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INVESTIGATION OF THE INDOOR AIR QUALITY OF THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH, AND NATURAL RESOURCES AT 3800 BARRETT DRIVE, RALEIGH, NC
Citation:
Highsmith, V. AND A.B. Lindstrom. INVESTIGATION OF THE INDOOR AIR QUALITY OF THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH, AND NATURAL RESOURCES AT 3800 BARRETT DRIVE, RALEIGH, NC. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/9-91/008 (NTIS PB91179069).
Description:
A limited-scale indoor air quality investigation was conducted over a 4 day period at the North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources' offices located at 3800 Barrett Drive, Raleigh, NC. Integrated 9 hour particle, aldehyde, and volatile organic compound samples were collected at three different monitoring sites during normal office hours. Continuous temperature (T), relative humidity (RH), and carbon dioxide (CO2) measurements were also recorded. The limited study results indicate that the office's indoor air quality during the monitoring study was acceptable. However, periods when indoor temperatures and carbon dioxide levels reached or exceeded the American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers' guidelines were noted. Targeted volatile organic compound and aldehyde concentrations were low, with all species concentrations well below any established exposure limit. In many cases, the organic species concentrations were at or below the analytical detection limit. Commonly observed species (e.g., trichloroethylene, toluene, formaldehyde) were measured at concentrations similar to the levels reported by other indoor air investigators in office buildings. The study results suggest no significant sources of indoor air contaminants. Minor modifications to the heating and ventilation system may be needed to increase the percentage of outside air, provide increased total air flow, and provide better control for indoor temperatures.