Mechanical ventilation in recently built Dutch homes: technical shortcomings, possibilities for improvement, perceived indoor environment and health effects

Balvers, JR Jaap; Bogers, Rik P.; Jongeneel, Rob; I, van Kamp; Boerstra, Atze; Dijken, van F

doi:10.1080/00038628.2011.641736

Cited by 53 publications

(25 citation statements)

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“…Faults included failed duct attachments to unit, air recirculation due to incorrect connections, erratic cycling from low to high speed outside occupant control, clogged outdoor air inlet, ERV turned off by occupants, and poor control strategies and operation (or lack thereof) of CFIS. Similar faults have been commonly reported elsewhere, including low airflow, noise, unclean systems, poor design and/or installation, insufficient maintenance, operational errors, blocked air intakes and recirculation in ERV/HRV (Balvers et al, 2012;Hill, 1998;Offermann, 2009). Clearly, even in high performance homes, ventilation system design should be improved and 7 possibly simplified, and commissioning and verification are required, as is occupant education on building systems operation.…”

Section: Ventilation System Descriptions and Installed Performance Assupporting

confidence: 70%

Indoor air quality in 24 California residences designed as high-performance homes

Less

Mullen

Singer

et al. 2015

Science and Technology for the Built Environment

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Today's high performance green homes are reaching previously unheard of levels of airtightness and are using new materials, technologies and strategies, whose impacts on Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) cannot be fully anticipated from prior studies. This research study used pollutant measurements, home inspections, diagnostic testing and occupant surveys to assess IAQ in 24 new or deeply retrofitted homes designed to be high performance green buildings in California. Although the mechanically vented homes were six times as airtight as non-mechanically ventilated homes (medians of 1.1 and 6.1 ACH50, n=11 and n=8, respectively), their use of mechanical ventilation systems and possibly window operation meant their median air exchange rates were almost the same (0.30 versus 0.32 hr -1 , n=8 and n=8, respectively). Pollutant levels were also similar in vented and unvented homes. These similarities were achieved despite numerous observed faults in complex mechanical ventilation systems. More rigorous commissioning is still recommended. Cooking exhaust systems were used inconsistently and several suffered from design flaws. Failure to follow best practices led to IAQ problems in some cases. Ambient nitrogen dioxide standards were exceeded or nearly so in four homes that either used gas ranges with standing pilots, or in Passive House-style homes that used gas cooking burners without venting range hoods. Homes without active particle filtration had particle count concentrations approximately double those in homes with enhanced filtration. The majority of homes reported using low-emitting materials; consistent with this, formaldehyde levels were approximately half those in conventional, new CA homes built before 2008. Emissions of ultrafine particles (with diameters <100 nm) were dramatically lower on induction electric cooktops, compared with either gas or resistance electric models. These results indicate that high performance homes can achieve acceptable and even exceptional IAQ by providing adequate general mechanical ventilation, using low-emitting materials, providing mechanical particle filtration, incorporating well-designed exhaust ventilation for kitchens and bathrooms, and educating occupants to use the kitchen and bath ventilation.3

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Section: Ventilation System Descriptions and Installed Performance Assupporting

confidence: 70%

Indoor air quality in 24 California residences designed as high-performance homes

Less

Mullen

Singer

et al. 2015

Science and Technology for the Built Environment

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“…138 In 2012, a study of 299 mechanically ventilated Dutch homes identified major problems with the installation, operation and maintenance of ventilation systems in homes. 139 Researchers found dust and dirt in the air supply ducts in 67% of houses fitted with mechanical ventilation heat recovery (MVHR). Air filters were dirty in almost half, with insufficient ventilation in at least one room, and exhaust air being recirculated in more than half of houses with MVHR.…”

Section: Ventilation In the Homementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Most occupants did not control ventilation systems as recommended, nor use the highest ventilation settings due to noise levels. 139…”

Section: Ventilation In the Homementioning

confidence: 99%

Roles of sunlight and natural ventilation for controlling infection: historical and current perspectives

Hobday¹,

Dancer

2013

Journal of Hospital Infection

142

119

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Current knowledge of indoor transmission of pathogens is inadequate, partly due to lack of agreed definitions for particle types and mechanisms of spread. There is recent evidence to support historical data on the effects of natural ventilation but virtually none for sunlight. Modern practice of designing healthcare buildings for comfort favours pathogen persistence. As the number of effective antimicrobial agents declines, further work is required to clarify absolute risks from airborne pathogens along with any potential benefits from additional fresh air and sunlight.

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“…A variety of ventilation system performance faults have been reported in California DERs and new homes (Less et al, 2012;Less, 2012;Offermann, 2009). Faults including low airflow, noise, unclean systems, poor design and/or installation, insufficient maintenance, operational errors, blocked air intakes and recirculation in Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERVs) and Heat Recovery Ventilators (HRVs), have also been commonly reported in Canadian and Dutch homes (Balvers et al, 2012;Hill, 1998). DERs using complex ventilation systems as part of their retrofit strategy should include substantial system commissioning, occupant education efforts, and potentially either periodic re-commissioning or some form of automated fault-detection.…”

Section: Ventilationmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Meta-Analysis of Single-Family Deep Energy Retrofit Performance in the U.S.

Less

Walker

2014

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Mechanical ventilation in recently built Dutch homes: technical shortcomings, possibilities for improvement, perceived indoor environment and health effects

Cited by 53 publications

References 1 publication

Indoor air quality in 24 California residences designed as high-performance homes

Indoor air quality in 24 California residences designed as high-performance homes

Roles of sunlight and natural ventilation for controlling infection: historical and current perspectives

A Meta-Analysis of Single-Family Deep Energy Retrofit Performance in the U.S.

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