases in ventilation rates above 10 Ls-1 per person, up to approximately 20 Ls-1 per person, were associated with further significant decreases in the prevalence of sick building syndrome (SBS) symptoms or with further significant improvements in perceived air quality. The carbon dioxide studies support these findings. About half of the carbon dioxide studies suggest that the risk of sick building syndrome symptoms continued to decrease significantly with decreasing carbon dioxide concentrations below 800 ppm. The ventilation studies reported relative risks of 1.5-2 for respiratory illnesses and 1.1-6 for sick building syndrome symptoms for low compared to high low ventilation rates.

The Effects of Outdoor Air Supply Rate in an Office on Perceived Air Quality, Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) Symptoms and Productivity

“…There are benefits of increasing the ventilation rate above 10 L/s per person in relation to SBS symptoms but they are difficult to detect epidemiologically due to the nature of the dose-response curve, as suggested by the most recent and comprehensive review by Seppänen et al (1999). A log-linear dose-response relationship between the risk of SBS symptoms among office workers and the outdoor air supply rate was observed by Sundell (1994) and a relationship of the same kind had already been observed for perceived air quality (Fanger, 1988).…”

User‐Centric Indoor Air‐Quality Monitoring on Mobile Devices

“…Additionally, not all pollutant sensors are portable, and portable sensors are typically less accurate than stationary sensors. As shown in previous studies (Seppänen, Fisk, and Mendell 1999;Persily 1997;Daisey, Angell, and Apte 2003;Fisk, Mirer, and Mendell 2009), CO 2 concentration and ventilation rates are strongly correlated with general IAQ. Therefore, the M-pod monitors CO 2 concentration, which is then used to estimate the air exchange rate, that is, how quickly air is cycled through a room.…”

Health hazard evaluation report: HETA-2005-0126 and HETA-2005-0138-3004 International Marine Terminal, Portland, Maine.

“…The majority of studies of ventilation rates and building occupant symptoms have shown that rates below 10 liters per second per person (Ls -1 /person) (which equates to 20 cubic feet per minute per p erson [cfm/person]), are associated with one or more health symptoms. 10 Moreover, higher ventilation rates, from 10 Ls -1 /person up to 20 Ls -1 /person, have been associ ated with further significant decreases in the prevalence of symptoms. 10 Thus, improved HVAC operation and maintenance, higher ventilation rates, and comfortable temperature and RH can al l potentially serve to im prove symptoms without ever identifying any specific cause-effect relationships.…”

“…10 Moreover, higher ventilation rates, from 10 Ls -1 /person up to 20 Ls -1 /person, have been associ ated with further significant decreases in the prevalence of symptoms. 10 Thus, improved HVAC operation and maintenance, higher ventilation rates, and comfortable temperature and RH can al l potentially serve to im prove symptoms without ever identifying any specific cause-effect relationships. When conducting an IEQ survey , NIOSH investigators often m easure ventilation and comfort indicators, such as CO 2 , temperature, and RH to provide inf ormation relative to the functioning and control of HVAC systems.…”