Proposal of different buildings materials and possible test cell design based on a literature review about measuring the Indoor Environmental Performance: aspects related to Indoor Air Quality and pollution

Abstract

Nowadays, very much emphasis is put on the low energy demand of buildings and their appropriate quality indoor environment. Monitoring and controlling indoor air quality are still a difficult process not only because of the rapidly changing conditions but also because of the insufficient amount of data on pollution resulting from construction and finishing materials. Most studies focus on determining the degree of pollution concentration, not at the very level of emissions from their source. The emissivity of construction materials and equipment should be one of the key elements in assessing the correct air quality and thermal comfort. Only a few studies have been carried out on this topic. This work focuses on the selection of the least invasive elements enabling the construction of the test cell and the necessary equipment to maintain optimal thermal and ventilation conditions and so low emission building materials. When assessing the quality of the internal environment, it is recommended to test the content of formaldehyde (HCHO) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), as one of the best indicators in the global rating. Depending on the available ventilation solutions on the market, it is recommended to choose a solution that will ensure the appropriate amount of supplied air of good quality and will allow the free discharge of pollutants. The main benefits that are discussed in this paper and that would result from the implementation of the project are the possibility of assessing the emission of pollutants from selected materials, estimating thermal efficiency, air quality, and thermal comfort. However, this project is not limited only to research in this area and also enables other tests to be carried out, such as global comfort measurement, including noise, light, tightness, and its easy construction and assembly allow for the connection of other chambers to conduct other tests.