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General: Questions regarding Healthy Buildings?

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  1.  
    • CommentAuthorMike George
    • CommentTimeOct 10th 2012 edited
     
    Hi all.

    I'm setting some Undergraduate coursework about Healthy Buildings and immediately thought of some of the topics regularly debated here.

    The format will be to pose a series of questions which the students will need to answer by way of a report and presentation.

    I'm looking for ideas for questions on the following:

    Condensation in Buildings
    Breathability of materials
    Legionella
    Asbestos
    Air tightness v Ventilation
    Timber degredation
    The effects of solar gain
    Material VOC's
    Safety of electrical installations
    Safety of heating systems
    Radon Gas
    On site Renewables
    Burning Wood in the home
    Negative Ions
    Fire risks in Buildings
    Humidity control
    The acoustic environment
    Natural and artificial lighting


    Anyone like to pose a question they would like answered on any of these (or other) topics relevant to Healthy Buildings?

    I will of course share the conclusions of the reports in due course.

    Obviously this makes my job easier but it does also keep the subject matter current and will hopefully feed back into the resource of the forum

    Thanks in advance

    Mike
    • CommentAuthorbarney
    • CommentTimeOct 10th 2012
     
    Perhaps add the Acoustic environment, Fire risks and humidity (both high and low) to the topics if you are focusing on Health in Buildings ?

    Regards

    Barney
  3.  
    Done, thanks. Can you think of anything specific you'd like answered?
  4.  
    There's nothing on lighting (natural and artificial)

    Paul in Montreal.
    • CommentAuthorfinny
    • CommentTimeOct 10th 2012
     
    Degredation of insulation..
    Natural light and mental health
  6.  
    Posted By: Paul in MontrealThere's nothing on lighting (natural and artificial)

    Paul in Montreal.


    Added
  7.  
    Posted By: finnyDegredation of insulation..
    Natural light and mental health


    In what way? Do you mean I should be asking if buildings or their components can affect mental health?
    • CommentAuthortony
    • CommentTimeOct 10th 2012
     
    Ventilation rates, Thermal comfort, insects, rodents,

    What is the ideal number of air changes per hour for a house, occupied/unoccupied and for a bathroom, kitchen?
    • CommentAuthorMike George
    • CommentTimeOct 10th 2012 edited
     
    That's a very good question - lots of considerations there :bigsmile: Thanks

    One down......
    • CommentAuthorfinny
    • CommentTimeOct 10th 2012
     
    How lack of natural light affects mental health
    Air changes very important, all but overlooked in the UK
    • CommentAuthortony
    • CommentTimeOct 10th 2012
     
    What is the minimum U-value for walls, floor, ceiling for a dwelling to maintain a healthy environment? (bear in mind some people live in cardboard boxed)
    • CommentAuthorbarney
    • CommentTimeOct 10th 2012
     
    Perhaps specifically an answer to the conflicts between building regulations requirements and other statutory requirements related to health and the energy burden that imposes. It could focus on legionella and water temperatures, ventilation rates (as Tony mentioned), air quality and the impacts of modern insulation products, visual environment and consumed energy etc etc

    Perhaps another one would be an examination of any conflicts between fire safety and providing a naturally ventilated (and cooled) commercial building - and the potential link to acoustic issues.

    I'm not sure where you teach this Mike but that kind of question would, in my opinion, equip students for a bit of real world practice.

    Regards

    Barney
    • CommentAuthorCerisy
    • CommentTimeOct 10th 2012
     
    Linked into the serious problem of condensation, the issue of mould and spores. It is becoming a major issue in America and with insurers - usually mis-informed as always - and requires some high level investigation on how to control both the cause and the result.

    May be too wide?

    Regards, Jonathan
  14.  
    Great questions - keep them coming please - I need between ten and twenty.

    Thanks Barney - the course is at University of Glamorgan
    • CommentAuthortony
    • CommentTimeOct 10th 2012
     
    What are the main contributory factors that lead to sick building syndrome?
    • CommentAuthorbarney
    • CommentTimeOct 11th 2012
     
    Perhaps other questions could be;

    "Do current environmental assessment systems (BREEAM/LEED/CSH etc) place too great an emphasis on energy and not enough on health and well-being"

    or

    "Do well performing buildings certified under current environmental standards actually achieve health protection for occupants"

    Is the course services or architecture driven Mike - it may change the emphasis on potential questions ?

    Regards

    Barney
  17.  
    Thanks again Barney. It's Building Services, though there is a requirement for the coursework to be linked to Healthy Buildings in general; rather than it being specifically about services
    • CommentAuthorbarney
    • CommentTimeOct 11th 2012
     
    Ahhh OK - I guess this was the course Andy Geens was involved with a while back ?

    CIBSE TM40 might be worth a browse Mike - or even a review by students as to its currency

    Perhaps another question could look at increasing air tightness of buildings and the impact on indoor air quality based on prescriptive ventilation rates - does it work in practice ?

    Regards

    Barney
  19.  
    Thanks all for your help. I've formulated the questions now and shuffled them up the ladder for approval - will post the conclusions (subject to copyright permission)in due course.
  20.  
    thought this might be of interest
    Network for Comfort and Energy Use in Buildings
    http://nceub.commoncense.info/index.php?n=Network.HomePage

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