L01: Course Information

Indoor Air Quality In

Buildings
(Spring 18-19)
Anthony Law
Visiting Lecturer
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
MECH 4350

 Instructor: LAW K. Y., Anthony (Dr)

 Email: meakylaw@ust.hk
 Class Contact Hours:Monday 06:00PM - 08:50PM
MECH 4350

 Elective in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

 Able to count in Energy Option
Course Description

 This course provides comprehensive understanding of an emerging

area for building services professionals and facility managers.
 Topics include discussion of indoor air pollutants in buildings and
enclosed spaces and their transport dynamics with respect to building
ventilation systems and indoor/outdoor flow characteristics. Pollutants
such as airborne particulates, radon gas and daughters, volatile
organic compounds, and bio-aerosols will be addressed in detail.
 Thermal comfort, sick building syndrome and total exposure theory will
be covered. Design methodology in handling indoor air quality in
buildings will be discussed.
 Indoor air quality assessment methodology, ventilation enhancement
methodology and IAQ crisis management
 Application of building environmental assessment methods with big
data analysis modern AI control technology in achieving energy
efficient and sustainable buildings management will also be discussed
in this course.
 What will You Learn from this
Course?
1. You will have a thorough understanding of the fundamental
knowledge and emerging topics in indoor air quality in
buildings, including the types and effects of indoor air pollutants,
the response of indoor air quality to air handling system designs,
etc. through lectures and group project;
2. You will be equipped with knowledge to identify indoor air
quality problems and indoor pollution sources, design
ventilation and air cleaning systems, and other mitigation
strategies in dealing with related problems;
3. You will be able to apply building environmental assessment
methods and modern technology in achieving energy efficient
and green building design and operation.
 Textbook
 Reference Textbook:
 1.Aerosol Technology Properties, Behavior, and Measurement of
Airborne Particles (Hinds)
 2. Handbook for IAQ management (Moffat)
 3. Managing Indoor Air Quality (Burroughs)
 reading materials will be provided on the web (Canvas) phase by
phase

 Other References:
 Zhang Y., Indoor Air Quality Engineering, CRC Press, 2004, ISBN 1-56670-674-2. (in
HKUST library Reserve)
 Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department (HKEPD), Guidance Notes on
IAQ Management in Office and Public Places, 2003. (on-line access)
 American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers,
ASHRAE Standard 55 - 2013, Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human
Occupancy. (in HKUST Library Reserve) (can order from www.ashrae.org)
 American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers,
ASHRAE Standard 62.1 - 2013, Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality. (in
HKUST Library Reserve) (can order from www.ashrae.org)
Common Reference – IAQ
2018 Conference
 Turunen M, Toyinbo O, Putus T, Nevalainen A, Shaughnessy R, Haverinen-
Shaughnessy U. 2014. Indoor environmental quality in school buildings, and the
health and wellbeing of students. International Journal of Hygiene and
Environmental Health. 217(7): 733-739.

 Diraco G, Leone A, Siciliano P 2015. People occupancy detection and profiling

with 3D depth sensors for building energy management. In: Energy and Buildings
92: 246–266.

 Etheridge D. and Sandberg M. (1996) Building Ventilation – Theory and

Measurement. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, U.K.

 Godwin C, Batterman S. 2007. Indoor air quality in Michigan schools. Indoor Air
17:109-121.

 Jeong, J.W., Choi, A., No, S.T., Improvement in demand controlled ventilation
simulation on multi-purposed facilities under an occupant based ventilation
standard[J], Simul. Model. Pract. Theory 18(1) (2010):51-62.
 MECH4350 Web and Library Reserve
Information – Spring 18-19
1. Zhang Y., Indoor Air Quality Engineering, CRC Press, c2005 5. Fred S. Bauman, Underfloor air distribution (UFAD)
ISBN: 1-56670-674-2. design guide, ASHRAE, 2003.
Call #: TD883.17 .Z43 2005 ISBN: 1931862214
URL: http://ustlib.ust.hk/search/i?SEARCH=1566706742 Call #: TH7687 .B38 2003
Comments: An engineering perspective on the subjective. URL:
Useful to engineers. http://ustlib.ust.hk/search/i?SEARCH=1931862214

2. Bearg D.W., Indoor Air Quality and HVAC Systems, Lewis 6. Chen Qingyan, System performance evaluation
Publishers, 1993 and design guidelines for displacement ventilation,
ISBN: 0873715748 ASHRAE, 2003.
Call #: TH7015 .B42 1993 ISBN: 1931862427
URL: http://ustlib.ust.hk/search/i?SEARCH=0873715748 Call #: TH7682.D57 C45 2003
URL:
3. American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air http://ustlib.ust.hk/search/i?SEARCH=1931862427
Conditioning
Engineers, ASHRAE Standard 55-2004, Thermal Environmental 7. HVAC design manual for hospitals and clinics,
Conditions for Human Occupancy. ASHRAE, 2003.
Call #: TH7226 .A44 2013 ISBN: 1931862265
URL: Call #: RA967 .H85 2013eb
http://ustlib.ust.hk/search/c?SEARCH=+TH7226+.A44+2013 URL:
http://ustlib.ust.hk/search/i?SEARCH=1931862265
4. American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air
Conditioning 8. David Etheridge, Building ventilation: theory and
Engineers, ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2010, Ventilation for measurement, 1996.
Acceptable Indoor Air Quality. ISBN: 047196087X
Call #: TH7653 .A44 2013 c.1-2 Call #: TH7654 .E84 1996
URL: URL:
http://ustlib.ust.hk/search/c?SEARCH=TH7653+.A44+2010 http://ustlib.ust.hk/search/i?SEARCH=047196087X
Comments: fundamentally sound, but difficult to
read
 Major Journals, Magazines and
Conference Proceedings:
 Indoor Air
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/118513116/home
 Journal of Indoor + Built Environment
 ASHRAE Transaction (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and
Air-conditioning Engineers)
 Building and Environment
 Atmospheric Environment
http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/246/descripti
on#description
 ASHRAE Journal (American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air
Conditioning Engineers)
 HVACR Research
 CIBSE Magazine: Building Services Journal (The Chartered Institution
of Building Services Engineers)
 Environmental Science and Technology
 Proceedings of the International Conference of Indoor Air and
Climate 2018
 Proceedings of Healthy Buildings Conference

Major International Organization: http://www.isiaq.org/

US EPA cross cities AQM

 https://www.epa.gov/outdoor-air-quality-
data/interactive-map-air-quality-monitors#kmz
Important Websites

 www.epd.gov.hk
 www.emsd.gov.hk
 www.who.int
 www.ashrae.org
 www.epa.gov
 www.energy.gov
 www.acgih.org/
 www.cdc.gov/niosh/index.htm
 www.cibse.org/
Grading

Pop-up Quiz: 5%
Homework: 10%
Mid-term Exam: 15%
Group Projects: 30%
Final Exam: 40%
Group Project (30% of the
total mark)
 To enhance your participation in the class
 To do experiential learning using this course as a
platform
 Group size: 5 - 6 students
 The lectures only give you some background materials
and guidelines and self-learning is a crucial part to
continue the learning process afterwards.
Group Project

 Scope of work:
 Each group should pick at least one location inside or
outside the HKUST campus to assess the IAQ (equipment will
be provided for you).
 It is highly recommended to start the project before the mid-
term exam since a discussion will be arranged for each
group.
 TA and I will meet you right after the week of mid-term Exam
for fine-tuning the project scope.
 A 15-20 page report (font size: 12), 1.5 line spacing needs to
be written.
 All groups will make a presentation in the class (15 minutes
presentation + 5 minutes Q&A). The presentation will be
arranged before the final examination
Group Project – Team
Formation
 Form your team and inform the TA and I by e-mail
(meakylaw@ust.hk) on or before 9 March, 2020.
 Should you find difficulty in forming groups or partners,
let me know before 9 March, and I will organize teams.
 Submission of PPT & Final
Report
 Please send the report to TA and I via e-mail in pdf or
word format on or before 11 May 2019.
 A Powerpoint file should also be submitted to TA and
me one day before your presentation.
Group Project Report – Tips

1. Apart from scientific content, language skills will also

carry important weight in the grading.
2. Remember, a good report is one that makes me feel
interested in reading it rather than being forced to
grade it. When you work on this report, you need to
think and organize the writing from the perspective
of a reader, not just write focusing on the word count
for submission as homework assignment. A good
presentation is one that could let us learn something
by listening to your talk.
Lecture Contents
1. Course introduction
2. Revision material
3. Overview of indoor air quality in buildings
4. Ventilation (basic)
5. Indoor carbon dioxide
6. Indoor Radon Pollution
7. Indoor Aerosol Science
8. Cleanroom
9. Particle Removal and Air Cleaner Performance Evaluation
10. VOCs, Measurement and Sorption Science and Purification
Technology
11. Indoor Ozone Pollution
12. Combustion Related Pollutants
13. Bio-aerosols
14. Asbestos
15. Thermal Comfort
16. Ventilation Theory and IAQ Standards
17. Smart Green Buildings