Calculation based on ASHRAE standard 62.2-2013, Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality. Please refer to your local codes for more accurate information.
Indoor spaces are full of air contaminants because as energy-efficient buildings get tighter to seal weather out, they seal in contaminants, causing deficient indoor air quality (IAQ).The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that indoor air may be 2-5 times, and occasionally greater than 100 times, more polluted than outdoor air. Indoor air contaminants are derived from a variety of sources, and can cause health problems and reduced cognitive function. Typical contaminants include off-gassing from carpeting, furniture and building materials, excess humidity and mold, odors, cooking and cleaning fumes, CO2, hair and fibers, to name a few.
A constituent of exhaled breath, CARBON DIOXIDE can cause headaches, fatigue and cognitive impairment at levels commonly found indoors.
Ultra-fine PARTICULATE MATTER (PM2.5) consists of tiny, airborne, inhalable particles that can harm the heart and lungs, especially among children.
Furniture, carpets and paints off-gas VOCs, FORMALDEHYDE and TOXIC GASES into the air. These contaminants can irritate the eyes, nose, throat and skin.
Carpets, fabrics and cushions collect DUST mites that can aggravate allergies and asthma.
Showers, faucets and other water sources generate HUMIDITY and MOLD, which aggravate asthma and allergies.
Gas stoves, gas heating systems and garages can emit CARBON MONOXIDE, which can cause headaches, fatigue and dizziness.
Kitchens and laundry rooms emit ODORS through activities like cooking and cleaning, which can bring about nausea, dizziness and headaches.
To improve IAQ in your home, install a RenewAire ERV.
RADON enters through cracks and openings in floors and walls, and is the number two cause of lung cancer in the U.S.
