Abstract
Indoor mould spore concentrations can be predicted by using a mathematical model that accounts for the mechanisms of spore transportation in a building with a mechanical ventilation system. The developed model considers the parameters related to a ventilation system and cleaning activity, and calculates indoor spore concentration, indoor/outdoor ratio, and the amount of deposited spores on interior surfaces in each building case. To get a more realistic outcome, an uncertainty analysis is conducted in the model by considering uncertainties associated with the parameters. The analysis results provide the distribution of spore concentrations as a function of time and give possible ranges of outcome with probability. Thus, a more realistic evaluation is available with the mathematical model. In addition, the identification of dominant parameters that have a major influence on spore transportation is performed using an appropriate parameter screening technique. Based on the identified dominant parameters, recommendations can be made to maintain lower indoor spore concentrations in a specific building case. Application of the spore transportation model under uncertainty in an existing building is described in the paper.
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