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Luc Saint-Martin
Phone: 613-993-7844
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Indoor Air Initiative
In support of the Canadian government’s Clean Air Agenda, NRC-IRC is managing a major project with the goal to contribute to better occupant health through improved air quality in buildings. A study is being conducted to better understand the correlation between ventilation, air quality and health, while methods are developed to assess technologies that are presumed to improve air quality. In addition, a national forum and clearinghouse involving major stakeholders is reviewing and assessing information on building design and operation as it affects indoor air quality.
Heat recovery ventilator
The field study is being carried out in the homes of approximately 100 families with asthmatic children in the Québec City area to improve our understanding of the impact of ventilation and air distribution on indoor air quality in buildings. The physical characteristics of the dwellings, the indoor air quality and the respiratory systems of the children have undergone an initial assessment and, within a year, a follow-up assessment after ventilation is introduced or modified in the houses. This will allow researchers to demonstrate whether there are associations between improved ventilation, indoor air quality and the health of the asthmatic children.
Supply ducts for forced-air system with motorized dampers
The research is carried out in partnership with the Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ) and support from Health Canada and others. A scientific committee has been created to review and guide the progress till completion.
To support the field study, a new Indoor Air Research Laboratory has been constructed on the Ottawa Campus of NRC. The facility is currently being commissioned and will be used during the winter of 2009-2010 to optimize the design of modifications to the homes, measure the impact of different strategies and allow testing of technologies that are meant to improve air quality. The facility is inherently flexible in its configuration allowing a range of house designs to be modelled. Features include variable air tightness, flexible room size and home designs, as well as several types of heating and air-conditioning systems, and heat recovery ventilators.
The project will also review, identify, develop and validate effective protocols , information that will help industry improve air quality technologies and solutions, and how they are installed, used and maintained in buildings. These indoor air quality technologies and solutions will range in scope from residential heat recovery ventilation (HRV) systems to heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC)-mounted air modification systems in commercial buildings. The evaluations will be mostly carried out in the new indoor air research laboratory. The information generated by this activity could be used to support an eventual rating system for air improvement technologies.
View of Indoor Air Research Laboratory
In order to provide guidance to governments, industry and consumers with reliable and unbiased information on solutions and technologies affecting indoor quality in buildings, a new independent national committee has being created. The Canadian Committee on Indoor Air Quality and Buildings (CCIAQB) has representation from the most relevant stakeholder groups from a wide geographical distribution across Canada. The committee held its first meeting in November 2008.
Projects
- Field Study
- Evaluation of IAQ Solutions in Support of Industry Innovation
- Canadian Committee on Indoor Air Quality and Buildings
Related Information
Canadian Committee on Indoor Air Quality and Buildings
NRC-IRC Indoor Air Initiative - Field Study on Indoor Air Quality, Ventilation and Health
Indoor Air Initiative - Evaluation of IAQ Solutions in Support of Industry Innovation
