Air velocities inside domestic environments: An important parameter in the study of indoor air quality and climate

T. G. Matthews, C. V. Thompson, D. L. Wilson, A. R. Hawthorne, D. T. Mage

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

66 Scopus citations

Abstract

Very low air velocities were measured in six occupied homes and one unoccupied house particularly when forced-air air-conditioning systems (i.e., HVAC) were turned off. Segregating the velocity data by monitoring site, median velocities of 4.2, 4.3, 10.2, and 12.4 cm/s were found in the master bedroom, basement, and kitchen of the six occupied homes and the dining/living room of the unoccupied house, respectively. In the occupied homes, the comparatively high velocities in the kitchens correlated with increased occupant activities and the use of ceiling and/or exhaust fans. Segregating the data by use of forced-air HVAC systems, the median velocities increased from 5.8 to 6.2, 3.2 to 5.7, 1.5 to 8.1, and 4.4 to 15.5. cm/s with HVAC operation in three occupied houses and one unoccupied house, respectively. The lowest median velocity of 1.1 cm/s was found in a parent's bedroom, where occupant activities were purposely limited and the HVAC was off. These low air velocities raise concern that air movement may sometimes be inadequate for quantitative passive monitoring of pollutant vapors. Ten and 50% reductions in sampling rates are reported in the literature for passive monitors at air velocities ranging from <0.7 to 25 cm/s and from <0.7 to 2 cm/s, respectively. In addition, low velocities may limit off-gassing from evaporatively controlled emitters and decrease the thermal comfort of inhabitants under warm and humid conditions.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)545-550
Number of pages6
JournalEnvironment International
Volume15
Issue number1-6
DOIs
StatePublished - 1989

Funding

Acknowledgment ~ Research sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under Interagency Agreement 40-1536-84 and the U.S. Department of Energy under contract DE-ACO5-84OR21400 with the Martin Marietta Energy Systems Inc. This work has not been subject to EPA's peer and administrative review and, therefore, does not necessarily reflect the views of the Agency and no official endorsement should be inferred.

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