There is a perceived and real problem that urban city centers are so polluted that natural ventilation is not suitable in non-domestic buildings. To gauge the extent of the pollution problem in urban areas, this paper attempts to identify the frequency of occasions when outdoor air quality can be described as poor. Five sites in three United Kingdom cities have been selected as representing polluted urban areas across northern Europe; the cities chosen were London, Birmingham, and Cardiff. Levels of NO₂, SO₂, O₃, and PM₁₀ were reviewed at each site using newly proposed Department of the Environment (DOE) values on acceptable air quality. The analysis was conducted between 1992 and 1995. The results identify periods during the year and working day when natural ventilation of offices in urban areas is not restricted by outdoor pollution concerns. Preliminary in-situ experiments also demonstrate that levels of the most serious urban pollutants decrease with increasing height from street level sources.

Authors: Paul J. Ajiboye
Citation: IAQ and Energy 98 Using ASHRAE Standards 62 and 90.1 Conference Papers
Keywords: October, Louisiana, 1998