Journal of Korean Institute of Architectural Sustainable Environment and Building Systems ISSN:1976-6483(Print) 2586-0666(Online) 한국건축친환경설비학회논문집

Microbial damage and contamination in apartment buildings causes respiratory and skin diseases to occupants and may cause aesthetic damage to buildings. Remedying microbial damage in apartment buildings requires a lot of time and money, expertise and the process is complex. In this study, the possibility of microbial control was confirmed by applying the 405 nm LED module to the ventilation system for apartment buildings. The ventilation system has been used for one year, and the contamination condition was confirmed visually. A 405 nm LED module developed for ventilation systems was installed on the OA side to confirm the reduction effect of airborne microorganisms from outdoor air and the microbial contamination that may occur inside the ventilation system. The airborne microorganisms were sampled from the outside air and supply air diffuser. Also, the surface microorganisms were observed by sampling from the Pre, HEPA filter and the heat exchange element surface. In terms of the overall reduction rate, surface bacteria were reduced by 45% and surface mold by 90% after the LED was irradiated for 3 weeks. In the case of airborne microorganisms, both bacteria and mold were reduced by 71%. The heat exchange efficiency was 95% on average before and after LED module installation. Therefore, it was confirmed that microorganism control is possible with an LED module using 405 nm visible light, but long-term irradiation is required.