Investigation of indoor air quality and its impact on human activity - case study

Authors: 

Kapalo P., Domnita F., Voznyak O. T.

Technical University of Kosice, Institute of Architectural Engineering, (Slovakia),
Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Department of Building Services Engineering, (Romania),
Lviv Polytechnic National University, Department of Gas Supply and Ventilation, (Ukraine)

This paper presents the partial results of human presence impact on indoor air quality in a monitored office room. Indoor air temperature, relative humidity and carbon dioxide concentration are recorded in the investigated room during the operation. Simultaneously, the heartbeat (pulse) and blood pressure of respondents are determined. During the measurements, the investigated room was occupied only by one person. These measurements were repeated several times. Respondents were of different sex, different weight and different age. Measurements were carried out during activities: sedentary office work using computer, exercises for squat and exercises on the stationary bike. The aim of the research work is to determine the relationship between the activities and the determined mentioned factors. Measurements of the heartbeat and blood pressure of respondents were realized in order to investigate the impact of their variation on perceived indoor air quality. The obtained boundary conditions will have a positive contribution to a healthy indoor environment. It can be concluded that the carbon dioxide concentration, measured or calculated inside a room, is the most appropriate parameter of indoor air, based on which the ventilation equipment must operate in order to ensure the indoor air quality. Optimally placed air quality devices and sensors and an appropriate automation system can effectively maintain the indoor air quality at comfortable levels.

1. Pilipova I, Vilcekova S. Occupants comfort and performance in building with smart elements – a case study. 2013. International Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, vol. 2(4), 113–121.
2. STN EN 13779. 2007. Slovakian Standard - European Norm, Ventilation in nonresidential buildings. General requirements for ventilation and air conditioning equipment. 62 pages.
3. Koskela H, Maula H, Haapakangas A, Moberg V. and Hongisto V. 2014. Effect of low ventilation rate on office work performance and perception of air quality – a laboratory study. In: Proceedings of Indoor Air 2014, HongKong, Vol. 2, pp. 673–675.
4. Kapalo P., Vilčeková S., Voznyak O. Using experimental measurements the concentrations of carbon dioxide for determining the intensity of ventilation in the rooms. Chemical Engineering Transactions, impact factor. Vol. 39, 2014 ISBN 978-88-95608-30-3; ISSN 2283-9216, –
p. 1789–1794.
5. Kapalo P. Analysis of ventilation rate and concentrations of carbon dioxide in the office Lviv. Visnik National University Lviv Polytechnic, Ukraine. September 2013. P. 69, ISSN 0321-0499.
6. Mahyuddin N. and Awbi H.B. 2012. A Review of CO2 Measurement Procedures in Ventilation Research. International Journal of Ventilation, vol. 10(4), 353–370.
7. Persily A. 1997. Evaluating building IAQ and ventilation with indoor carbon dioxide. ASHRAE Transactions, Vol. 103, 193–204.
8. Persily A. 2005. What we think we know about ventilation? In: Proceeding of the 10th International Conference on Indoor Air Quality and Climate “Indoor Air 2005”, Beijing, China, Vol. 2, pp. 24-39.
9. Seppanen O, Fisk W. and Lei Q.H. 2006. Ventilation and performance in office work. Indoor Air Journal, vol. 18, 28–36.
10. Voznyak O. T. Dynamichnyj mikroklimat ta energooshchadnist – Visnyk Nats. Un-tu “Lvivska politehnika” № 460 “Теploenergetyka. Inzhenerija dovkillia. Avtomatyzatsija”, 2002 (in Ukrainian) – С. 150–153.
11. Voznyak O. T. Air distribution in a room at pulsing mode and dynamic indoor climate creation. Cassotherm 2015, Non-Conference Proceedings of Scientific Papers - KEGA Year of publishing: 2015. Technical universzy of Kosice, Slovakia, ISBN: 978-80-553-1873-8052, pp. 31–36.