Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Developing a Management Plan

Roger G. Morse AIA Dyanki, Inc.

Do Nothing Until Problem Arises

• Very expensive • Facility shutdowns • Employee lost time • Disability and worker compensation claims • Increased absenteeism • Decreased productivity • Poor employee moral

Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ)

• Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) • Lighting • Noise • Ergonomics • Safety • Stress in the workplace

Operation of an IEQ Management Program

• Solve Obvious Problems • Empower building occupants to report IAQ Concerns • Set up a management system to make sure reports get to someone who takes action

Reports of IAQ Concerns

• May be early warning of a serious problem, • Could be result of an allergic reaction in one individual, • May be a baseless complaint.

Responding to Reports of IAQ Concerns

• All reports must be taken seriously.

• Deal with reports in a uniform manner.

• Use a tiered approach that brings more assets to bear as necessary.

First Tier Review

• Medical Review • Health and Safety Walk Through • Facilities Walk Through • Recommendations

First Tier Review

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Medical Review:

– document any symptoms experienced by the employee(s).

– evaluate the potential for the symptoms to be caused by indoor air quality.

First Tier Review

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Health and Safety Walk Through

: – Observe conditions, – Gather additional information, – Determine the extent of the problem, – Look for other problems (poor lighting, improper ergonomics, workplace stress).

First Tier Review

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Facilities Walk Through:

– Look for evident problems, – Document conditions in the space, – Initial evaluation of the HVAC system.

Second Tier Investigation

• If the First Tier Review does not resolve the issue then additional investigation is necessary. • Second tier at a level that can normally be accomplished by facility personnel using checklists.

Second Tier Investigation

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Health and Safety:

– Perform a survey to locate potential pollution sources.

– Prepare an inventory of chemicals used in the space.

– Provide the employee reporting the concern with a diary to log the times and locations of the occurrence.

Second Tier Investigation

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Facilities:

– Survey the facility for building or system problems (e.g. leaking roofs, poor housekeeping, faulty or leaking plumbing).

– Perform an HVAC evaluation.

Third Tier Investigation

• Data is collected on conditions in the building.

• If the facility management has the resources internal personnel can perform this work.

• May require outside consultant.

Third Tier Investigation

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Health and Safety:

– Measure for specific potential chemical contaminants.

– Inspect for microbiological growth and remove if found.

– Correct conditions that allowed mold amplification.

– Air sampling for bioaerosols is not generally recommended.

Third Tier Investigation

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Facilities:

– Log temperature and humidity (ASHRAE 55) – Log carbon dioxide levels for one week, – Measure carbon dioxide in various locations within the problem area, – Measure ventilation air (ASHRAE 62)

Fourth Tier Investigation

• Resolution not found.

• Corrective work does not pass a 60-day evaluation.

• Outside consultant.

• Procure IAQ investigation and design services with an annual contract for services.

Administrative Requirements of an IEQ Management Program

Setting up a Program

IEQ Management Program

• • • • • •

Policy and Organization Program Administration Documentation Training Communications Audit and Review

IEQ Management Program

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Policy and Organization

– formal decision at the topmost level – specific administrative position – responsibility and authority – effective control over activities that could impact on IEQ – head of buildings and grounds

IEQ Management Program

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Program Administration

– use existing management systems – simpler to add to or slightly modify existing controls than to invent and administer entirely new ones

IEQ Management Program

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Documentation

– Program Operation – Program Effectiveness – Inventory – Compliance with Regulations and Standards

IEQ Management Program

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Training

– sufficient to perform initial inspections – appropriate to level of activity

IEQ Management Program

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Communications

– occupants informed that they have an affirmative responsibility and full authority to report IEQ concerns – inform chain of command that they have a responsibility to forward reports – part of job performance evaluation

IEQ Management Program

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Audit and Review

– be critically evaluated at periodic intervals – success of report response procedures – effectiveness of administrative controls – adequacy of documentation – compliance with current regulations – level of personnel training – equipment condition

Roger G. Morse Dyanki, Inc.

504 Snake Hill Road Poestenkill, NY 12140