What is Indoor Air Quality?

Indoor air quality is an essential determinant of the health of the building occupants and is affected by both indoor and outdoor factors.

Air Quality Projections

Global warming has worsened air quality through the increase of pollutants such as ground-level ozone and fine particulate matter. As temperature rises, chemical reactions in the atmosphere accelerate, NZEBs tend to trap indoor pollutants due to their airtight build, which in turn leads to heightened health risks. As many buildings in Ireland are becoming NZEBs, occupants in these dwellings are prone to greater exposures.

This concern is further underscored by projections from British Columbia’s adaptation strategy, which anticipates a temperature increase of 1.3 to 2.7°C by 2050, accompanied by longer dry spells, more frequent heatwave occurrences, and heavier rainfall events (Johnathon Strebly, 2019)These changes would lead to the buildup of pollutants in NZEBs, further degrading indoor air quality. Without effective ventilation and air filtration strategies, natural ventilation by means of open windows and trickle vents will not suffice.

Prolonged exposure to indoor pollutants can lead to:

Fatigue and headaches:

Continued exposure to poor indoor air quality can cause a reduction in energy levels and frequent headaches (GDS Team, 2020)

Respiratory issues:

Pollutants can cause or worsen conditions such as asthma and bronchitis, leading to chronic respiratory problems.(Krzyzanowski et al., 1990), (GDS Team, 2020)

Impaired Cognitive function:

Long-term exposure can lead to reduced productivity (Mulville et al., 2025)

Factors Involved in Poor Indoor Air Quality

Air Quality Standards

Air quality standards, including the ASHRAE guidelines and Part F of the Irish Building Regulations, are necessary to protect the health of building occupants and, therefore, regulate indoor pollutants, ventilation rates, and humidity levels to enable a healthy indoor atmosphere; ASHRAE Standard 55 takes this further and describes thermal comfort factors such as indoor air temperature, humidity, and airflow.