ASHRAE receives NIST grant to study IAQ in retail stores.February 9, 2010 -
ASHRAE has been awarded $1.5 million to conduct 3-year research project on ventilation and indoor air quality in retail stores. Through study, ASHRAE is seeking to improve energy efficiency of ventilation systems while maintaining air quality by determining relationship between ventilation rates and IAQ, using measured ventilation and pollutant concentration data. Measurements will be conducted in general merchandise, department, supermarket, restaurant, and home improvement/hardware stores.
ASHRAE Receives NIST Grant to Study IAQ in Retail Stores |
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American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers
1791 Tullie Circle, N.E.
Atlanta, GA, 30329
USA
Press release date: February 5, 2010
ATLANTA- ASHRAE has been awarded $1.5 million dollars in grant money from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to conduct a three-year research project on ventilation and indoor air quality in retail stores.
ASHRAE's project, Ventilation and Indoor Air quality in Retail Stores, is one of 27 projects funded by NIST for measurement science and engineering research. The NIST Measurement Science and Engineering Research Grants Program, made possible through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provides $34.12 million in grants at higher-education, commercial and nonprofit organizations in 18 states. The project will be conducted through ASHRAE's research program.
"ASHRAE thanks NIST for recognizing the great need for more information on ventilation and IAQ in retail stores," Society president Gordon Holness said. "The data gathered through this project will benefit not only the industry but the general public who work and shop in retail stores around the world."
Currently, there is little published information about air quality and ventilation rates in retail spaces in the United States-ventilation requirements for retail and other space types have been set largely by data for commercial office buildings.
Given that there are some 14.6 billion ft2 of retail space in the United States where people shop up to 24/7, it is vital that ventilation systems operate as efficiently as possible while maintaining good indoor air quality.
Through this study, ASHRAE is seeking to improve the energy efficiency of ventilation systems in retail stores while maintaining air quality by establishing a method to determine the relationship between ventilation rates and IAQ, using measured ventilation and pollutant concentration data. Specifically, the project will provide a quantitative basis for improving energy efficiency, while maintaining air quality, by increasing maintenance frequency and reducing ventilation rate requirements.
Existing pollutant and ventilation rate data, on which ventilation requirements for retail spaces are based, largely come from measurements in office buildings, which may not be appropriate. The project will conduct measurements in up to five retail building types: general merchandise, department, supermarket, restaurant, and home improvement/hardware.
Holness noted that the results will provide a more rigorous basis for the ventilation rate requirements in retail spaces and provide incentives for improved maintenance if it can be shown that clean and dry spaces will lead to lower pollutant concentrations and improve the perception of good air quality.
Ultimately, the project will establish a methodology for collecting real world ventilation and air quality data.
Founded in 1901, NIST is a non-regulatory federal agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce. NIST's mission is to promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve our quality of life.
ASHRAE, founded in 1894, is an international organization of 55,000 persons. ASHRAE fulfills its mission of advancing heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration to serve humanity and promote a sustainable world through research, standards writing, publishing and continuing education.
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User comments about this story
Hope they take these things into consideration.
Hope they take these things into consideration.
1) Ventilation Rates should change with cutsomer volume in Retail Stores and when new merchandise arrives like new clothing which often emitts strong odors of chemical dyes.
2) Supermarkets often use spray cleaning agents in the delli, butcher and seafood shops that have antibacterial chemicals in them that are often at a toxic level for some of us. Exhaust fans are needed when cleaning in these areas.
3) Many office workers have become germ-a-phobics thinking they have to spray antibacterial products and air fresheners several times daily in their cubes located in closed plate glass windowed office buildings. When everyone is doing this, the level of chemicals in the air becomes toxic for some of us.
4) Many people sensitive to scented products can not even walk into their local Mall because the doors of beauty and bath stores are wide open into the walkway filling the whole mall with scented products that can causse many of us to have bad allergic to toxic reactions.
5) I am very allergic to antibacterial enzynmes and often can not even enter a building because antibacterial enzyme tablets have been used to control milldew in the HVAC units. Some people can have severe medical reactions when exposed to these kinds of products. Diseases of this type are in fact covered as disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act, so if you want to say your building is handicap friendly...
By Bob on Feb 10, 2010 20:31
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