Indoor Contaminant Sources; General; Building Materials And Furnishings - Honeywell AUTOMATIC CONTROL SI Edition Engineering Manual

Table 1. Annual Median Concentrations for TSP, NO 2 , O 3 , & CO—1979. a (continued)
Location TSP (annual average)
Pittsburgh
St. Louis
San Diego
San Francisco
Washington DC
a
EPA (1980)
b
Annual geometric mean of 24 hr averages
c
24 hr averages
d
Not a full year
e
Total oxidants
Source: Walden and Schiff (1983)
Pollutant
Particulate matter Annual (geometric mean)
24 hr
Sulfur oxides Annual (arithmetic mean)
24 hr
3 hr
Carbon monoxide 8 hr
1 hr
Nitrogen dioxide Annual (arithmetic mean)
Ozone 1 hr
Hydrocarbons 3 hr
a
(nonmethane) (6 to 9 A.M.)
Lead 3 months
a
A nonhealth-related standard used as a guide for ozone control.
b
Not to be exceeded more than once a year.
EPA has proposed a reduction of the standard to 29 g/m 3 (25 ppm).
c
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Indoor Contaminant Sources

GENERAL

Indoor contaminant sources are generated by the occupants,
the processes conducted, construction, renovation and
maintenance activities, and the building materials and furnishings.

BUILDING MATERIALS AND FURNISHINGS

Building materials and furnishings generate Volatile Organic
Compounds (VOCs) including 4 to 16 carbon alkanes,
chlorinated hydrocarbons, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, esters,
terpenes, ethers, aromatic hydrocarbons (e.g. benzene and
toluene), and heterocyclics. Building generated contaminants
are highest immediately after installation, reducing to a lower
ENGINEERING MANUAL OF AUTOMATIC CONTROL
b NO
2
88-162
63-107
57-75
51
47-70
Table 2. U.S. Ambient Air Quality Standards.
Averaging Time
75 g/m
b
260 g/m
80 g/m
b
365 g/m
b
—
b
10 mg/m
b
40 mg/m
100 g/m
b
240 g/m
160 g/m
1.5 g/m
INDOOR AIR QUALITY FUNDAMENTALS
Concentration
3
g/m
(1 hr average)
O (1 hr average)
3
—
90 (d)
69
46
52
Primary Standard Levels
3
3
3
(0.03 ppm)
3
(0.14 ppm)
3
(9 ppm)
3 c
(35 ppm)
3
(0.05 ppm)
3
(0.12 ppm)
3
(0.24 ppm)
3
level due to off gassing and ventilation, and then remain at that
level for an extended period.
However, the VOC concentrations increase during
unoccupied night and weekend periods when there is no
ventilation. Also, increased temperature increases the output
of VOCs from building materials. Table 3 lists Sources, Possible
Concentrations, and Indoor to Outdoor Concentration Ratios
of some indoor Pollutants (source: NRC 1981).
Concentrations listed are only those reported indoors. Both
higher and lower concentrations have been measured. No
averaging times are given. NA indicates it is not appropriate to
list a concentration.
For a detailed discussion of air contaminants refer to
ASHRAE Fundamentals Handbook 1997 Chapter 9, Indoor
Environmental Health, and Chapter 12, Air Contaminants.
155
mg/m
CO (1 hr average)
d
29 3.9
d
22 2.3
39 1.1
20 e
2.1
29 1.6
Secondary Standard Levels
3
60 g/m
3
150 g/m
—
—
3
1300 g/m (0.5 ppm)
3
10 mg/m (9 ppm)
3
40 mg/m (35 ppm)
3
100 g/m (0.05 ppm)
3
240 g/m (0.12 ppm)
3
160 g/m (0.24 ppm)
1.5 g/m 3
3
d