INDOOR AIR QUALITY OF NUS RESIDENTIAL BUILDING: NATURALLY VENTILATED VERSUS AIR-CONDITIONED ROOM IN TEMBUSU COLLEGE

Abstract

The demand for air-conditioned residential building in tertiary institute has increased due to the hot and humid climate in Singapore. However, Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is the main consideration to install the air-conditioning system in these tertiary institute residential building.

Tembusu College, is 2year-old residential building which is located in National University of Singapore (NUS). Pollutants might remain inside the residential building. Many undergraduate students, graduate students and researchers are staying in either air-conditioning room or non-air conditioning room in Tembusu College. It is crowded with students especially in term time. Hence the objective of this dissertation is to evaluate the IAQ in this building.

IAQ audit was put into practice at the 12th level of Tembusu College. Subjective assessment and objectives measurements were carried out in air-conditioned room and non-air conditioned room. Subjective assessments were done via room observations and interview with the residents. Objective measurements were done by examining the nine IAQ parameters in the premises. Various kinds of instruments were used to conduct the measurements.

The analysis of results showed that natural ventilation is better in most IAQ aspect as compared to air-conditioned room. Air-conditioned room has higher CO2 concentrations readings in all the rooms. However, operative temperature, relative humidity and air velocity were found to exceed the acceptable range recommended by Singapore Standard SS554:2009 in both room conditions.

In conclusion, most occupants in the residential building are satisfied with the air-conditioned room although the measurement results revealed higher pollutant level as compared to natural ventilated room. Pollutant level can be monitored by controlling the source and improving the ventilation system the in air-conditioned room in order to prevent adverse health issues.