REDUCING PARTICULATE LEVELS IN HOUSES

This study started as an evaluation of the effectiveness of different furnace filters in reducing the amount of airborne particulate in houses. The research quantified the filtration efficiencies of a range of residential furnace filters in several houses. The monitoring showed that even good filters had a relatively minor effect on house particulate levels during periods of occupant activity. Subsequent research has looked at alternative methods of lowering indoor particulates. This includes the relative effectiveness of various vacuum cleaners and a comparison of particulate levels in rooms with smooth floors versus rooms with carpets. The filtration effect of the building envelope on incoming air is being studied as well as the effect of house ventilation with and without outdoor air filtering using filtered air. It is likely that it will take a combination of these measures to eliminate high levels of house particulate.