Providing good indoor air quality (IAQ) and thermal comfort is important for employee satisfaction, well-being and performance. This Update provides guidance on key issues for achieving adequate indoor air quality and thermal comfort in open-plan offices, based on current standards and research conducted by NRC’s Institute for Research in Construction and others. Full story
This Update presents results of research carried out by the Institute for Research in Construction to determine whether differences in supply-air diffuser layout affect the performance of workstation ventilation. Full story
This Update reviews the results of IRC research on some key factors that influence the performance of a ventilation system in large buildings. It discusses the effects of these factors and provides guidelines for operating the system efficiently. Full story
This Update, the second of two on mechanical ventilation systems for houses, describes current approaches to design and installation. It also examines the distribution problem and looks at some of the shortcomings of current approaches and how they might be overcome. Full story
This Update is the first of two that discuss mechanical ventilation systems in houses. It explains why houses need to be mechanically ventilated, and examines the main characteristics of an ideal system from the standpoint of design and installation. Full story
Poor air quality in office buildings can result in loss of productivity, absenteeism and, in some cases, medical problems. The purpose of this Update is to provide guidelines for property managers and engineers for controlling indoor air quality using building ventilation systems. Full story
