Quality assurance of indoor environment and energy use

To achieve the intended results of building, managing and using a property requires knowledge, continuity and communication, which can be assured by a dynamic and flexible quality assurance (QA) system.). Such a system focusing on high quality indoor environment has been developed and successfully applied during the last ten years. However, although the clients are very satisfied with the QA and its results, they need proven arguments of improved indoor climate and economic benefits in order to be able to justify the increased initial costs. Furthermore, the new European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive will increase the pressure for energy improvement. A one-sided concentration on either good indoor environment or energy efficiency might cause mutual negative effects, and it is important to take actions to avoid this.

Specialist researchers, building proprietors, builders and building managers are, therefore, together developing the existing QA system in an ongoing project. The initial phase of the project is concerned with evaluation of experience of the existing QA system applied to production and maintenance of buildings with a high quality indoor environment. The results will be implemented and form a basis for political decisions on greater use of QA in the building process. The second part of the project aims at extending the QA system by including optimisation of energy use. The possible negative impact of various energy efficiency measures on the indoor air environment is accurately taken into consideration, together with future demands and criteria formulated in the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD, 2002).