Air quality is one of the most important problems of the modern world, as it determines human health and changes occurring in other elements of nature, including climate change. For this reason, actions are taken to reduce the amount of harmful substances in the air. One such action is the use of building materials with special properties achieved by the application of self-cleaning coatings and photocatalytic additives. This article presents achievements in the field of additives and modifiers for building materials, whose task is to improve air quality. Concrete, cement, paints, and facade coatings modified based on the achievements of nanotechnology have been analyzed in terms of new properties and the possibility of their application in the area of modern environmental requirements. Both positive aspects and doubts were described in the scope of the effective reduction of the amount of gases such as VOC, NO_x, dust and microorganisms.

During rescue operations, one of the important parameters determining the effectiveness of the implementation of tactical mechanical ventilation is the selection of the appropriate size of the outlet opening. The objective of this article is to determine the effect of the size of the discharge opening area (0.24–1.2 m²) and other factors on the obtained flow parameters (flow velocity, volumetric flow rate and static pressure value) generated by the two tested positive pressure ventilators. The volumetric flow rate was determined by measuring the flow velocity at appropriately selected measurement points. Two ventilator units were tested (one was the conventional type, while two were turbo). During the tests, the fans generated a flow of 4624.17 m³/h to 14,020.92 m³/h (the first—conventional type) and 4884.66 m³/h to 15,656.33 m³/h (the second—turbo type). The analysis carried out in the article can be used as a guideline for designers of buildings, with particular emphasis on cases in which the staircase is not directly adjacent to the façade wall (an escape route built into the axis of the building).

Proper positioning of the positive pressure ventilator is an important aspect of conducting rescue operations. The purpose of this article was to determine the effect of the parameter of the distance of setting up a mobile fan (distance from 1 to 7 m) on the efficiency of implemented ventilation in a multistory building. The volumetric airflow rate was determined by measuring the flow velocity at 120 measurement points on the surface of the window opening (which served as the measurement plane) of a four-story building. Two positive pressure ventilators were tested (one was a conventional fan and the second a turbo type). The obtained volumetric airflow values ranged from 8591 to 15,656 m³/h, depending on the type of unit and positioning distance, respectively. The analysis performed in the article showed that the general guidelines for the distance of mobile fan positioning that are present in the literature may be inaccurate and outdated.

Metals have a crucial impact on the environment and the economy. They constitute macro- and microelements essential for the proper functioning of living organisms. On the other hand, their excess can pose a life-threatening risk. Of particular economic importance are metals such as Co, Ni, Mn, Ti, Al, Cd, Fe, and Li, which are used, among other things, to build batteries in electric and hybrid cars. In the event of a cell fire, significant amounts of metals are rapidly released into the environment. The magnitude of emissions depends on the type of chemistry used in the battery and the type of extinguishing agent used to extinguish the fire. It should be noted that the available literature only provides information on the total amount or concentration of a given metal in the analyzed samples. However, there is no information on the speciation of metals, including their macro and nano forms, which is crucial for determining the toxicity and biological and chemical activity of a given element.