Paper 6
Minimum Outdoor Air Supply for Radon in High Rise Residential Buildings -
Natural Ventilation v Air-Conditioning Unit
K.S.
Lam1, E.H.W. Chan2, D.W.T. Chan3,
W.Y. Fung1, K.C. Law3 and
C.T. Tai2
1Department of Civil and Structural Engineering,
2Department of Building and Real Estate,
3Department of Building Services Engineering,
The
Hong Kong
Polytechnic
University
, Hung Hom,
Kowloon
,
Hong Kong
Abstract
Natural ventilation, as a medium for air exchange between the indoor and
outdoor environment, is known for its functions of providing outdoor
‘fresh’ air and removing indoor air pollutants. In this study, the
minimum outdoor air ventilation rate required to maintain radon
concentration at an acceptable level was determined. Radon and air change
per hour (ac/h) were measured simultaneously and systematically in a
concrete high rise residential building (denoted as SP). The radon level
and radon emanation rate of SP were about 435 Bq/m3 and
72.48 Bq/m2/h respectively. Modelling results showed that, for the action
level of 200 Bq/m3 (according to WHO) and 150 Bq/m3 (HKEPD), the outdoor air supply in SP should exceed 0.61
ac/h and 0.88 ac/h respectively. The
average background infiltration in SP was 0.36 ac/h and a window-type
air-conditioner can deliver 0.74 ac/h. In situ measurements showed that
background infiltration in SP was inadequate to suppress indoor radon
below 200 Bq/m3 but a well vented air-conditioner was
sufficient to achieve that level.
Key words: radon,
minimum outdoor air supply, air change per hour (ac/h), residential, high
rise building, concrete.
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Contents
Paper 1
Indoor
Air Quality in Fifty Residences in
Athens
: Santamouris, M., Argiroudis, K., Georgiou, M., Livada,
I.
, Doukas, P., Assimakopoulos, M.N., Sfakianaki, A., Pavlou,
K., Geros V. and Papaglastra, M.
Paper
2
Variable Air Volume-Flow Systems - A Possible Way
to Reduce Energy Use in the Swedish Dairy Industry: Rohdin, P. and
Moshfegh, B.
Paper
3
Experimental
Evaluation of Combined DCV and Economizer Cycle Using a FLC Variable Air
Volume (VAV) System: Karunakaran, R., Parameshwaran, R., Iniyan, S. and
Anand A. Samuel
Paper
4
Effects
of Nozzle Geometry on the Air Flow Jet and Temperature Distribution in an
Enclosed Space: Khan, M.I.
Paper
5
Automatic
Ventilation Control of Trickle Ventilators: Ridley,
I.
, Davies, M., Booth, W., Judd, C., Oreszczyn, T. and Mumovic, D.
Paper
6
Minimum Outdoor Air Supply for Radon in High Rise
Residential Buildings - Natural Ventilation v Air-Conditioning Unit: Lam,
K.S., Chan, E.H.W., Chan, D.W.T., Fung, W.Y., Law, K.C. and Tai, C.T.
Paper
7
Measurement and Prediction of Aerodynamic
Stability of an Axial-Flow Ventilation Fan near the Stall Condition: Cao,
R. and Hu, J.
Paper
8
Natural
and Mixed Ventilation Design via CFD and Architectural Modelling:
Todorovic, M., Ecim, O., Marjanovic, A. and Randjelovic, I.
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