CALCULATION AND TEMPORAL VARIABILITY OF VENTILATION COEFFICIENT DEPENDING ON LOCATION AND CHARACTERISTICS OF HOUSES IN BALIKESIR CITY CENTER

Abstract

In recent years, there has been much research on indoor air quality, owing to a growing interest in improvement of air quality in residential buildings. People spend most of their time indoors, where air quality is affected by many factors such as location and structure of housing, ventilation systems, and comfort parameters. CO2 and other indoor gas concentrations are important indicators of indoor air quality. The aim of this study is to determine the effects of various factors such as location and characteristics of housing and smoking status on carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations and air exchange rates in 29 representative buildings in Balikesir, Turkey. CO2 concentrations were measured using a non-dispersive infrared method, air changes per hour (ACH) were estimated using a CO2 balance method, and other parameters were recorded. Mean CO2 concentrations were 667 and 1011 ppm in summer and winter, respectively. Estimated mean air exchange rates were 1.04 and 0.70 ACH in summer and winter, respectively. The analysis showed that CO2 concentrations and ACH were affected by the area of houses, season, ventilation systems and ventilation duration. CO2 concentrations in winter were higher in all buildings relative to summer in the residential area. Air exchange rates were primarily affected by duration of ventilation, house area, distances to main roads, and smoking status.