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HOME Ventilation
Guide
INDOOR AIR QUALITY AND RESPIRATORY AILMENTS
1. Intermittent local ventilation – For bathroom,
kitchen and other moisture-, odor- and contaminant-producing
areas.
2. Continuous whole-house ventilation – To
remove stale, polluted air and distribute fresh,
outdoor air throughout the house.
3. Attic and crawlspace ventilation – To protect
attics and crawlspaces.
Home ventilation products are designed for
easy installation and typically require little
maintenance. Consumers should consult with
their builder or HVAC contractor to determine
the appropriate HVI-Certified products for their
particular application. The contractor will ensure
that products are properly installed and
arrange for regularly scheduled system checkups
to verify that the ventilation system is operating
effectively. ■
Asthma, allergies and other respiratory ailments are serious
problems affecting people of all ages. Considering that
people spend about 90 percent of their time indoors (65
percent in their homes), it’s no surprise that many researchers
are studying the effects of indoor air on these ailments.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found
the levels of common organic pollutants to be two to five
times higher inside homes than outside, whether they were
located in rural or highly industrialized areas. When products
containing organic chemicals are used, people expose
themselves and their families to very high pollutant levels,
which can linger long after the activity is over. Elements
contained in indoor air can trigger asthma and allergy
attacks as well as aggravate other respiratory conditions.
The American Lung Association has estimated that in
2004, approximately 20.5 million Americans suffered from
asthma. Asthma is the most common chronic disorder in
childhood, currently affecting the lives of an estimated 6.2
million children under 18 years.
In its educational literature, the American Lung
Association stresses that ventilation is an important strategy
for helping to alleviate the symptoms of asthma, allergies
and other respiratory ailments. Along with incorporating
proper ventilation strategies in the home, the association
also recommends controlling trigger sources and cleaning
the air.
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H V G
www.hvi.org
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