Commercial Building Ventilation Measurements Using Multiple Tracer Gases: Fid-Bau Portal

Commercial Building Ventilation Measurements Using Multiple Tracer Gases

W. J. Fisk / R. J. Prill / O. Seppanen

Researchers in the US have reported the results of measuring the nominal ventilation rate, i.e., outside air supply rate per unit building volume, in approximately 50 US commercial buildings. The nominal ventilation rate, and parameters that can be derived from the nominal ventilation rate, are sufficient for characterizing the rate of ventilation rate of ventilation only in buildings where the air is thoroughly mixed. Data that indicate the extent to which air is mixed in commercial buildings are largely unavailable. Mixing may depend on building size, internal configuration, the number and type of air handlers, and numerous other factors. When the indoor air is not fully mixed, indoor air quality and building energy consumption are influenced by such factors as local ventilation rates or ages of air, the extent and direction of interzonal air flow, the pattern of air flow between locations of air supply and removal, and the associated values of air exchange efficiency. We have obtained this detailed information on ventilation by labeling each airstream of entering outside air with a distinct tracer gas, appropriate monitoring of tracer gas concentrations, and specific procedures of data analysis. This describes the technical approach, methods of evaluating the data, and the results from two buildings. 8 refs., 4 figs., 2 tabs. (ERA citation 13:051496)