SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1986
STP19649S

Detailed Description and Performance of a Passive Perfluorocarbon Tracer System for Building Ventilation and Air Exchange Measurements

Source

The manufacturing procedures for and the performance of a building air infiltration kit consisting of miniature passive perfluorocarbon tracer (PFT) permeation sources and passive adsorption tube samplers are described. With four PFT types available, homes and buildings with up to four separate zones can be evaluated fully under steady state conditions for the air infiltration and exfiltration rates from each zone as well as for the air exchange rates between zones using this inexpensive and nonobtrusive field kit. Complete details on deployment in homes and on gas chromatographic analysis of the passive samplers are presented. Examples of total air changes per hour (ACH) results in several studies showed average values between 0.25 to 0.64 h−1. A generalized correlation was used to characterize the leakiness of eleven homes in the United States and Canada, showing ACH dependency only on inside-outside temperature difference, on wind speed to the 1.5 power, and on a subjective terrain factor; the approach has application in evaluating weatherization performance. Details of multizone measurements in four homes provided insight into the role of attics, crawl spaces, and basements on the indoor air quality and weatherization needs for the living zone.

Author Information

Dietz, RN
Tracer Technology Center, Department of Applied Science, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY
Goodrich, RW
Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY
Cote, EA
Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY
Wieser, RF
Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY
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Details
Developed by Committee: E06
Pages: 203–264
DOI: 10.1520/STP19649S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-4971-7
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-0469-3