exhaust vent hood ducted to the exterior of the building. This hood will not
only remove combustion products, but will also take care of the lion's share of
the cooking fumes and excess humidity. A properly sized and installed vent
fan will draw 200 to 500 c.f.m. of air from the kitchen area. The simplest
method of providing make-up air is to crack open a window that is closest to
the cooking surface. This will create a localized airflow in the kitchen and
have minimal effect on the rest of the home. Spot venting of the kitchen is
especially important in floor plans where the kitchen is not segregated from
the rest of the house by a door.
This technique for kitchen venting is extremely dependent on awareness
of the necessity of spot ventilation. Education is the key to success in
this case.
Cigarette Smoke
Smoking is its own reward. Unfortunately it seems to have a
deleterious effect on other occupants. It is certainly irritating to most
nonsmokers. In my auditing experience I found that more and more smokers are
coming to grips with these ideas. In cases where one occupant smokes and
wishes to minimize the effects on others, I have suggested a smoking room
equipped with a separate ventilation system much like the one I outline for a
bathroom. Again, education is the only realistic action available.
Urea Formaldehyde Foam Insulation, Formaldehyde Construction Materials.
I strongly recommend A.A.H.E., monitoring and education over delay or
exclusion.
Humans
If all other indoor air quality problems have been addressed, any
problems produced by respiration will also be solved.