Energy efficiency and indoor air quality in schools Many energy efficiency upgrades can improve the quality of a schools’ indoor environment, protecting and even enhancing indoor air quality (IAQ) without sacrificing energy performance. However, if certain energy upgrades are not done correctly, they may adversely impact indoor air quality. Increased energy efficiency in building construction, for example, has resulted in tighter building shells and reduced ventilation rates.
Common IAQ culprits Many factors interact to create an unhealthy indoor environment. The most important include indoor pollutants, outdoor pollutants near the building, pollution transport through the ventilation system, air cleaning or filtration, and indoor climate. Many building materials, the furnishings and equipment, and the occupants and their activities are sources of indoor with pollution. The following is a list of some of the more common pollutants and their sources. Martha Currie Elementary School
Mar Jok Elementary School
courtesy of Schubert Plumbing
Courtesy of Think Space & Sawchuck
Rogers Elementary School
Sunnyside Elementary School courtesy of Grant + Sinclair Architects
Norma Rose
Lynn Fripps Elementary
JL Crowe Secondary School
Courtesy of Craven Huston Powers Architects
Royal Bay Secondary
MECHANICAL CONSULTING ENGINEERS
Contact us today at one of our seven BC locations to learn more about how we can provide you with intelligent building engineering solutions for your school facilities or other buildings VANCOUVER
LANGLEY
VICTORIA
NANAIMO
102 – 211 E. Georgia Street Vancouver, BC V5T 4L6 Phone: 604-559-8809
#208 - 20171 92A Avenue Langley, BC V1M 3A5 Phone: 604-888-7779
202 -1701 Island Highway Victoria BC V9B 1J1 Phone: 250-704-4427
#102 - 3721 Shenton Road Nanaimo, BC V9T 2H1 Phone: 250-585-0222
KELOWNA
KAMLOOPS
NELSON
#201 - 1420 St. Paul Street Kelowna, BC V1Y 2E6 Phone: 250-763-3759
#202 - 1339 McGill Road Kamloops, BC V2C 6K7 Phone: 778-471-6472
#2 – 373 Baker Street Nelson, BC V1L 4H6 Phone: 250-352-7933
For more information visit our website at www.rpeng.ca
38
Ops Talk • Spring 2020
Plugged fresh air intake screen.
Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS): Lighted cigarettes, cigars, pipes. Biological Contaminants (mould, bacteria near the building, pollution transport through viruses): Wet or damp materials, cooling towers, humidifiers, cooling coils or drain pans, damp duct insulation or filters, condensation, wet carpet or ceiling tiles, sanitary exhausts, bird droppings, cockroaches or rodents, people with contagious viruses. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Paints, stains, varnishes, solvents, pesticides, adhesives, wood preservatives, waxes, polishes, cleansers, lubricants, sealants, dyes, air fresheners, fuels, plastics, copy machines, printers, tobacco products, perfumes, dry-cleaned clothing, marking pens, art supplies. Formaldehyde: Particle board, plywood, cabinetry, furniture, carpets, fabrics. Soil gases (radon, VOCs, sewer gas, methane): Soil and rock (radon), sewer drain leaks, dry drain traps, leaking underground storage tanks, landfills. Pesticides: Termiticides, insecticides, rodenticides, fungicides, disinfectants, herbicides. Particles (tiny solid particles or dust particles in the air): Printing, paper handling, smoking and other combustion sources, outdoor sources of air pollution, deterioration of materials, vacuuming, construction/renovation. Pollution transport through ventilation: Outside air also contains contaminants that can be brought inside through the ventilation system. Indoor air quality problems caused by outdoor pollutant sources can stem
