Integration of Indoor Air Quality to the Life Cycle Assessment of Buildings

Abstract Pollutants – gases or particles are emitted in indoor air by different sources such as building materials, furniture, occupants and their activities. Spending over 80 % of our time indoors, we directly exposed to substances that potentially harmful health. Through measurements simulation tools, the concentrations these can be evaluated. However, today, Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is not taken into account Life Cycle Assessment buildings (LCA). The aim this study calculate compare damage IAQ on occupants’ health with whole life cycle, expressed same unit LCA: Disability-Adjusted Years (DALY), order propose a decision-making tool. Volatile organic compounds (VOC s ) materials furniture then assimilated occupants. A model describing emissions including unknown uncertain parameters calibrated using existing emission data. Secondly, data activities used simulate VOC . assimilation consequent damages calculated. According case an office, related gypsum-covered walls were 1.32 x 10 −6 DALY.year −1 , about 2 orders magnitude lower than those other stages (from fabrication transport products, construction, use, until end-of-life processes) which correspond 1.2 4.5 −3 Those regular office 3.7 −26 This methodology help eco-design identifying main impacts. It choose between dimension ventilation for evacuation pollutants.