| 1. |
Procedures
to improve IAQ: |
| |
a |
eliminate the pollution sources |
| |
b |
increase ventilation and install
exhaust utility |
| |
c |
install air cleaners to filter
these contaminants |
| |
|
|
| 2. |
Usual
practices to reduce the indoor contaminants: |
| |
a |
avoid smoking |
| |
b |
use less consumer
products with volatile organic compounds, eg detergent, hair
spray, adhesive & paint |
| |
c |
keep the premises clean and
dry |
| |
d |
maintain good ventilation
with sufficient fresh air supply |
| |
e |
keep the temperature at 23-36
degree in summer and 20-24 degree in winter, the relative
humidity at 40-70% |
| |
f |
use construction materials,
furniture and carpet with less volatile organic compounds |
| |
g |
move in new furniture or bring
in clothes after dry cleaning only when they have been 'air
out' adequatly |
| |
h |
install air cleaners |
| |
|
|
| 3. |
How
to select the best / suitable air cleaners |
| |
a |
identify the contaminants
and choose suitable air cleaners |
| |
b |
choose an air cleaner with
greater filtering efficiency (eg. 99.9% is better than 90%),
and which can filter smaller particle (eg. 0.01 micron is
better than 0.3 micron) |
| |
c |
use an air cleaner with adequate
air flow capacity so as to provide sufficient air change where
the air change is between 4 and 15 per hour according ASHRAE
standard |
| |
d |
choose a HEPA or an electronic/electrostatic
air cleaner with a larger surface area of HEPA filter or dust
collection plate respectively, otherwise, they have to be
replaced or washed frequently |
| |
e |
ionizers may produce significant
amount of ozone and contaminate the table or wall nearby |
| |
f |
consider the replacement cost
and life of filters, and the energy consumption of air cleaners |
| |
g |
in long term, electronic/electrostatic
air cleaners are more economic and environmental-friendly
compared with air cleaners with conventional filters |
