EFFECTIVENESS IN USE OF EXISTING OFFICE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM WITH AIR PURGING SYSTEM TO REPLACE INDOOR AIR TO ENHANCE IAQ

Abstract

This study investigates the effectiveness of Air Purging System to improve indoor air quality and reduce Sick Building Syndrome. The study adopted firstly, continuous monitoring to investigate how the daily purging operation affected pollutant concentration at the low, middle and high storeys of the office building. Pollutants investigated included formaldehyde, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds. Secondly, Air Purging tests using sulphur hexafluoride in three different purging configuration to obtain various ventilation parameters. Finally, Computational Fluid Dynamics study via FLUENT software was used to corroborate the results. Air purging was effective in reducing indoor Formaldehyde and Carbon Dioxide concentration, and should be executed at times when the lowest lowest carbon monoxide concentrations is registered outdoors. The minimum duration of purging should be 15 minutes, even with a six air-change-per-hour airflow capacity purging fan. The effectiveness of air purging on VOC concentration was not conclusive for the present study.