A Comparison of Effects of Ventilation, Filtration, and Outdoor Air on Indoor Air at Telephone Office Buildings: A Case Study

Environmental contaminants can cause failures in telephone switching systems, computers, and other sophisticated electronic equipment. Unfortunately, energy conservation measures frequently increase in indoor concentrations of such contaminants by reducing air filtration associated with ventilation. For almost six years, we have been conducting detailed air sampling program at telephone offices across the United States. The goal has been to assess the effects of ventilation, filtration and outdoor and indoor sources of contamination on the composition of indoor air at representative telephone office buildings. The results of these studies provide direction so that energy conservation measures can be implemented in such a way as to minimize resulting environmentally related failures, and, thereby, to minimize problems and costs associated with such failures.