TO-22-C064 – Reducing Indirect Inter-Suite Air Flow in High-Rise Multi-Unit Residential Buildings: A Parametric Study Using a CONTAM Model

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In high-rise multi-unit residential buildings (high-rise MURBs), inter-zonal air transfer between suites and vertical shafts (e.g., elevators, stairwells, garbagechutes, etc.) significantly contributes to whole building infiltration and inter-suite air flow. Infiltration can increase energy consumption associated with spaceconditioning (heating and air conditioning) and inter-suite air flow can carry contaminants, including particulate matter, odours, and airborne diseases,which can result in reduced indoor air quality. To better understand potential remedies to this issue, a validated CONTAM model of a 24-storey MURBwas used to simulate varying elevator door, stairwell door, and building envelope airtightness, as well as ventilation system type (pressurized corridor (PC)vs. in-suite (IS) ventilation). The results indicate that whole building infiltration rates could be reduced by up to 59% and inter-suite air flow rates (directand indirect) could be reduced by up to 80% in PC ventilation cases by tightening elevator and stairwell doors. Tightening of elevator and stairwell doorsin IS ventilation cases also achieved improvements (reductions up to 32% for infiltration rates and 26% for inter-suite air flow rates). Tightening thebuilding envelope in isolation was typically not as effective at controlling infiltration and inter-suite air transfer and, in some cases, increased the relativeconcentration of inter-suite air at the suite level. The results of this study provide quantitative support that reducing the vertical connectivity between floorsin MURBs can greatly improve indoor air quality by reducing infiltration and inter-suite air flow rates.

Product Details

Published:

2022

Number of Pages:

8

Units of Measure:

Dual

File Size:

1 file , 2.5 MB

Product Code(s):

D-TO-22-C064

Note:

This product is unavailable in Russia, Belarus