Perceived air quality: Discussion on the new units

The new units of perceived air quality, the olf and the decipol, are introduced and a brief description is given of how the units were derived. The units are based on odour and irritation acceptability. Research using these units has been used to argue that current recommended ventilation rates are inadequate for comfort. However, rather than increasing ventilation rates to obtain comfort, it is recommended that buildings be made from non-odorous and non-irritating, materials. The validity of using the new air quality units to determine ventilation rates and to compare pollutant emission rates between sources is evaluated in relation to the derivation of the method and the practical limits on its application.