title: Contaminant levels, source strengths, and ventilation rates in California retail stores.
abstract: This field study measured ventilation rates and indoor air quality in 21 visits to retail stores in California. Three types of stores, such as grocery, furniture/hardware stores, and apparel, were sampled. Ventilation rates measured using a tracer gas decay method exceeded the minimum requirement of California's Title 24 Standard in all but one store. Concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), ozone, and carbon dioxide measured indoors and outdoors were analyzed. Even though there was adequate ventilation according to standard, concentrations of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde exceeded the most stringent chronic health guidelines in many of the sampled stores. The whole-building emission rates of VOCs were estimated from the measured ventilation rates and the concentrations measured indoor and outdoor. Estimated formaldehyde emission rates suggest that retail stores would need to ventilate at levels far exceeding the current Title 24 requirement to lower indoor concentrations below California's stringent formaldehyde reference level. Given the high costs of providing ventilation, effective source control is an attractive alternative.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Field measurements suggest that California retail stores were well ventilated relative to the minimum ventilation rate requirement specified in the Building Energy Efficiency Standards Title 24. Concentrations of formaldehyde found in retail stores were low relative to levels found in homes but exceeded the most stringent chronic health guideline. Looking ahead, California is mandating zero energy commercial buildings by 2030. To reduce the energy use from building ventilation while maintaining or even lowering formaldehyde in retail stores, effective formaldehyde source control measures are vitally important.
authors.affiliation: Indoor Environment Group, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA.
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Indoor Environment Group, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cohn
authors.affiliation: Indoor Environment Group, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sidheswaran
authors.affiliation: Indoor Environment Group, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA.
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.affiliation: Indoor Environment Group, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA.
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Fisk
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002140:California; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D003132:Commerce; D010126:Ozone / Q000032:analysis; D014691:Ventilation / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D010126:Ozone
keywords: Building energy efficiency standards; Formaldehyde; Ozone; Ventilation; Volatile organic compounds