Indoor air quality measurements in Hungarian residential buildings

Indoor air quality is a major part of indoor environmental quality and plays an important role in creating sustainable and healthy indoor environments. Well-being, health and comfort are affected by indoor air quality. The measurements that are introduced in this research paper were used to record the results of three different residential interiors. These data are a part of a larger scale research project that included the evaluation of residential buildings, offices, university interiors and for instance nurseries. The reason behind conducting the measurements in these interiors was that in all of the examples inadequate indoor air quality and therefore human discomfort, illness and also building failure occurred. In this paper the theoretical background of the research and the measurement of indoor air quality (indoor air temperature, relative humidity level and carbon dioxide level) will be introduced. The poor indoor air quality in these buildings is a result of a complex system. The thermal bridges of the facade cause cold interior surfaces, the airtight solutions cause high relative humidity levels. These two combined result in mould appearance. Besides, the lack of appropriate ventilation rate can be the third part of the reason behind poor indoor air quality. Based on the results of the measurement data, different solutions are suggested in each case to improve indoor environmental and air quality, in accordance with creating healthier indoor environments.