Assessment of Pollutant Spread from a Building Basement with three Ventilation Systems

TL;DR

This study experimentally compares how three different ventilation systems influence the spread of pollutants from a building basement, addressing indoor air quality concerns related to VOCs and radon.

Contribution

It provides novel experimental data on pollutant dispersion from basements under different ventilation strategies, informing better IAQ management.

Findings

Ventilation type significantly affects pollutant spread.

Mechanical exhaust reduces basement pollutant levels.

Natural ventilation shows higher pollutant dispersion.

Abstract

Ventilation aims at providing a sufficient air renewal for ensuring a good indoor air quality (IAQ), yet building energy policies are leading to adapting various ventilation strategies minimising energy losses through air renewal. A recent IAQ evaluation campaign in French dwellings shows important pollution of living spaces by VOCs such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde or hexanal, particularly in buildings equipped with a garage. Besides, radon emission from soil is a subject of concern in many countries. Several studies are done to understand its release mode and deal with the spread of this carcinogen gas. This paper aims to experimentally assess a contaminant spread from a house basement using mechanical exhaust and balanced ventilation systems, and natural ventilation.