Experimental evaluation of the variation of human breathing flow parameters for multiple test subjects

Abstract

The present study addresses the variability of human breathing parameters as extrapolated from a set of experimental measurements of CO2 generation rates from 13 test subjects. Interior air quality studies frequently deal with the exposure of occupants to different environmental pollutants. While experimental measurements are sufficient to quantify the pollutant concentration in the occupant’s vicinity, the actual intake of pollutant is more difficult to assess. Experimental means of evaluating occupant pollutant intake involve breathing thermal manikins situated in areas of interest. The manikins breathe following a breathing function based either on previous experimental measurements or reference values indicated in the literature. However, the breathing parameters of each person vary significantly according to physiological factors. For this reason, using average values, although necessary, may frequently be misleading when establishing room ventilation flow rates for improving air quality. The aim of the current paper is to provide a quantitative assessment of the potential deviation of individual breathing parameters from an average result. The results are used to formulate recommendations for future studies aimed at determining the necessary ventilation rates for occupant protection against a given pollutant.