Indoor air in non-industrial buildings is polluted by people, their activities, tobacco smoking, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, building and furnishing materials, and electronic equipment. The sensory pollution loads on the air indoors quantified with an olf unit are summarized. They can be used to predict the impact of indoor pollution sources on the perceived air quality. Despite some limitations, they at present seem to be a suitable pragmatic tool for estimating the ventilation requirements for acceptable indoor air quality, based on perceived air quality. Control of pollution sources indoors and the avoidance of superfluous pollution sources is the most effective method to reduce sensory pollution loads in buildings.
Practical implications: Data on sensory pollution loads can be used to predict ventilation requirements for acceptable perceived indoor air quality.