Multizone Modeling: Using CONTAM for Indoor Air Quality

This lecture provides a comprehensive tutorial on using CONTAM, a multizone indoor air quality and ventilation analysis software developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The instructor begins by explaining the software's capabilities, including simulating airflows, contaminant concentrations, and personal exposure. The focus is on creating a simple model of an apartment, adjusting airflow and contaminant parameters to match measured CO2 concentration data. The lecture covers the installation of the software, project setup, and the importance of defining zones and airflow paths. The instructor demonstrates how to sketch the layout of a home, define zones, and set airflow paths, emphasizing the significance of leakage areas and wind pressure. Additionally, the process of adding contaminant sources, particularly CO2, is detailed, including defining generation rates and schedules. The lecture concludes with running simulations and interpreting results, highlighting the importance of calibration and adjustments to improve model accuracy.