HOW BUILDING SCIENCE RELATES TO INDOOR AIR QUALITY

Building science, though often the responsibility of a project’s architect, is a far-reaching field requiring a certain level of understanding of architecture, engineering, and construction. However, building science also has a more human element, quite literally, as so much of the practice focuses on how the many elements of a building impact the health and well-being of its occupants.

Due to this, the study of building science encompasses more than the materials or design of a physical structure. Competence in this field means being able to understand how the materials or design of a building relate to external phenomena such as weather, and how those items impact human physiology. Ultimately, these external phenomena can impact the state of the building and influence the building’s indoor environmental quality, including indoor air quality.

Ideally, the concepts of building science are being implemented right from the start, during the design of a project. If a building is being constructed in an environment where moisture is a common problem, an effective moisture transport system will need to be implemented. Understanding the need to build using products with low-VOCs, or to provide an HVAC system that is correctly sized, can impact the building’s eventual occupants. If these steps are overlooked, the building runs the risk of future mold and bacterial growth.

That being said, having a grasp on sound building science never stops being a necessity, even after construction is complete and a building has
been occupied for some time. An understanding of building science is essential to indoor air quality investigators because of how often the design, materials, or methods used in the construction of the building will impact the eventual air quality provided to its occupants