Research Objective: Healthy Buildings

Intent: To provide performance-based solutions for meeting the health and safety requirements of the NZBC. These solutions will also go beyond the Code requirements to provide low-allergy levels where this is important for individual and public health. These solutions will take the form of innovative construction practices, and active and passive control of indoor climates and microclimates.

Projects

Project: Dustmite Control by Carpet Heating

Biological contaminants from dustmites have been implicated in the high incidence of asthma in New Zealand. The two major reservoirs of dustmites in houses are bedding and carpets. The effectiveness of sub-carpet heating will be examined as a technique for controlling dustmites. If successful, optimal heating regimes will be established.

Other healthy building projects include:

Interfacing of an indoor climate model with biological models.