• Login
    View Item 
    •   Research Bank Home
    • Unitec Institute of Technology
    • Study Areas
    • Construction + Engineering
    • Construction + Engineering Conference Papers
    • View Item
    •   Research Bank Home
    • Unitec Institute of Technology
    • Study Areas
    • Construction + Engineering
    • Construction + Engineering Conference Papers
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    The effect of vapour-control membrane technology on indoor air quality in buildings

    Berry, Terri-Ann; Chiswell, Jordan H.D.

    Thumbnail
    Share
    View fulltext online
    rp016_ICECB2015-L3009.pdf (848.5Kb)
    Date
    2015-11
    Citation:
    Berry, T., & Chsiwell, J.H.D. (2015, November). The Effect of Vapour-Control Membrane Technology on Indoor Air Quality in Buildings In Liu Juan (Ed.), International Proceedings of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering (pp.87-93). 90 (14). 10.7763/IPCBEE.
    Permanent link to Research Bank record:
    https://hdl.handle.net/10652/3395
    Abstract
    The impact of the inclusion of a vapour check membrane in timber buildings on indoor air quality, measured as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), was determined by Photo Ionization Detection. Two identical buildings were constructed except one building (test) contained an Intello vapour check membrane and the other building was the control. A VOC source (Wattyl Estapol High Performance Interior Clear Polyurethane Satin varnish) was placed in each building and the subsequent concentrations were monitored until background levels were resumed. Data analysis demonstrated that the VOC levels in the test house were consistently higher than those established in the control house (student t-test > 99.9% confidence). Average concentrations for VOC, temperature and relative humidity respectively were 3.23 ppm (control), 6.54 ppm (test); 17.3°C (control), 17.4°C (test) and 52.4% (control) and 54.7% (test). The humidity was also significantly higher in the test house (student t-test >99.9% confidence). Originally temperature differences were not found to be statistically conclusive; however this appeared to have been because the diurnal pattern of the temperature profile masked the difference in temperature. By removing this diurnal pattern, the temperatures in the houses were found to be significantly different over a 7 day timescale (student t-test >99.9% confidence). Diurnally, there was a strong link between VOC concentration and temperature and an inverse relationship with relative humidity. The use of the vapour control membrane had a significant effect on the indoor air quality of the buildings (based on the concentration of VOCs) which may have been due to: (1) the increased temperature and humidity, (2) the change in air flow from outside the buildings or (3) a combination of all three factors. There is a strong link between VOC concentration and temperature within the houses which may explain the highly variable profile of VOC concentration with time. An inverse relationship was observed with relative humidity.
    Keywords:
    indoor air quality, volatile organic compounds (VOC), vapour check, vapour control membranes, weathertightness, building technology
    ANZSRC Field of Research:
    120202 Building Science and Techniques
    Copyright Holder:
    International Proceedings of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering

    Copyright Notice:
    Copyright ©2008-2015. International Proceedings of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering.
    Available Online at:
    http://www.ipcbee.com/vol90/rp016_ICECB2015-L3009.pdf
    Rights:
    This digital work is protected by copyright. It may be consulted by you, provided you comply with the provisions of the Act and the following conditions of use. These documents or images may be used for research or private study purposes. Whether they can be used for any other purpose depends upon the Copyright Notice above. You will recognise the author's and publishers rights and give due acknowledgement where appropriate.
    Metadata
    Show detailed record
    This item appears in
    • Construction + Engineering Conference Papers [210]

    Te Pūkenga

    Research Bank is part of Te Pūkenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

    • About Te Pūkenga
    • Privacy Notice

    Copyright ©2022 Te Pūkenga

    Usage

    Downloads, last 12 months
    38
     
     

    Usage Statistics

    For this itemFor the Research Bank

    Share

    About

    About Research BankContact us

    Help for authors  

    How to add research

    Register for updates  

    LoginRegister

    Browse Research Bank  

    EverywhereInstitutionsStudy AreaAuthorDateSubjectTitleType of researchSupervisorCollaboratorThis CollectionStudy AreaAuthorDateSubjectTitleType of researchSupervisorCollaborator

    Te Pūkenga

    Research Bank is part of Te Pūkenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

    • About Te Pūkenga
    • Privacy Notice

    Copyright ©2022 Te Pūkenga