Melanie Derby
Assistant Professor, Kansas State University
Melanie Derby graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in 2008. She then joined an Office of Naval Research-sponsored MURI project at RPI for graduate study. She received her M.S. in 2010 and Ph.D. in May 2013, and joined the Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Department at Kansas State University in August 2013. Her research focuses on energy, with work pertaining to buildings, power generation, and oil processing.
Topic of Discussion
"The effects of low humidity on human comfort, health, and indoor environmental quality"
In buildings, there are functional upper level humidity limits, due in part to the reduction of thermal comfort, and growth of mold, fungi, and other microorganisms at high relative humidities. However, the scientific basis for low humidity has not recently been as well documented. This work seeks to determine the effects of low humidity (relative humidities under 40%) on building occupants.
A detailed literature review was conducted to identify relevant, controlled studies conducted in laboratories, commercial buildings, and residences. Data were identified with relevance to human comfort, health, and IEQ at low relative humidities. For human comfort, thermal comfort, skin dryness, and eye irritation are considered. Low relative humidity has a strong impact on human health, including disease transmission, allergies, and asthma. In addition, low relative humidity impacts ozone generation and indoor air quality (IAQ).
This talk will present several case studies for factors which affect the comfort, health, and IEQ of building occupants at low relative humidities. This research is sponsored by ASHRAE committees 5.11 Humidifying Equipment and 9.6 Health Care Facilities.
