Share

Chemical off-gassing from indoor swimming pools.

Author(s) : CAVESTRI R. C., SEEGER-CLEVENGER D.

Summary

This research focuses on measuring the off-gassing of disinfection by-products from chlorine-based pool water treatment, filtration and chemistry of an indoor test swimming pool, to provide the mechanical system designer with specification guidelines for improved air quality. Aqueous derived effluent from the mechanical dehumidification (MDH) system is analyzed for chloroform (a trihalomethane or THM), chloramines and pH using commercially available products. Pool vapour content and composition are determined by gas chromatography using standard NIOSH and OSHA analytical methods and includes preliminary nitrogen trichloride (trichloramine or TCA) measurement using published methods. Based on observation, this research confirms and highlights that nitrogen trichloride is the vapour (gas) that causes the most irritation and pool air containing TCA is essentially toxic over long term exposure. Tests conducted with top level ventilation and recirculation rates confirmed the need to understand Henry's Law and the physical properties of TCA. When used in conjunction with deck (ground) level ventilation, low exhaust air movement at ASHRAE's current ventilation rate (0.5 cfm/ft2) can be successful in maintaining this heavier than air TCA gas at low levels within the indoor space.

Details

  • Original title: Chemical off-gassing from indoor swimming pools.
  • Record ID : 2010-0224
  • Languages: English
  • Source: 2009 ASHRAE Annual Conference CD. Transactions papers presented at the 2009 ASHRAE Annual Conference: Louisville, KY, June 2009. Volume 115, part 2.
  • Publication date: 2009/06/21

Links


See other articles from the proceedings (30)
See the conference proceedings

Indexing