Modern convention center with spacious exhibition halls, designed to support healthy indoor air quality through advanced ventilation and air monitoring systems.

Designing for Indoor Air Quality: VOCs, Particulate Matter, and Pathogens

The Indoor Air Quality Challenges of Exhibition Spaces 

During a recent visit to a large convention center, I spoke with the engineering team about their indoor air quality challenges. One engineer highlighted a unique issue: installing thousands of yards of new carpet for exhibitions leads to significant VOC surges. We explored solutions ranging from temporary space purges with outside air to systematic design approaches for continuous VOC reduction. 

Automated Responses to Environmental Contaminants 

This scenario illustrates a broader application for commercial spaces. Modern buildings can integrate VOC sensors with Building Automation Systems (BAS) to trigger automated responses to environmental changes. These sensors are readily available and easily incorporated into BAS to manage contamination events effectively. 

ASHRAE Guideline 44 addresses this concept in relation to outdoor contaminants like wildfire smoke—where the appropriate response is often to reduce rather than increase outside air intake. Similarly, particulate matter from wildfires can be monitored with sensors that adjust ventilation and recirculation rates accordingly. 

Design Standards for Normal Conditions 

Buildings can be designed with static environmental standards to address “normal” VOC and particulate levels. The ASHRAE 62.1 Indoor Air Quality Procedure (IAQP), compared to the Ventilation Rate Procedure (VRP), offers a more precise and often more energy-efficient approach to maintaining acceptable indoor air quality under standard conditions—assuming no unexpected external contaminants. 

The Pathogen Challenge 

But what happens when the contaminant is anticipated but not easily detectable? Pathogens like H1N1 influenza present a different challenge than VOCs and particulates because they cannot be detected by conventional sensors, making automated BAS responses impossible. 

Designers must therefore implement either: 

  • A strategy that building owners can manually activate in response to increased pathogen concerns 
  • Systems that continuously provide enhanced protection against pathogen transmission between occupants. 

Forward-Looking Indoor Air Quality Solutions 

ASHRAE Standard 241, which we’ve explored in previous discussions, provides guidance for emergency responses to airborne contagions. This standard serves as a valuable resource for designers aiming to create safer, more resilient buildings. 

By considering both everyday air quality concerns and pathogen transmission risks, we can design spaces that protect occupant health under various conditions while maintaining energy efficiency. Want to learn more? Reach out below to get more information from the CASPR team. 

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Active vs. Passive: Which Approach Wins the Indoor Air Quality Battle?

When faced with a physical confrontation, there are two instinctive choices: stand your ground and engage or create distance and defend. This same dynamic plays out in the ongoing battle of bettering indoor air quality (IAQ), where we can choose between either a passive or an active approach to air purification. Which approach are you relying on to protect your space?

The Passive Defense: Traditional Filtration 

Most IAQ solutions rely on passive methods, with air filters being the cornerstone of traditional air quality management. High-quality filters excel at trapping airborne particles that could otherwise harm our health. However, this approach comes with inherent limitations:
  • Particles must remain airborne long enough to reach the filter
  • Air flow patterns in real-world spaces are rarely uniform
  • Furniture, equipment, and people create “dead zones” where contaminated air can stagnate
  • Particles may settle on surfaces before reaching filtration systems

The Active Offense: Modern Oxidation Technology 

Enter the new generation of active air purification systems. These advanced solutions don’t wait for contaminants to come to them – they go on the offensive. Here’s how:
  • Active systems generate gaseous hydrogen peroxide that circulates throughout the space
  • These oxidizers seek out and neutralize pathogens both in the air and on surfaces
  • The gas penetrates every corner of the room, reaching areas that traditional air flow patterns miss
  • Contaminants are attacked at their source, rather than waiting for them to enter the filtration system

Making Your Choice 

The decision between active and passive approaches isn’t necessarily an either/or proposition. Many facilities benefit from a comprehensive strategy that combines both methods. However, understanding the strengths and limitations of each approach is crucial for optimizing your IAQ strategy. What’s your take? Would you prefer to actively pursue air quality threats, or rely on traditional capture methods? Share your thoughts in the comments below.