The fundamentals of Indoor air quality Simon Turner LEED AP, WELL AP Welcome to Healthy Building’s “Introduction to indoor air quality.” This course will be approximately 90 minutes in length designed to educate building professionals on the principles of Indoor Air Quality and developing successful IAQ management programs. It also serves to fulfill the training requirement for The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design EQ Credit 1.1: Indoor Air Quality Management Program. DALLAS WASHINGTON, DC NEW YORK SAN FRANCISCO LOS ANGELES SAN DIEGO

Reporting Energy Water Legionella Indoor Air Quality Simon Turner Healthy Buildings (949) 450-1111

Some history

Human symptoms Sick Building Syndrome is a term used to describe a general and non-specific complaint that occurs when the occupant is present in the building. In SBS the specific source of the complaint is not routinely identified. It may be a combination of factors. Building Related Illness is the term used to identify a specific source or activity in the building responsible for the symptoms. This might include Legionella bacteria, mold growth, or an improperly located exhaust vent that impacts the indoor air quality. Multiple Chemical Sensitivity is still a debatable term to describe certain individuals who appear to maintain one or more severe allergies that may be linked to the building. These individuals have physical responses typically well below the threshold of the typical population. But what are the factors that give rise to these illnesses in buildings?

Causes Poor IAQ Proliferation of chemicals Tighter building envelopes Reduced ventilation Deferred maintenance Inadequate operating budget Perception and expectation Poor IAQ How did it come to be this way? Our steady movement away from an agrarian based society to an information based one, has brought us all indoors. Many believe it is the proliferation of chemicals used in our buildings or the construction of tighter building envelopes to conserve energy. Some believe reduced ventilation is to blame. Maybe deferred maintenance is the issue - with more and more pressure to minimize the operating budget. Mix enough of these issues together and its easy to imagine the effect this has on your perception of a healthful workplace.

Factors Affecting IAQ Well it’s not fully understood, but one of the most common factors affecting IAQ is the indoor climate- this is comprised of temperature, humidity, and airflow. When these factors are not well managed, complaints are quick to ensue. And to make matters worse, thermal discomfort tends to lower the tolerance to other IAQ factors.

The Basics Carbon Dioxide Carbon Monoxide Particulate Matter Microorganisms Volatile Organics Water

Contaminants Tobacco products Office equipment Cooking/microwave Occupants and activities have the capacity to add a number of contaminant sources to a building. Cooking activities and poorly exhausted office equipment. Simple overcrowding can add a burden to the air quality as well. Tobacco products Office equipment Cooking/microwave Art supplies Pens & paper products Personal products Tracked in dirt/pollen/dust animal dander Plywood/compressed wood Construction adhesives Asbestos products Insulation Wall/floor coverings (vinyl/plastic) Carpets/carpet adhesives Wet building products Transformers Upholstered furniture Renovation/remodeling Print/Photocopy Dry cleaning Science laboratory Medical office Hair/nail salon Cafeteria Heavily loaded filters Contaminated duct lining Dirty drain pans Humidifiers Lubricants Refrigerants Condition of mechanical room Combustion appliances (boilers, furnaces, generators, stoves, flues) Local traffic Loading dock traffic Construction dust Solvents Bathroom exhaust Restroom exhaust AHU relief vent Exhaust from major tenant (e.g. dry cleaner) Pools or stagnant water on roof Cooling tower mist (pathogens, Legionella) Pest fecal matter Trash and refuse area Chemicals, fertilizers, grounds keeping, storage Painting, roofing, sanding Soil gas Sewer gas Underground fuel storage tanks

Bad Air Makes you Stupid

Better News

Strategies for Control Management policies Pollution transport Air flow pathways indoors & outdoors HVAC/Ventilation When we talk about strategies for controlling air pollutants in buildings, there are 4 main concepts. The first involves written procedures, or management policies that help personnel and contractors comply with protocols that reduce building exposures. The second is understanding the driving forces of pollution transport – how contaminants move from one place to another. The third is understanding the sources themselves be they indoor or outdoor. And finally we cover the important role of ventilation in source control.

4-Step IAQ Protocol Reporting (LEED, GRESB, WELL, BREEAM) On-Going Monitoring Record Changes Evaluate Trends 4 Sample Pollutants (Inside & Out) Airborne Dusts, Gases, Fibers Chemicals & Microbes Establish an IAQ Database 3 Assess Building’s and HVAC Condition and How Currently Operated 2 Review How Building was Designed, & Effects of Outdoor Factors 1

If you do nothing else…

Train Him!

Thank you Tel (800) 352-0102 sturner@healthybuildings.com www.healthybuildings.com This is the end of Healthy Building’s training seminar on an Introduction to Indoor Air Quality. Feel free to call or email us with any questions regarding this presentation. Thank you for your time and attention.