The impact of sealing ventilation shafts, installing self-balancing dampers and larger capacity exhaust fans on indoor air quality has not yet been thoroughly investigated. We examined IAQ outcomes in two groups of high-rise multifamily public housing. Both study and control group dwellings received ventilation shaft cleaning. The study group also received higher horsepower rooftop fans and ventilation shaft sealing to prevent leakage, and self-balancing dampers. We conducted interviews with residents 1 year before ventilation work and again 1 year after ventilation work completion (n = 96 households; 45 in the study group and 51 in the control group) that asked about housing conditions. In some dwellings, we also tested airflow and indoor air quality, including volatile organic compounds, carbon dioxide (CO₂), and formaldehyde. Ventilation improved in the study group and decreased in the control group. Across both groups, dwellings had statistically significant decreases in musty odors and presence of cockroaches. The study group’s ventilation upgrades increased airflow inside those dwellings, and the airflow in study group bathrooms was significantly better than that of control group bathrooms. These increased ventilation rates were associated with statistically significant improvements in relative humidity, CO₂, and formaldehyde in the study group. Enhanced ventilation should be implemented in multifamily housing to improve indoor air quality.

尚未彻底研究密封通风井，安装自平衡风门和大容量排气扇对室内空气质量的影响。我们研究了两组高层多户公共住房中的室内空气质量结果。研究组和对照组的住所均接受了通风井的清洁。该研究小组还获得了功率更高的屋顶风扇和通风竖井密封以防止泄漏，并配备了自动平衡风门。我们在通风工作开始前1年和通风工作结束后1年（n  = 96户；研究组45个，对照组51个）中与居民进行了访谈，询问住房条件。在某些住宅中，我们还测试了气流和室内空气质量，包括挥发性有机化合物，二氧化碳（CO₂），甲醛。研究组通气改善，而对照组则减少。在两组中，住宅的霉味和蟑螂的发生率均具有统计学意义。研究组的通风条件得到改善，增加了这些住宅内部的空气流通，研究组浴室的空气流通明显好于对照组浴室。在研究组中，这些增加的通气率与相对湿度，CO ₂和甲醛的统计学显着改善有关。多户住宅应加强通风，以改善室内空气质量。