Laboratory helps construction industry innovate and commercialize technology that improves indoor air quality
June 4, 2009, Ottawa, ON — Canadians will have a better understanding of the impact of indoor air quality on their health, especially the health of children and adults with asthma, thanks to a new Indoor Air Research Laboratory opened today at the National Research Council (NRC)'s Institute for Research in Construction by the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology). The lab will help contribute to better respiratory health by providing a state-of-the-art testing facility for ventilation systems.
"Our government is investing in science, technology and research that improves the lives of Canadians, creates jobs and strengthens the economy," said Minister Goodyear. "The new Indoor Air Research Laboratory will give health experts and the construction industry an insight on how indoor air quality affects our health, while helping businesses develop highly skilled people and improve their competitiveness."
Researchers at the Indoor Air Research Laboratory will measure and evaluate the impact of various ventilation systems by configuring the laboratory's flexible modules to duplicate specific room sizes and home designs, as well as simulate models of heating and air-conditioning systems and heat-recovery ventilators.
The NRC Indoor Air initiative represents an $8 million investment over four years by the Government of Canada of which $2 million is dedicated to the NRC Indoor Air Research Facility. The initiative is a part of the Government's Clean Air Agenda, which commits money and resources for government, industry and communities to work together to improve air quality.
"This investment in the new NRC Indoor Air Research Laboratory will help the Canadian construction industry and consumers choose innovative, energy-efficient and affordable products that will improve air quality at home and at work," said NRC President Dr. Pierre Coulombe. "Through government, industry and university partnerships, NRC is helping innovative Canadian businesses grow stronger, faster, and bigger."
The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) is a leader in the development of an innovative, knowledge-based economy for Canada through science and technology.
Backgrounder
About the National Research Council Indoor Air Research Laboratory
This state-of-the-art NRC Indoor Air Research Facility can generate and measure a wide-range of particles — from nano-particles to micro-particles — that can penetrate the lungs, harming human health.
Indoor air is negatively influenced by a number of irritants such as odour, carbon dioxide, bacteria, viruses, building materials, cleaning products, radon, ozone, pesticides, humidity, dampness, or mould, among others. This is why innovating and commercializing next-generation ventilation products to improve indoor air quality is so important.
Researchers at the NRC Indoor Air Research Laboratory are able to configure the facility's flexible modules to duplicate specific room sizes and home designs, as well as simulate models of heating and air-conditioning systems, and heat-recovery ventilators. This allows air quality experts to study and monitor the impact of ventilation systems on indoor air quality while documenting which ventilation systems and strategies work best to improve air quality and energy consumption.
Researchers are able to simulate indoor environments by producing particles found in homes and offices using aerosols and then monitor how they follow the air stream and how their concentration is influenced by different ventilation scenarios and systems.
Researchers can also demonstrate how high ventilation rates or air speeds sometimes create discomfort and increased dust and particle load in the air which contribute to energy loss.
About NRC Indoor Air Initiative
The NRC Indoor Air initiative represents an $8 million investment over four years by the Government of Canada of which $2 million is dedicated to the NRC Indoor Air Research Facility. The initiative is a part of the Government's Clean Air Agenda, which commits money and resources for government, industry and communities to work together to improve air quality.
Additionally, the NRC Indoor Air Research Facility is being launched with a uniquely designed field study that will be carried out in about 100 homes occupied by families with asthmatic children in the Quebec City area. Partnering with the Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ) and other federal partners, NRC-IRC researchers will assess the physical characteristics of the homes and the quality of their indoor air, while medical professionals from INSPQ assess the health of the children.
Over a three-year period following the initial assessment, modifications will be made to the ventilation and air-distribution systems in the homes to improve indoor air quality and a follow-up assessment will be conducted to measure and evaluate whether there have been any changes in the indoor air quality or the health of the children. It is expected that the results from this study will improve our understanding of the impact of ventilation and air distribution on indoor air quality.
Meanwhile, to optimize the design of modifications to the homes, the impact of different technologies will be simulated and tested in the new Indoor Air Research Laboratory on the NRC campus in Ottawa.
About the Government of Canada Clean Air Agenda
Through the Clean Air Agenda (CAA), the Government of Canada is working towards meeting its commitments to tangible improvements in Canada's environment, including reduced air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The CAA is a four-year, $1.9 billion strategy. Eight federal departments and agencies are involved in designing and delivering more than 40 programs under eight themes within the overall agenda.
Recognized globally for research and innovation, the National Research Council is a leader in the development of an innovative, knowledge-based economy for Canada through science and technology.
NRC-IRC is the leading construction research agency in Canada, developing innovative solutions for the country's largest industry.
Photos are available to the media by contacting Sylvie Dostaler, Communications Officer, NRC-IRC (613) 998-9204.
For more information, please visit NRC 's Web site at http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca or contact:
NRC Media Relations
National Research Council Canada
Tel.: (613) 991-1431
media@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
Gary Toft
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Gary Goodyear
Minister of State (Science and Technology)
(613) 943-7599
