Investigation of indoor
environment in student
housing at Ås, Norway
Kristian Bysheim
Researcher
Norwegian Institute of Wood Technology
Maren Grønseth
Assistant project manager
Statsbygg (public sector administration company in Norway)
«Pentagon»
Brick and concrete construction with
non-load bearing timber frame walls
built in 1964-1975.
«Palisaden»
Eitght story solid wood construction
built in 2013-2014
“Housing constructed of solid wood is perceived with its
breathable, solid walls as more solid, having better acoustics, is
cozier to live in and require less energy than today's traditional
buildings.”
- Norwegian Ministry of Agriculture and Food press release, January 2013
“This project is a milestone for the construction of solid wood in
Norway. Wood is nature's own building material and it has very
good properties in relation to climate and indoor environment.
When, in addition, a fast, accurate and affordable method, it is
very good alternative to traditional grid system of masonry and
concrete.”
- Lars Erik Borge, builder representative
Mechanical ventilation at Pentagon
Balanced ventilation at Palisaden
Recomended relative moisture
levels indoors (%)
Winter
Summer
Circumplex model of affect
Valence
dimension
Arousal or activation dimension
The Örebro Model
•
•
Subjective experience of indoor climate
Standard questionnaire
•
Symptoms
•
Environmental factors
http://www.mmquestionnaire.se/mmq/mmq.html
Omnisense remote sensors
Sensors at Pentagon
Sensors at Palisaden
Mean temperature sensors
Sensor placement
Building
Mean temperature (ºC)
Standard
deviation
Living room
Palisaden
24.6
0.50
Pentagon
22.7
0.70
Palisaden
25.3
1.33
Pentagon
24.0
0.66
Palisaden
25.4
0.52
Pentagon
24.4
0.55
Palisaden
23.2
1.57
Pentagon
22.1
0.52
Palisaden
23.0
1.82
Kitchen
Bathroom
Apartments north
Apartments south
Mean RH sensors
Sensor placement
Building
Mean RH (%)
Standard
deviation
Living room
Palisaden
34.6
7.08
Pentagon
Pentagon
46.6
5.24
Kitchen
Palisaden
34.3
6.22
Pentagon
43.4
4.75
Palisaden
42.6
7.44
Pentagon
50.1
7.51
Palisaden
42.6
7.59
Pentagon
39.6
8.08
Palisaden
46.7
8.46
Bathroom
Apartments north
Apartments south
Moisture content sensors
Sensor placement
Building
Mean RH (%)
Standard
deviation
Living room
Palisaden
9.19
0.08
Pentagon
11.08
0.57
Palisaden
9.42
0.34
Pentagon
9.88
0.05
Palisaden
9.17
0.20
Pentagon
10.19
0.41
Palisaden
9.49
0.28
Pentagon
10.36
0.50
Palisaden
9.52
0.29
Kitchen
Bathroom
Apartments north
Apartments south
Environment, 1st survey
(% «often bothered»)
Noise*
Static electricity often
causing shocks
50%
Stuffy "bad" air
40%
30%
Draught**
Room temperature too high*
20%
10%
Passive smoking
Dust and dirt
0%
Light that is dim or causes
glare and/or reflections
Room temperature too low**
Unpleasant odour
Dry air
Varying room temperature
Palisaden
Pentagon
Environment, 2nd survey
(% «often bothered»)
Noise*
Static electricyt often
causing shocks
Passive smoking
50.00%
Stuffy "bad" air
40.00%
30.00%
Dust and dirt**
20.00%
10.00%
Draught
Light that is dim or causes
glare and/or reflections**
0.00%
Room temperature that is
too high
Unpleasant odour**
Room temperature too low**
Varying room temperature
Dry air
Palisaden
Pentagon
Symptoms, 1st survey
(% «yes, often»)
Fatigue
Itching facial skin
50.00%
Feeling heavy headed
40.00%
Flushed facial skin
Dry facial skin
30.00%
20.00%
Nausea/dizziness
Scaling/itching scalp or ears
10.00%
0.00%
Sore throat
Difficulties concentrating
Cough**
Irritated, stuffy or runny nose
Hoarseness, dry throat
Headache
Itching, burning or irritation of
the eyes
Palisaden
Hands dry, itching, red skin
Pentagon
Symptoms, 2nd survey
(% «yes, often»)
Fatigue
Sore throat
50.00%
Difficulties
concentrating**
40.00%
Itching facial skin
Dry facial skin
30.00%
20.00%
Cough
Fealing heavy headed*
10.00%
0.00%
Scaling/ithcing scalp or
ears
Nausea/dizziness
Itching, burning or
irritation of the eyes**
Irritated, stuffy or running
nose
Flushed facial skin
Hands dry, itching, red
skin
Palisaden
Headache
Hoarseness, dry throat
Pentagon
Emotional wellbeing, 1st survey
Fearful
Jittery** Annoyed** Anxiuos* Relaxed*
At rest
Content**
Calm**
Variance analysis: *p<0.1; **p<0.05
Emotional wellbeing, 2nd survey
Fearful
Jittery** Annoyed** Anxiuos* Relaxed*
At rest
Content**
Calm**
Variance analysis: *p<0.1; **p<0.05
Discussion: Surveys
•
•
•
•
•
Complaints about air quality in both student
houses
High score for dust and dirt
Poor indoor lighting conditions
Most environmental factors and symptoms had
poorer ranking at Pentagon
UAP-factors for wellbeing had higher score at
Palisaden than Pentagon
Discussion: Sensors
•
•
•
Higher temperatures at Palisaden
Higher RH at Pentagon
Higher moisture content in wood samples at
Pentagon
Conclusion
•
•
•
•
Residents at Pentagon rank most
environmental factors and symptoms as worse
than residents at Palisaden
Same for emotional wellbeing
Yes, there is a difference
No, we can't say its because of wood in the
construction