Analyzing the Bake-Out Effect in Winter for the Enhancement of Indoor Air Quality at New Apartments in UAE

Abstract

Indoor air pollution has become a pressing issue in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) due to poor ventilation, inadequate airtightness, and using chemicals in building materials. Accordingly, the UAE is currently experiencing more cases of sick building syndrome (SBS) than any other country. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of the bake-out strategy in reducing indoor air pollutants in a new apartment building in the UAE. The study evaluated a reduction in toluene (C7H8), ethylbenzene (C8H10), xylene (C8H10), styrene (C8H8), and formaldehyde (HCHO) at room temperature and relative humidity. The airtight unit without winter bake-out had higher indoor concentrations of hazardous chemicals than the ventilated units, and the emission of dangerous substances increased with temperature. Moreover, harmful chemicals were only effectively reduced with ventilation times of at least seven days after the heating period. The release rate of contaminants after the bake-out was lower than before. The indoor concentration of hazardous chemicals was lower when bake-out and mechanical ventilation were combined, resulting in a reduction of 92.8% of HCHO. Furthermore, units with a certain amount of ventilation maintained a low indoor pollutant concentration, regardless of whether a bake-out was performed.