Effect of outside air ventilation rate on VOC concentrations and emissions in a call center

TitleEffect of outside air ventilation rate on VOC concentrations and emissions in a call center
Publication TypeConference Proceedings
Year of Publication2002
AuthorsHodgson, Alfred T., David Faulkner, Douglas P. Sullivan, Dennis L. DiBartolomeo, Marion L. Russell, and William J. Fisk
Secondary TitleProceedings of the Indoor Air 2002 Conference, Monterey, CA
Volume2
SectionChapter
Pagination168-173
PublisherIndoor Air 2002, Santa Cruz, CA
Publication Languageeng
Abstract

A study of the relationship between outside air ventilation rate and concentrations of VOCs generated indoors was conducted in a call center. Ventilation rates were manipulated in the building's four air handling units (AHUs). Concentrations of VOCs in the AHU returns were measured on 7 days during a 13- week period. Indoor minus outdoor concentrations and emission factors were calculated. The emission factor data was subjected to principal component analysis to identify groups of co-varying compounds based on source type. One vector represented emissions of solvents from cleaning products. Another vector identified occupant sources. Direct relationships between ventilation rate and concentrations were not observed for most of the abundant VOCs. This result emphasizes the importance of source control measures for limiting VOC concentrations in buildings.

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Citation Key11244