Positive Pressure Ventilation Systems and Indoor Air Quality: PM₂.₅ Outcomes in Residential Buildings
Date
Authors
Hernandez, German
Borge, Rafael
Berry, Terri-Ann
Supervisor
Item type
Journal Article
Degree name
Journal Title
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Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Abstract
Fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅) presents a risk to residential indoor environments, particularly during winter, when occupancy is high and natural ventilation is reduced. Evidence from intervention-based field studies is limited, especially under real-world, continuously occupied conditions. This study investigates the effects of positive pressure ventilation (PPV) systems on indoor PM₂.₅ concentrations in 24 homes across New Zealand. Using a pre-post intervention design, PM₂.₅ concentrations, temperature and relative humidity were measured in living rooms and master bedrooms over six week periods before and after PPV installation during winter. Following PPV installation, mean indoor PM₂.₅ concentrations decreased across all homes, with reductions ranging from 38% to 62%. Linear mixed effects regression modelling supported the observed reductions while accounting for outdoor PM₂.₅ and building characteristics. Indoor PM₂.₅ concentrations were higher in living rooms than in bedrooms, although post-intervention reductions were similar between rooms. Indoor-outdoor (I/O) ratios exceeded 1.0 in half of the homes prior to PPV installation and fell below 1.0 in most homes post-installation, indicating reduced dominance of indoor sources. Post-PPV reductions in indoor PM₂.₅ were larger during peak activity periods than non-peak periods and tended to be greater in homes with larger indoor-outdoor temperature differentials, suggesting that building envelope performance influences PPV effectiveness. This study presents field-based evidence that PPV systems can reduce indoor PM₂.₅ in homes during winter, especially where initial indoor concentrations are high and thermal separation from outdoors is greater. The findings highlight the combined importance of ventilation, envelope performance, and occupant behaviour in reducing indoor PM₂.₅ exposure.Description
Keywords
0502 Environmental Science and Management, 1201 Architecture, 1202 Building, Building & Construction, 33 Built environment and design, 40 Engineering, Indoor Air Quality, Fine Particulate Matter, Positive Pressure Ventilation
Source
Building and Environment, ISSN: 0360-1323 (Print), Elsevier BV, 114346-114346. doi: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2026.114346
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© 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons CC-BY license, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. You are not required to obtain permission to reuse this article.