A Guide To Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
4 Key Steps to Solving IAQ Issues
How often do you think about the air inside your home or workspace being hazardous? Since we spend nearly 90% of our time in indoor environments, even trace amounts of allergens can cause sore eyes, headaches, and fatigue. Other pollutants such as chemical vapors or biological contaminants (mold, Legionella, bacteria, etc.) can lead to respiratory disease, heart disease, cancer, or other short or long-term health effects.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) as the quality of air within and around buildings, directly impacting the well-being of occupants. Taking proactive measures to enhance your facility’s IAQ is crucial in combating indoor air pollution.
Watch the video below to learn the key steps to solving indoor air quality issues.
What Causes Indoor Air Pollution?
Indoor air pollution stems from gases and particles emitted into the air. Poor ventilation systems can escalate indoor pollutant levels. Elevated temperatures and humidity also play crucial roles in this scenario. Additionally, inadequate ventilation systems can increase the amount of indoor air pollutants inside a building.
Here are the common sources of indoor air pollution:
Smoke from cooking
Building materials
Cleaning products
Excess moisture
Pollutants from the outdoors
Tobacco products and secondhand smoke
Mold
How IAQ Affects People, Buildings, and Businesses
The primary concern with poor indoor air quality (IAQ) revolves around the well-being and safety of the individuals inside the building. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 3.2 million people die yearly from indoor air pollution, and up to 200,000 deaths occur in the U.S. annually.
Buildings and facilities can also suffer from the effects of poor IAQ. The average U.S. commercial building is around 53 years old and can be a source of numerous indoor air pollutants. Poor IAQ can lead to corrosion, damaging a facility’s HVAC systems, and other building components.
Additionally, the financial implications can be heavy for businesses. For example, the cost of HVAC system repairs or replacements, coupled with productivity losses due to sick employees, can escalate quickly. In order to reduce the risk of poor IAQ, it's essential for building owners and facility managers to prioritize maintaining good indoor air quality. This not only safeguards building occupants’s health but also prolongs the lifespan of the building infrastructure.
4 Key Steps to Solving IAQ Issues
Understanding and managing indoor air quality issues is crucial for our health, the structural integrity of our buildings, and overall business performance. There are four crucial steps to effectively resolve IAQ problems; these include identifying potential sources of indoor air pollution, regularly monitoring and measuring indoor air quality when an issue arises, and taking proactive measures to mitigate their impact. These steps will not only ensure a healthier indoor environment but also help prevent future IAQ issues.
1. Identifying IAQ Issues
It is essential for facility managers to stay vigilant when looking for visible signs of poor indoor air quality. Symptoms of poor IAQ can be subtle and may resemble common ailments. Any unexplained or sudden onset of allergies, respiratory problems, or fatigue should be examined. Physical signs within the building may also be present, such as mold growth, dust build-up, and water stains on ceilings or walls. Asbestos also needs to be checked as it is more dangerous during renovations or demolitions. These issues can be identified by using specialized testing equipment, coupled with IAQ assessments performed by industrial hygiene professionals.
Identifying Steps:
Look for visible signs of indoor pollutants related to building systems or building materials
Recognize/Identify unusual odors in occupied indoor spaces
Keep track of any health problems or symptoms
2. Monitoring IAQ Issues
Monitoring IAQ is an integral part of maintaining a healthy indoor environment. Regular checks for mold, allergens, and harmful chemicals can help to detect issues early on. Using innovative tools, like air quality sensors, helps keep track of the air quality inside an occupied space. These devices can measure air contaminants, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), dust, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide. It's advised to hire professionals for indoor air quality assessments so they can provide accurate readings and suggest remedial actions if necessary.
Inside most workplaces, building occupants usually don’t have access to their building’s HVAC systems. Facility managers need to consistently check the air filters in these systems so that they can maintain clean air for their building occupants. Larger buildings with HVAC systems that operate on a Building Automation System (BAS) should have a BAS contractor perform regularly scheduled maintenance on the system quarterly or semi-annually.
Monitoring Steps:
Install an air quality monitor for target-specific issues
Regular maintenance and change of air filter for your HVAC system
Regular maintenance walk-throughs to visually inspect for water damage or staining
3. Measuring IAQ Issues
Measuring the issues related to IAQ involves the use of advanced tools and techniques. Since mold can grow wherever there are chronic or acute moisture issues, checking for signs of mold growth using visual indicators or unusual musty malodors is crucial for the well-being of building occupants. The growth of fungi deteriorates and damages building materials which is extremely costly to fix.
Radon is an odorless and colorless gas that can build up in any facility, whether it’s new or old. Testing for radon is vital in maintaining the health of individuals as it is the second leading cause of lung cancer.
Using an air quality monitor is another step in measuring IAQ. Indoor air quality monitors determine how many indoor pollutants are inside a facility while also indicating if a mask is needed outside due to outdoor air pollution such as wildfire smoke or smog.
Measuring Steps:
Evaluate relative mold presence
Test for radon
Perform air quality monitoring
4. Improving IAQ Issues
Improving indoor air quality requires proactive measures. Enhancing ventilation is crucial for eliminating polluted air and introducing fresh air. A highly effective practice involves routinely inspecting HVAC units to verify that the outside air dampers are correctly adjusted to facilitate sufficient outdoor air circulation within the area. Leaving doors or windows open in the wrong conditions could make the problem worse.
Regular cleanings such as dusting, mopping, and vacuuming will assist in reducing allergens and pollen from indoor environments. Keeping indoor spaces dry and resolving leaks promptly deters mold growth and prevents water damage.
Eliminating sources of pollution also aids in the improvement of indoor air quality. Removing any potential sources of VOCs, such as paint or cleaning products, using lower VOC-containing products, and while also using an air purifier will help mitigate pollutants from the air.
Lastly, fostering a smoking-free environment eliminates tobacco smoke, a major indoor air pollutant. It's equally important to educate building occupants on their role in maintaining good IAQ.
Improving Steps:
Increase ventilation
Clean and perform building maintenance regularly
Eliminate indoor pollutants
The Benefit of Working with an Industrial Hygienist
An industrial hygienist is trained with specialized skills and knowledge to assess and manage IAQ problems. They use advanced diagnostic tools to identify airborne contaminants, advise on cost-effective mitigation strategies, and perform routine monitoring to ensure ongoing air quality. Engaging an industrial hygienist not only helps improve IAQ but also contributes to a healthier and more productive workplace.
Top 10 Questions to Identify Indoor Air Quality Concerns
Download our checklist here that walks you through the top 10 questions to identify any potential indoor air quality concerns in your building.
