Area-specific airflow rates for evaluating the impacts of VOC emissions in U.S. single-family homes

Publication date: January 2014
Source:Building and Environment, Volume 71
Author(s): Wenhao Chen , Andrew K. Persily , Alfred T. Hodgson , Francis J. Offermann , Dustin Poppendieck , Kazukiyo Kumagai
Product loading ratio and area-specific airflow rate are among the key parameters required for indoor air quality (IAQ) modeling and exposure health assessment of building product emissions. This paper analyzes product loading ratio variations and generates area-specific airflow rate distributions of major categories of interior building products for single family detached (SFD) homes in the U.S. The product categories addressed include ceiling, flooring, interior wallboard & paint, walls & wall coverings, doors, insulation and window treatments. The analysis employs a set of 83 SFD homes that are defined by Persily et al. (2006) as representing 80% of U.S. housing stock built prior to 1998. We first calculate product loading ratios from floor plans of these homes. We then combine the loading ratios with the air change rates previously modeled using CONTAM by Persily et al. (2010) to develop a national, average area-specific airflow rate distribution for each product category. We further analyze the trends affecting area-specific airflow rate distributions in newer homes. Finally, we discuss the implications of these results on assessing IAQ impacts of building products, especially their application to improve product standards for volatile organic compound (VOC) emission testing and evaluation.