Investigating the Effects of Occupancy and Natural Ventilation on the Indoor Air Quality of Dormitories in Cold Regions
Indoor air quality (IAQ) in higher education institutions’ dormitories, without mechanical ventilation, is a significant concern for students’ health due to prolonged occupancy in cold regions. The present investigation assessed IAQ by measuring two dormitories’ CO<sub>2</sub>, temperatu...
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2025-03-01
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| author | Irfan Nasir Husnain Haider Md. Shafiquzzaman Majed Alinizzi Guangji Hu Abdul Razzaq Ghumman |
| author_facet | Irfan Nasir Husnain Haider Md. Shafiquzzaman Majed Alinizzi Guangji Hu Abdul Razzaq Ghumman |
| author_sort | Irfan Nasir |
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| description | Indoor air quality (IAQ) in higher education institutions’ dormitories, without mechanical ventilation, is a significant concern for students’ health due to prolonged occupancy in cold regions. The present investigation assessed IAQ by measuring two dormitories’ CO<sub>2</sub>, temperature, and relative humidity with the presence of one, two, three, and four occupants in the United Kingdom. Considering the possibility of natural ventilation by opening the windows in the summer, IAQ was monitored using two sensors located at 1 m and 2 m heights from the floor level of the dormitories in July. The tracer mass balance model showed close agreement with the monitored IAQ levels, with a direct relationship observed between occupant numbers and CO<sub>2</sub> build-up. CO<sub>2</sub> levels exceeded 1000 ppm within an hour during occupancy and closed ventilation, with air exchange rates between 0.12 and 0.2 h<sup>−1</sup>, increasing to 1334, 1259, 1884, and 2064 ppm after 30 min with one, two, three, and four occupants, respectively. Desired IAQ standards (1000 ppm) were achieved in 13, 33, 80, and 86 min for one, two, three, and four occupants after starting natural ventilation by opening 20% of the windows. The analysis of variance affirmed the effect of occupancy on IAQ, while the impact of height (1 m and 2 m) on CO<sub>2</sub> levels was insignificant. This study underscores the need to effectively ventilate the partial opening of windows in dormitories to mitigate CO<sub>2</sub> build-up, ensuring the desired ambient environment within dormitory rooms during summers in cold regions. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
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| spelling | doaj-art-a34f276b05dc4df9ba2532c1df39608b2025-08-20T03:43:26ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092025-03-0115689610.3390/buildings15060896Investigating the Effects of Occupancy and Natural Ventilation on the Indoor Air Quality of Dormitories in Cold RegionsIrfan Nasir0Husnain Haider1Md. Shafiquzzaman2Majed Alinizzi3Guangji Hu4Abdul Razzaq Ghumman5Department of Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B152TT, UKDepartment of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Qassim, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Qassim, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Qassim, Saudi ArabiaSchool of Environment and Geography, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, ChinaDepartment of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Qassim, Saudi ArabiaIndoor air quality (IAQ) in higher education institutions’ dormitories, without mechanical ventilation, is a significant concern for students’ health due to prolonged occupancy in cold regions. The present investigation assessed IAQ by measuring two dormitories’ CO<sub>2</sub>, temperature, and relative humidity with the presence of one, two, three, and four occupants in the United Kingdom. Considering the possibility of natural ventilation by opening the windows in the summer, IAQ was monitored using two sensors located at 1 m and 2 m heights from the floor level of the dormitories in July. The tracer mass balance model showed close agreement with the monitored IAQ levels, with a direct relationship observed between occupant numbers and CO<sub>2</sub> build-up. CO<sub>2</sub> levels exceeded 1000 ppm within an hour during occupancy and closed ventilation, with air exchange rates between 0.12 and 0.2 h<sup>−1</sup>, increasing to 1334, 1259, 1884, and 2064 ppm after 30 min with one, two, three, and four occupants, respectively. Desired IAQ standards (1000 ppm) were achieved in 13, 33, 80, and 86 min for one, two, three, and four occupants after starting natural ventilation by opening 20% of the windows. The analysis of variance affirmed the effect of occupancy on IAQ, while the impact of height (1 m and 2 m) on CO<sub>2</sub> levels was insignificant. This study underscores the need to effectively ventilate the partial opening of windows in dormitories to mitigate CO<sub>2</sub> build-up, ensuring the desired ambient environment within dormitory rooms during summers in cold regions.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/6/896sensorsair qualitynumerical methodscarbon dioxidethermal stratificationcold regions |
| spellingShingle | Irfan Nasir Husnain Haider Md. Shafiquzzaman Majed Alinizzi Guangji Hu Abdul Razzaq Ghumman Investigating the Effects of Occupancy and Natural Ventilation on the Indoor Air Quality of Dormitories in Cold Regions Buildings sensors air quality numerical methods carbon dioxide thermal stratification cold regions |
| title | Investigating the Effects of Occupancy and Natural Ventilation on the Indoor Air Quality of Dormitories in Cold Regions |
| title_full | Investigating the Effects of Occupancy and Natural Ventilation on the Indoor Air Quality of Dormitories in Cold Regions |
| title_fullStr | Investigating the Effects of Occupancy and Natural Ventilation on the Indoor Air Quality of Dormitories in Cold Regions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigating the Effects of Occupancy and Natural Ventilation on the Indoor Air Quality of Dormitories in Cold Regions |
| title_short | Investigating the Effects of Occupancy and Natural Ventilation on the Indoor Air Quality of Dormitories in Cold Regions |
| title_sort | investigating the effects of occupancy and natural ventilation on the indoor air quality of dormitories in cold regions |
| topic | sensors air quality numerical methods carbon dioxide thermal stratification cold regions |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/6/896 |
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