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Election of new ISIAQ BOD 2006-2008 Glossary of the Indoor Air Sciences News from Healthy Buildings 2006 Product News: VOC Emission Test Chamber
I am most delighted, on behalf of the Board of Directors, to express our appreciation for your support in electing us to a three year term of service to the Society at the Annual General Meeting convened at Healthy Buildings 2006 in June in Lisbon. We are mindful of the rich heritage arising from the incorporation of the International Academy of Indoor Air Sciences (IAIAS) into the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate (ISIAQ), and the challenges and responsibilities that this integration has brought about. ISIAQ is much younger than the motivation that spawned its formation : the inter-disciplinary recognition of the issues challenging the built environment, particularly that of the indoors. Yet over the years since its inception, ISIAQ has been successful in attracting into its membership scientists, policy-makers, industrialists and educators, with the aim to provide an integrated platform to forge the synergy necessary to address these challenges effectively. To what extent is ISIAQ succeeding in this, especially against the backdrop of advances in knowledge of the multifarious impact the indoor environment has on health, well-being, productivity, and of poverty and ecological sustainability? What are the strengths and hindrances of ISIAQ, and what should we do to move towards our objective of “supporting the creation of healthy, comfortable and productive indoor environments” ? These were fundamental questions we deliberated upon when we took office, and realized that it is indeed a daunting task, much beyond what we could possibly hope to achieve within our term. We resolved to adopt a pragmatic approach to identify the priorities to focus upon. I outline these, and would elaborate on them in subsequent issues of the Newsletter. The priorities include:
In terms of specific strategies and plans, we would focus on:
We need your support to take bold steps towards these goals. I am most fortunate to have dedicated co-workers as the Board of Directors, whose brief CVs are included in this newsletter. The passing away of a few founding members of the society, including the recent demise of Professor Ole Fanger and Marco Maroni, is a stark reminder that the future of ISIAQ is secured only through the passion and dedication of the current generation, and of the future generation which we must collectively induct and nurture. I look forward to your support so that together we can develop ISIAQ into a sustainable society which continues to contribute towards the betterment of the indoor and built environment. We value your input and ideas and would be glad to receive these from you. Sincerely, Kwok Wai THAM
ISIAQ Board of Directors 2006-2008
The Society’s General By-Law-Point 6, as amended in 2006, spells the duties of this committee. A copy of the By-Laws is available here. As immediate past President, I personally thank Lidia Morawska, Hal Levin, Jan Sundell and Tham Kwok Wai that served on this committee and supported the BOD during my mandate. Nadia Boschi
Dear colleagues and friends, I write to solicit your support for the BOD’s initiative in encouraging the increase in student membership of ISIAQ through a reduction in the student membership fee, and a collective effort in encouraging student membership and mentoring student members towards active and responsible participation in the society’s goals. When we assumed office at the Annual General Meeting convened in June at Healthy Buildings 2006 in Lisbon, a startling realization was the almost non-existence of student members in the society. Then, there were only 8 student members out of the total membership of about 400 (approximately 2%)! The profile of new members has been those who are already working, with almost equal representation from academia, governmental agencies or industry. Most are introduced through participation in ISIAQ sponsored conferences (primarily Healthy Buildings and Indoor Air conference series) or through the encouragement from more senior colleagues in their respective places of work. Seldom do we have student members joining the society although we see a great amount of contributions (some of which are of high scientific quality) in conferences and relevant journals. The major hindrance is the currently high student membership fee of 94 Euros per year, and this was the main feedback from the students’ session convened at HB2006. Renewal at a sustained pace is necessary for ISIAQ to grow, and to continue to have the critical mass in achieving its aim to highlight the importance and positive role of indoor environmental quality in society, and to generate scientific knowledge and technological solutions towards these aspirations. I urge you to recognise that the future of ISIAQ lies in the hands of the next generation whom we must now attract and nurture. The recent passing of Professor Ole Fanger, Marco Maroni and Ole Valborn — founding members of ISIAQ should spur us into resolute action. As an initiative, the BOD has resolved to reduce the student membership fee to 30 Euros per year or 15 Euros without subscription to Indoor Air Journal (especially for those who already have access through their universities). The subsidy that the society bears is approximately 60 Euros per student, and we deem an investment in our future. We hope to achieve an increase in student membership to 10% (approximately another 30 new student members) which would translate to 1800 Euros. I appeal to you to consider making a contribution of 5 Euros per year for each year of your membership renewal when it becomes due. If we receive this support from you, we would be able to fund the subsidy for the students. Meanwhile the BOD would work towards attracting more corporate members to help defray the subsidy. The BOD is also deliberating other initiatives to provide a more comprehensive approach towards making ISIAQ membership more meaningful and worthwhile for students:
We solicit your assistance in encouraging students with whom you are in contact to consider ISIAQ membership. As an ISIAQ member, I hope you would also consider acting as mentor to the student members whom you have introduced so that the passion and commitment to the goals, and the values of the society can be more effectively transmitted. We recognise that this is a bold move, but one which we believe is worthwhile. I hope to have your support in making this bold move. Yours sincerely, Kwok Wai THAM On behalf of the Board of Directors
Glossary of the Indoor Air Sciences A new Task force report "Glossary of the Indoor Air Sciences" has been released to ISIAQ members with their 2006 membership.
CLIMA 2007 WellBeing Indoors Announces Four Main Themes The next REHVA World Congress CLIMA 2007 will take place in Helsinki, Finland on June 10-14, 2007. The topics of the congress will cover all key areas of HVAC – technology. Successful combination of top-class scientific research with high-level business skills can significantly improve our indoor and outdoor environment and make our world a better place for our children to live. The organisers have chosen four main themes that are very topical issues in the world today.
The mission and the great challenge of CLIMA 2007 is to raise the awareness of the importance of our industry and scientific research. According to international research and World Health Organization (WHO) the lifespan of human being has been prolonged with the help of medical innovations some two years during the last 200 years. Better hygiene and healthier living environment has prolonged human life 18 years in the same 200 years. There are numerous, big important challenges this industry can tackle. Different HVAC-solutions for living create well being. Clean drinking water, healthy indoor climate, sustainable use of energy and intelligent buildings create all together a better environment to live. The CLIMA 2007 – WellBeing Indoors congress will be held in Helsinki, a city that has gained a reputation as an attractive, safe, clean and well-organized host city for international meetings. The location of the congress, the Finlandia Hall, is within walking distance from hotels and the city centre of Helsinki. The program and time-table of the event allows participants to enjoy Finnish nature and culture and join to tourist tours to Lappland or the neighbouring cities St. Petersbourg, Tallinn and Sweden. The organisers invite abstracts (max 300 words) by October 15, 2006. The full list of topics and more instructions are available on the website www.clima2007.org.
IAQVEC 2007, October 28-31, 2007, Sendai, Japan The 6th International Conference on Indoor Air Quality, Ventilation & Energy Conservation in Buildings Sendai city, the northern capital of the Tohoku region of Japan, has the great honour of being nominated to organize the Sixth International Conference in October 2007. The event will be hosted by the Tohoku University of Japan, and jointly organized with the Tohoku Institute of Technology, the University of Tokyo, Waseda University, and the Miyagi National College of Technology. Sponsorship has been provided by SHASE (The Society of Heating, Air-conditioning and Sanitary Engineers of Japan), AIJ (Architectural Institute of Japan), ISIAQ (International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate) and ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers). A brief summary of the conference information is given at the end of this newsletter, further details can be obtained from the conference homepage; http://www.iaqvec2007.org. In order to achieve a good built environment, many factors need to be considered carefully by engineers, architects and designers. These factors include space utilization, aesthetics, décor, indoor air quality, lighting and facilities that together provide convenience and comfort. As well, health hazards, safety hazards and nuisance elements, either intentionally or inadvertently introduced by the systems and the materials, must also be examined impartially. One problem facing us at the start of this new millennium is that a higher living standard has created an increase in energy consumption, resulting in depletion of our energy resources. This may be partially attributed to inhabitants in modern cities, particularly in Southeast Asia, as they tend to rely on mechanical systems for indoor thermal comfort control. Newly constructed houses, especially those found in cold regions of Japan, are now being designed with increased insulation levels and air tightness in order to minimize energy expenditure. This places greater importance on the correct design of mechanical ventilation systems. Inadequate ventilation could increase indoor air pollutant levels either through an insufficient provision of outdoor air to dilute the indoor polluting gases and particles, or through the ineffective removal of contaminants. Without sufficient and effective ventilation, pollutants will become trapped and recirculate repeatedly, causing a build up of pollutants. Indoor air quality (IAQ) is undoubtedly an important subject in the built environment, yet whilst most people are aware that outdoor air pollution can affect their health, many overlook the fact that indoor air pollution can have equally adverse effects. A recent study of human exposure to air pollutants indicated that indoor air levels of many pollutants may be 2 - 5 times, and occasionally more than 100 times, higher than outdoor levels. Since most people spend as much as 90% of their time indoors, poor indoor air quality can have severe implications on the health, well-being and work efficiency of occupants. The emergence of the term ‘sick building syndrome’ highlights the prevalence of IAQ and other problems in buildings worldwide. Healthy buildings can maximize the utilization of natural resources, such as passive cooling or daylight, and minimize the reliance on mechanical systems for indoor thermal comfort control. This will not only minimize adverse impacts on the environment, but the liveability of such buildings will also be greatly enhanced, so that inhabitants can live and work in peace and contentment. It is therefore timely to hold an international forum, IAQVEC 2007, for building practitioners, experts and scientists from all over the world to exchange valuable knowledge, experience and expertise on the important global issue of “indoor air quality, ventilation and energy conservation in buildings”. The theme selected for this conference, “Well-being Indoors”, aptly addresses the current issues of the indoor environment, IAQ topics, sustainability, system integration, energy conservation and energy efficiency, design and simulation tools, and many other challenges facing us ahead. This is the sixth holding of this triannual international event, previous meetings having been held in Montreal, Canada (1992, 1995), Lyon, France (1998), Changsha, China (2001), and Toronto, Canada (2004). Sendai city, the northern capital of the Tohoku region of Japan, has the great honour of being nominated to organize the Sixth International Conference in October 2007. The event will be hosted by the Tohoku University of Japan, and jointly organized with the Tohoku Institute of Technology, the University of Tokyo, Waseda University, and the Miyagi National College of Technology. Sponsorship has been provided by SHASE (The Society of Heating, Air-conditioning and Sanitary Engineers of Japan), AIJ (Architectural Institute of Japan), ISIAQ (International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate) and ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers). A brief summary of the conference information is given at the end of this newsletter, further details can be obtained from the conference homepage; http://www.iaqvec2007.org It is a great pleasure to note that many honourable guests, distinguished speakers, building professionals, participants and supporters will come from twenty different countries all over the world. Together, they will share their experience, expertise, innovative thoughts and ideas to identify how we can respond to such issues and benefit from achieving a built environment that is not only comfortable, healthy and safe for us, but also, perhaps most importantly, for the well-being of our future generations. I would like to take this opportunity to extend a warm welcome to those who are interested in attending this conference and visiting Sendai. Hiroshi Yoshino Sendai City Sendai also values history and culture. Many traditional events such as the Sendai Tanabata Festival still continue to this day. The Sendai International Music Competition and the Johzenji Streetjazz Festival are also held in the city, along with many theatrical performances. There is plenty to see and explore in this splendid city. Bathing in an onsen (hot spring bath) is one of the most enjoyable experiences for foreign visitors as well as the Japanese. There are many hot springs with large, modern accommodation full of Japanese flavour. Each of the hot springs has different minerals and health benefits. Matsushima Bay is known as one of Japan’s three most scenic locations. Many small islands covered with pine trees are scattered around this bay. Matsushima is a haven from the Pacific Ocean’s harsh waves and is also famous for its oyster farming. Zao Mountain is one of several age-old volcanoes in Japan. Near its summit, walking around the Okama (a crater lake known for its ephemeral colors) is a great experience. Zao Mountain is also famous for the ‘snow monsters’ (frost covered trees) that can be seen during the winter. Conference Venue Sendai International Centre http://www.sira.or.jp/icenter/index_e.html Topics 1. Indoor Environment and Health Effects Exhibition and Technical Tours Technical tours for visiting are; Further Information Secretariat of IAQVEC 2007
Indoor Air 2008 Congress, 17-22 August, 2008 It is our pleasure to welcome you to Indoor Air 2008, the leading international scientific congress in the Indoor Air area. The Indoor Air series of conferences started in 1978 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The 11th congress in 2008 will celebrate the 30 year anniversary of the inaugural conference. The 11th Indoor Air Conference will be a multidisciplinary conference involving participants from the medical, engineering, physical sciences, architectural and related fields.
Updated information is available at www.indoorair2008.org. Bjarne Olesen Important dates
9th International Conference and Exhibition President Dr. Bogucz is a distinguished educator and a highly accomplished leader of multidisciplinary research teams. He started his academic and research career as a faculty member in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Syracuse University. Over the past 20 years, Dr. Bogucz has held various positions of increasing responsibilities, including serving for more than eight years as Dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science at Syracuse University. His visionary thinking led to the establishment of Syracuse CoE, where scientists, engineers, physicians, epidemiologists, psychologists and education professors research the multi-disciplinary aspects of built environment to develop lasting solutions. Conference Location Syracuse is at the geographic center of the region known as “Upstate New York,” which has a long and distinguished record of innovation on issues relating to comfort in buildings. For example, in 1903, Willis Carrier pioneered mechanical air conditioning technologies while working for a firm in Upstate New York; in 1937, he moved the manufacturing and corporate headquarters for Carrier Corp. to Syracuse. Within Upstate New York, the region around Syracuse is home to more than 20 leading international educational institutions such as Syracuse University, Cornell University, Clarkson University and several State University of New York campuses. Recognizing the strengths of firms and institutions in the region, New York State established the Syracuse CoE in 2002 with focus on the built environment. With its central location in New York State, Syracuse is within few hours’ flight from cities covering two-thirds of the populations of both Canada and the United States. Additionally, Syracuse Hancock International Airport is served by both traditional and low-cost airlines, with flights or connections to major American and Canadian cities.
News from Healthy Buildings 2006 Healthy Buildings 2006, in Lisboa, the 8th conference in the series, focused on the advancement of the knowledge on buildings and spaces, has also reflected the context of the approaches to the issue currently in course, in particular, in Europe. Buildings as key elements for a good IAQ mark the interdisciplinary nature of the approach. In addition, the priority to the prevention as a strategy for public health suggests the need for a stronger interaction between health and IAQ experts. That new face of the interdisciplinary effort ended up by being definitely one of the major features of HB2006. Over 600 abstracts/papers coming from more than 50 countries in the World, contributed to a wide spectrum of parallel sessions showing the interest of this subject worldwide. The program was completed with around 20 workshops and seminars and with nine outstanding keynote speeches that were at the centre of exchanges and discussions. A CD Rom and 6 books keep the record. HB 2006 counted on over 730 participants, 1/5 of them being students. Some main conclusions could be:
Ole Fanger recalled that “health” means “complete well being”. That is why we have to cover at the same time the ‘vertical environment chain’ - indoors, urban, regional, global (sustainability) - and the horizontal network of professions and stakeholders - standards and practice - and that is why we recognize that we are dealing with a very complex subject that requires a much deeper involvement of the society at all levels than it has been seen so far. Eduardo de Oliveira Fernandes Product News: VOC Emission Test Chamber ESPEC CORP develops new VOC emission test chambers. The new chamber series has 5 variation of chamber volume. 1m3(VOC-010),2m3(VOC-020), 7.2m3(VOC-070), 12m3 (VOC-120) and 24m3(VOC-240). VOC emission test chamber can test construction products, electronic devices, office devices and automotive interiors. ESPEC CORP researched ISO/EN, ECMA, BAM_test_method, VDA and JIS. This product designed based on these regulations. This chamber’s concept is “High accuracy and Easy operation”. These chambers have double chamber system. Outer chamber control for inner chamber’s temperature. This system can allow heat load. And this system stabilized temperature. Inner chamber was made by special finished stainless steel. All joints were welded and polished. It is useful for high air tightness and low contaminations. These chambers equipped with chemical clean filter, mass flow controller, exhaust fan, sampling ports, and sampling pump. If you have chemical analysis system, you can start emission test immediately. For more information, please visit our website: http://www.espec.co.jp/english/corporate/newsrelease.html
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