Page 26 - Climate Control News Magazine Feb 2021

Indoor Air Quality
Call to improve IEQ in current building stock
cient access to daylight and views, and an ad- equate ventilation and cooling, is locking in poor IEQ for another generation of EU citi- zens,” the group said.
“Promoting the best thermal comfort, indoor air quality, moisture, dust and pests, water qual- ity, noise, as well as safety and security must also be considered in the context of this once in a gen- eration opportunity to holistically improve the built environment.”
Similar calls have been made locally with the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) pointing out that an estimated 58 per cent of Australia’s building stock will be built after 2019.
More than half a million homes will be built between 2019 and 2022.
EIGHT OF EUROPE’S leading industry associa- tions are calling for improved indoor environmen- tal quality (IEQ) to be placed at the forefront of the EU’s drive to renovate existing building stock.
The associations, which include European re- frigeration and air-conditioning contractors’ group AREA, and Eurovent, insist that IEQ is a major determinant of the health and well-being of EU citizens.
The group’s Healthy Buildings for All Mani-
festo is a reaction to the European Commission’s recently announced Renovation Wave Initiative to increase the renovation rate of the EU’s exist- ing building stock from under one per cent per year to three per cent. The manifesto insists that this is a golden opportunity to deliver improve- ments in IEQ.
“Failing to provide for good IEQ now, via en- suring good air quality, a lighting design adapted to the needs of the occupants, suffi-
Renovations provide a golden opportunity to deliver IEQ improvements.
Dangerous fibres exposed
THE IAQ VIDEO Network and Cochrane & Associates released an educational video on the potential ex- posure risks to synthetic vitreous fi- bres (SVFs).
President of Cochrane and Associ- ates and the IAQ Video Network, Paul Cochrane, said SVFs are man-made fibrous materials often used for ther- mal and sound insulating purposes or to reinforce other building materials.
“They include glass fibres such as fi- breglass, as well as mineral wool and refractory ceramic fibres. SVFs can be- come airborne when materials con- taining them are handled or dis- turbed,” he said.
“Exposure to these airborne fi- bres can cause irritation of the eyes, nose, throat and lungs. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has determined that refractory ceramic fibres are possibly carcinogenic to humans. We hope this new video provides some insight into potential expo- sure risks.”
This video was sponsored by a number of organisations and leading industry professionals that work to protect and enhance public health and safety.
The new video can be seen at: htt- ps://youtu.be/4FEJqu4eJbA
SVF exposure can cause irritation to eyes, nose, throat, and lungs.
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