Abstract:
A combination of local ventilation (such as fume hoods) and general ventilation (which is the fresh air supplied to the room as a whole) is used to keep workers safe while they work with hazardous airborne chemicals. A key issue in designing these ventilation systems is how to optimize the balance between the local exhaust and general ventilation for a room. One method of assessing the balance of the ventilation in a room uses carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) as a tracer gas (Stuart, et al, 2014).This poster will use three case studies from the Keene State College campus, to examine the strengths and limitations of using this CO<sub>2</sub> test method. By reviewing CO<sub>2</sub> assessments that have been completed in a science laboratory, paint booth, and printmaking shop, this poster will identify the architectural parameters that impact the effectiveness of this CO<sub>2</sub> tracer test.