Indoor Air Quality Emission Simulation Tool (IA-QUEST) -- Version 1.1

National Research Council Canada (NRC/IRC) launched a series of projects called "Consortium of Material Emissions and Indoor Air Quality Modeling (CMEIAQ)" with the overall goal of developing guidelines for indoor material selection and ventilation strategies to meet specific indoor air quality requirements. One of the major outcomes of the project was an Indoor Air Quality Emission Simulation Tool (IA-QUEST).

What does the Software do?

The software consists of two parts: database and simulation. The database provides information regarding the emission ("off-gassing") of 90 "Target" volatile organic compounds (VOCs), "Abundant" VOCs and TVOC (total VOC) from 69 building materials commonly used in Canada. Specimen details and test conditions are available as well. The simulation part is to predict the indoor air concentrations in a room for given materials from the database and defined ventilation conditions/strategies.

Who can use it?

Different types of users are expected to benefit from the package, and include manufacturers of building materials interesting in evaluation/development of products; building designers, renovators and managers interested in creating low-VOC environments for their occupants; researchers.

Partners of the project:

Phase I:

CMEIAQ Members:

• The Building Center of Japan
• Chemical Manufactures Association
• Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
• Canada Wood Council
• Gypsum Association
• Natural Resources Canada
• National Research Council Canada
• US Gypsum Corporation

In-kind Contributors:

• Australia Commonwealth Science and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO)
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

Phase II:

CMEIAQ Members:

• Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC)
• Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)
• National Research Council Canada (NRC)
• Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)
• Health Canada (HC)

In-kind Contributors:

• Canadian Composite Panel Association
• Carleton University
• Chemical Manufactures Association (Rohm & Haas)
• Dalhousie University
• Gypsum Board Association
• Saskatchewan Research Council
• Syracuse University
• University of Calgary
• University of Miami
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University

Research Reports & Publications

Project Overviews

NRC-IRC's material emissions study yielding results
Burrows, J. Won, D.Y.
Solplan Review, (121)
pp. 18-19. 2005-03-01
[Full citation / Référence complète]

Investigation of building materials as VOC sources in indoor air
Won, D.Y. Shaw, C.Y.
Proceedings of the Joint NSC-NRC Workshop on Construction Technologies (Taipei, Taiwan, 2004-04-26)
pp. 173-180. 2004-04-01
[Full citation / Référence complète]

Material emissions and indoor air quality modelling project - an overview
Shaw, C.Y. Sander, D.M. Magee, R.J. Lusztyk, E. Reardon, J.T. Bodalal, A. Nong, G. Biesenthal, T.A. Won, D.Y. 2
Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Indoor Air Quality, Ventilation & Energy Conservation in Buildings (Changsha, China, 2001-10-02)
pp. 699-706. 2001-10-01
[Full citation / Référence complète]

Publications on Individual Tasks

Good air days
Saint-Martin, L.
Home Builder, 20 (3)
pp. 30. 2007-05-01
[Full citation / Référence complète]

Target VOC List: Final Report 1.1
Won, D.Y. Lusztyk, E. Shaw, C.Y.
Research Report, NRC Institute for Research in Construction, 206
pp. 28. 2005-03-01
[Full citation / Référence complète]

A Material emission database for 90 target VOCs
Won, D.Y. Magee, R.J. Yang, W. Lusztyk, E. Nong, G. Shaw, C.Y. 2
Indoor Air 2005, The 10th International Conference on Indoor Air Quality and Climate (Beijing, China, 2005-09-04)
pp. 2070-2075. 2005-09-01
[Full citation / Référence complète]

Effects of air velocity and temperature on VOC emissions from architectural coatings
Won, D.Y. Shaw, C.Y. 2
Indoor Air 2005, the 10th International Conference on Indoor Air Quality and Climate (Beijing, China, 2005-09-04)
pp. 1822-1827. 2005-09-01
[Full citation / Référence complète]

Quantification of the effects of air velocity on VOC emissions from building materials
Won, D.Y. Nong, G. Shaw, C.Y.
CIB 2004 World Building Congress (Toronto, Ontario, 2004-05-02)
pp. 1-10. 2004-05-01
[Full citation / Référence complète]

Determining coefficients for mass-transfer models for volatile organic compound emissions from architectural coatings
Won, D.Y. Shaw, C.Y.
Proceedings of the 7th International Conference of Healthy Buildings 2003 (Singapore, 2003-07-13)
pp. 1-6. 2003-07-01
[Full citation / Référence complète]

Indoor Air Quality Guidelines and Standards : Final Report 5.1
Charles, K.E. Magee, R.J. Won, D.Y. Lusztyk, E.
Research Report, NRC Institute for Research in Construction, 204
pp. 36. 2005-03-01
[Full citation / Référence complète]

Managing Volatile Organic Compounds and Indoor Air Quality in Office Buildings - An Engineering Approach : Final Report 5.2
Shaw, C.Y. Won, D.Y. Reardon, J.T.
Research Report, NRC Institute for Research in Construction, 205
pp. 25. 2005-03-01
[Full citation / Référence complète]

Related Information

Indoor Air Quality Emission Simulation Tool (IA-QUEST)

Indoor Air Quality Emission Simulation Tool (IA-QUEST) -- Version 1.1

Institutes:

• NRC Institute for Research in Construction