Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) - EN13779 and fine dust
- a comfortable and healthy indoor air quality
- in all seasons and
- with acceptable installation and operation costs.
The norm applies to non-residential buildings that are subject to human occupancy. Today it is a national standard in all countries of the European community.
The required filter performance is specified in order to achieve a good Indoor Air Quality, taking into account the quality of the Out Door Air - ODA. The outdoor air is categorized into 3 levels, from ODA 1 where the air is pure except from temporary pollution such as pollen, up to ODA 3 where the air has very high concentrations of both gases and/or particles - see table 1.
ODA - level
|
Description
|
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ODA 1
|
pure air - only polluted temporarily (pollen)
|
||||
ODA 2
|
air with high concentrations of particulate matter and/or gaseous pollutants
|
||||
ODA 3
|
air with very high concentrations of particulate matter and/or gaseous pollutants
|
||||
Table 1: outdoor air - ODA - classification
The particulate matter refers to the total amount of solid or liquid particles in the air. Most outdoor air guidelines still refer to PM10 (particle diameter up to 10 µm).
However, for the purpose of health protection, there is
However, for the purpose of health protection, there is
carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen and volatile organic compounds (VOC - benzene,solvents and poly-aromatic hydrocarbons) - see table 2.
growing acceptance that more attention should be made on particles much smaller than 10 µm. The gaseous pollutants to be considered for the evaluation of the outside air ar:
Location
|
CO₂
ppm |
CO
mg/m��³ |
SO₂
µg m��³ |
Total PM
mg m��³ |
PM₁₀
µg m��³ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
rural area
|
350
|
< 1
|
< 5
|
< 0,1
|
< 20
|
small town
|
375
|
1 to 3
|
5 to 10
|
0,1 - 0,3
|
10 to 30
|
city centre
|
400
|
2 to 6
|
10 to 50
|
02 - 1,0
|
20 to 50
|
Table 2: examples of pollutant concentrations in doutdoor air
The values in table 2 are annual concentrations. To define the filter typology to be used, local measurements and guidelines should be checked. Most people in Europe, during most of the time, respire air of poor quality (ODA 2 and ODA 3).
As mentioned earlier, there is a growing consensus that more attention should be made to much smaller particles than the PM10. Particles of 2,5 µm - are easily inhaled - they penetrate deep into the lungs and cause serious heart and respiratory diseases. Particles of 0,1 µm (ultra fine dust) penetrate even in the blood stream.
Fine dust is responsible for a loss in average statistical life expectancy of 9 months (average in the European Community). About 400.000 europeans die prematurely every year because of air pollution (mainly fine dust).
Fine dust is responsible for a loss in average statistical life expectancy of 9 months (average in the European Community). About 400.000 europeans die prematurely every year because of air pollution (mainly fine dust).
On the map the regions with the highest air pollution are colored black. The Netherlands, Belgium, the German Ruhr-area and the north of Italy. The map shows the average life-time-expectancy reduction because of fine dust expressed in months.
The main causes of fine dust are; traffic, tyre wear, industrial processes, agricultural fertilizers.
The EN 13779 classifies the indoor air quality from IDA 4 (low IAQ) up to IDA 1 (high IAQ) - see table 3.
IDA level
|
Qualification
|
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IDA 1
|
High indoor air quality
|
||||
IDA 2
|
Medium indoor air quality
|
||||
IDA 3
|
Moderate indoor air quality
|
||||
IDA 4
|
Low indoor air quality
|
||||
Tabel 3: indoor air - IDA - classification
The efficiency of the filter to install in function of the outdoor air quality and the required level of indoor air quality can be found in table 4.
Filter class
|
IDA 1
|
IDA 2
|
IDA3
|
IDA 4
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ODA 1
|
F9
|
F8
|
F7
|
F6
|
|
ODA 2
|
F7 + GF + F9
|
F7 + GF + F9
|
F5 + F7
|
F5 + F7
|
|
ODA 3
|
F7 + GF + F9
|
F7 + GF + F9
|
F5 + F7
|
F5 + F7
|
|
Table 4: recommended filter classes
People spend most of their time in non-residential buildings; schools, offices, work-floor, hospitals, libraries..
To protect them against fine-dust is not a luxury but an absolute necessity.
An F7 filter has an average efficiency of only 50% on fine dust (considering particles of 0,3 - 1,0 µm). An F9 filter has an average efficiency of 85% on this particle-size.
Moreover, the vast majority of european people spend their time in ODA2 and ODA3 environments. FILTECH therefore recommends to install at least F9 filters in non-residential buildings.
With new developed filters, like the QUINX and Cube-range that have a very low pressure drop, there is no valid reason anymore for remaining with lower efficient filters and not protecting people in a correct way. Low pressure drop filters save also on energy, which is the major cost element of the Life Cycle Cost (LCC) of airfilters.
To protect them against fine-dust is not a luxury but an absolute necessity.
An F7 filter has an average efficiency of only 50% on fine dust (considering particles of 0,3 - 1,0 µm). An F9 filter has an average efficiency of 85% on this particle-size.
Moreover, the vast majority of european people spend their time in ODA2 and ODA3 environments. FILTECH therefore recommends to install at least F9 filters in non-residential buildings.
With new developed filters, like the QUINX and Cube-range that have a very low pressure drop, there is no valid reason anymore for remaining with lower efficient filters and not protecting people in a correct way. Low pressure drop filters save also on energy, which is the major cost element of the Life Cycle Cost (LCC) of airfilters.
