EPISODE · Sep 22, 2025 · 2H 7M
Technical Note 68 Revisited: How Residential Ventilation & Health Research Has Evolved
from Air Quality Matters · host Simon Jones
Join us for this special collaboration with the AIVC as we revisit Technical Note 68, a landmark document on residential ventilation and health that's nearly a decade old but more relevant than ever. Why does indoor air quality matter as much as traffic safety or smoking cessation? Arnold Janssens from Ghent University introduces this deep dive into TN68, joined by three experts who shaped and continue to advance this critical field: Pawel Wargocki (DTU), one of the original editors; Valérie Leprince (CEREMA), with extensive knowledge of global ventilation standards; and Ben Jones (Nottingham University), who's carried forward the harm-based approach to indoor air quality. The conversation reveals a striking truth: particulate matter in our homes causes harm on a scale comparable to major public health concerns, yet remains largely invisible to both occupants and policymakers. The panel explores how the groundbreaking harm analysis in TN68 is finally bearing fruit, with ASHRAE's new health-based compliance pathway and Europe's updated Energy Performance of Buildings Directive incorporating these principles. From the failure of ventilation systems to deliver prescribed flow rates, to the promise of performance-based standards, to the role of air cleaning as a fourth pillar of ventilation strategy - this discussion unpacks the complex reality of managing indoor air quality. The experts debate whether our current half-air change per hour standard is adequate, why cooker hoods might be our most important yet most neglected ventilation equipment, and how smart systems could redirect airflow to bedrooms where we spend a third of our lives. Perhaps most importantly, they address the fundamental challenge: how do we make the invisible visible? How do we give people agency over their indoor environment when they can't see or feel the pollutants affecting their health? The conversation concludes with each expert's vision for the next decade - from making ventilation a respected trade to achieving real-time visibility of indoor air quality in every home. This episode is essential listening for anyone involved in building design, ventilation, public health, or simply interested in understanding the air they breathe for 90% of their lives.
What this episode covers
Join us for this special collaboration with the AIVC as we revisit Technical Note 68, a landmark document on residential ventilation and health that's nearly a decade old but more relevant than ever. Why does indoor air quality matter as much as traffic safety or smoking cessation? Arnold Janssens from Ghent University introduces this deep dive into TN68, joined by three experts who shaped and continue to advance this critical field: Pawel Wargocki (DTU), one of the original editors; Valérie Leprince (CEREMA), with extensive knowledge of global ventilation standards; and Ben Jones (Nottingham University), who's carried forward the harm-based approach to indoor air quality. The conversation reveals a striking truth: particulate matter in our homes causes harm on a scale comparable to major public health concerns, yet remains largely invisible to both occupants and policymakers. The panel explores how the groundbreaking harm analysis in TN68 is finally bearing fruit, with ASHRAE's new health-based compliance pathway and Europe's updated Energy Performance of Buildings Directive incorporating these principles. From the failure of ventilation systems to deliver prescribed flow rates, to the promise of performance-based standards, to the role of air cleaning as a fourth pillar of ventilation strategy - this discussion unpacks the complex reality of managing indoor air quality. The experts debate whether our current half-air change per hour standard is adequate, why cooker hoods might be our most important yet most neglected ventilation equipment, and how smart systems could redirect airflow to bedrooms where we spend a third of our lives. Perhaps most importantly, they address the fundamental challenge: how do we make the invisible visible? How do we give people agency over their indoor environment when they can't see or feel the pollutants affecting their health? The conversation concludes with each expert's vision for the next decade - from making ventilation a respected trade to achieving real-time visibility of indoor air quality in every home. This episode is essential listening for anyone involved in building design, ventilation, public health, or simply interested in understanding the air they breathe for 90% of their lives.
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Technical Note 68 Revisited: How Residential Ventilation & Health Research Has Evolved
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