The impact of ventilation system operation on the dynamics of bioaerosols in tropical buildings

Serene B.Y. Lim; Akira Uchida; Irvan Luhung; Kenny J.X. Lau; Stephan C. Schuster

The impact of ventilation system operation on the dynamics of bioaerosols in tropical buildings

Serene B.Y. Lim, Akira Uchida, Irvan Luhung, Kenny J.X. Lau, Stephan C. Schuster^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Nanyang Technological University

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Abstract

This study investigates 2 office spaces in Singapore. Office 1 is a well-maintained office space served by a centralized air-con with HVAC filters, while Office 2 is served by a split-unit system set at higher temperature (24°C) with a low-grade filter. Within months, severe mold growth was observed in various indoor surfaces of Office 2. DNA-based methods (Fluorometry, qPCR and sequencing) were utilized to analyse the air, surface and air-con filter samples from both offices. Based on current findings, outdoor air intrusion, substantial fungal accumulation when the air-con system is off at night and the compromised performance of Office 2's ventilation system were identified to be the causes of the mold growth problem.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	15th Conference of the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate, INDOOR AIR 2018
Publisher	International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate
ISBN (Electronic)	9781713826514
Publication status	Published - 2018
Externally published	Yes
Event	15th Conference of the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate, INDOOR AIR 2018 - Philadelphia, United States Duration: Jul 22 2018 → Jul 27 2018

Publication series

Name	15th Conference of the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate, INDOOR AIR 2018

Conference

Conference	15th Conference of the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate, INDOOR AIR 2018
Country/Territory	United States
City	Philadelphia
Period	7/22/18 → 7/27/18

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 15th Conference of the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate, INDOOR AIR 2018. All rights reserved.

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

Pollution

Keywords

Air microbiome
Indoor mold growth
Surface microbiome
Ventilation system performance

Cite this

Lim, S. B. Y., Uchida, A., Luhung, I., Lau, K. J. X., & Schuster, S. C. (2018). The impact of ventilation system operation on the dynamics of bioaerosols in tropical buildings. In 15th Conference of the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate, INDOOR AIR 2018 (15th Conference of the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate, INDOOR AIR 2018). International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate.

Lim, Serene B.Y. ; Uchida, Akira ; Luhung, Irvan et al. / The impact of ventilation system operation on the dynamics of bioaerosols in tropical buildings. 15th Conference of the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate, INDOOR AIR 2018. International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate, 2018. (15th Conference of the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate, INDOOR AIR 2018).

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title = "The impact of ventilation system operation on the dynamics of bioaerosols in tropical buildings",

abstract = "This study investigates 2 office spaces in Singapore. Office 1 is a well-maintained office space served by a centralized air-con with HVAC filters, while Office 2 is served by a split-unit system set at higher temperature (24°C) with a low-grade filter. Within months, severe mold growth was observed in various indoor surfaces of Office 2. DNA-based methods (Fluorometry, qPCR and sequencing) were utilized to analyse the air, surface and air-con filter samples from both offices. Based on current findings, outdoor air intrusion, substantial fungal accumulation when the air-con system is off at night and the compromised performance of Office 2's ventilation system were identified to be the causes of the mold growth problem.",

keywords = "Air microbiome, Indoor mold growth, Surface microbiome, Ventilation system performance",

author = "Lim, {Serene B.Y.} and Akira Uchida and Irvan Luhung and Lau, {Kenny J.X.} and Schuster, {Stephan C.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2018 15th Conference of the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate, INDOOR AIR 2018. All rights reserved.; 15th Conference of the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate, INDOOR AIR 2018 ; Conference date: 22-07-2018 Through 27-07-2018",

year = "2018",

language = "English",

series = "15th Conference of the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate, INDOOR AIR 2018",

publisher = "International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate",

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Lim, SBY, Uchida, A, Luhung, I, Lau, KJX & Schuster, SC 2018, The impact of ventilation system operation on the dynamics of bioaerosols in tropical buildings. in 15th Conference of the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate, INDOOR AIR 2018. 15th Conference of the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate, INDOOR AIR 2018, International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate, 15th Conference of the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate, INDOOR AIR 2018, Philadelphia, United States, 7/22/18.

The impact of ventilation system operation on the dynamics of bioaerosols in tropical buildings. / Lim, Serene B.Y.; Uchida, Akira; Luhung, Irvan et al.
15th Conference of the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate, INDOOR AIR 2018. International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate, 2018. (15th Conference of the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate, INDOOR AIR 2018).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

TY - GEN

T1 - The impact of ventilation system operation on the dynamics of bioaerosols in tropical buildings

AU - Lim, Serene B.Y.

AU - Uchida, Akira

AU - Luhung, Irvan

AU - Lau, Kenny J.X.

AU - Schuster, Stephan C.

PY - 2018

Y1 - 2018

N2 - This study investigates 2 office spaces in Singapore. Office 1 is a well-maintained office space served by a centralized air-con with HVAC filters, while Office 2 is served by a split-unit system set at higher temperature (24°C) with a low-grade filter. Within months, severe mold growth was observed in various indoor surfaces of Office 2. DNA-based methods (Fluorometry, qPCR and sequencing) were utilized to analyse the air, surface and air-con filter samples from both offices. Based on current findings, outdoor air intrusion, substantial fungal accumulation when the air-con system is off at night and the compromised performance of Office 2's ventilation system were identified to be the causes of the mold growth problem.

AB - This study investigates 2 office spaces in Singapore. Office 1 is a well-maintained office space served by a centralized air-con with HVAC filters, while Office 2 is served by a split-unit system set at higher temperature (24°C) with a low-grade filter. Within months, severe mold growth was observed in various indoor surfaces of Office 2. DNA-based methods (Fluorometry, qPCR and sequencing) were utilized to analyse the air, surface and air-con filter samples from both offices. Based on current findings, outdoor air intrusion, substantial fungal accumulation when the air-con system is off at night and the compromised performance of Office 2's ventilation system were identified to be the causes of the mold growth problem.

KW - Air microbiome

KW - Indoor mold growth

KW - Surface microbiome

KW - Ventilation system performance

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M3 - Conference contribution

AN - SCOPUS:85105614363

T3 - 15th Conference of the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate, INDOOR AIR 2018

BT - 15th Conference of the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate, INDOOR AIR 2018

PB - International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate

T2 - 15th Conference of the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate, INDOOR AIR 2018

Y2 - 22 July 2018 through 27 July 2018

ER -

Lim SBY, Uchida A, Luhung I, Lau KJX, Schuster SC. The impact of ventilation system operation on the dynamics of bioaerosols in tropical buildings. In 15th Conference of the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate, INDOOR AIR 2018. International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate. 2018. (15th Conference of the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate, INDOOR AIR 2018).

The impact of ventilation system operation on the dynamics of bioaerosols in tropical buildings

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Bibliographical note

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

Keywords

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Cite this