REGULATIONS

LIMITATIONS Availability of funds Lack of scientific data Property rights of individuals

CURRENT EFFORTS Some regulations are being enforced in public buildings Indoor air quality act of 1989 (proposed but not passed), $48.5 million allocated per year for research and policy development Indoor air research by different federal agencies and non profit organizations CANADA, CHINA, AUSTRALIA and some countries in EUROPE have started implementing regulations for indoor air quality Various consumer groups are contributing to this by providing information on indoor air quality to public

STRATEGIES

AIR QUALITY STANDARDS These are the standards being set for indoor air quality based on the following factors:  No adverse health effect below some threshold level  Health risk  Political and economic considerations Example: Minnesota state has set a threshold level of 0.5 ppm for formaldehyde in new mobile homes.

EMISSION STANDARDS  These standards limit the level of pollutants in emissions from various building materials  Also known as product standards Example: standards for Formaldehyde emission from building materials

APPLICATION STANDARDS The application standards for many materials and substances that might cause indoor air pollution have been set  Many products are misapplied which might lead to emission of pollutants into the surrounding environment Example: improper application of pesticides might result in release of VOCs and other organic compounds.

PROHIBITIVE BANS Use of certain materials have been banned in certain regions and for certain purposes  Use of high sulfur coal in Chicago  Use of asbestos in building and school construction

PROHIBITIVE BANS  Kerosene heaters in California  Use of methylene chloride in paint strippers  CPSC banned the use of lead in paint for consumer use or in consumer products  Use of old fire extinguishers (manufactured before 1960’s)

WARNINGS Warnings regarding the chemical constituents of certain materials  Paints  Kerosene heaters  Mobile homes  Fire extinguishers

BAN ON DEVICES FDA prohibits devices that result in more than 0.05 ppm of ozone in occupied enclosed spaces Refrigerators and cooling systems using certain CFCs as coolants are banned

HEALTH GUIDELINES  U.S. EPA guideline for RADON  ASHRAE guideline for indoor air  NRC guideline for pesticides  NAS guideline for military housing

ASHRAE INDOOR AIR QUALITY STANDARD

VENTILATION GUIDELINES ASHRAE specified ventilation rates:  Commercial Facilities : 15 cfm/person to 60 cfm/person  Institutional Facilities : 15 cfm/person to 60 cfm/person  Residential Facilities : minimum of 15 cfm/person

ASHRAE The ventilation rate procedure The indoor air quality procedure

VENTILATION RATE PROCEDURE Lays emphasis on air cleaning, fresh and recirculated air Filters and dust collectors should be used for removal of particulate matter when necessary, dust collectors should be used if particulates size > 10 mg/m3 Relative humidity in habitable spaces preferably should be maintained between 30% and 60%

Pitfalls of the ventilation rate procedure Makes a lot of assumptions Assumes that outdoor air drawn by the HVAC system meets or exceeds the U.S. National Primary Ambient Air Quality Standards Unusual indoor contaminants or sources of contamination are not present Ventilation effectiveness is 100% The application of the standard will not necessarily result in acceptable indoor air quality This procedure is preferred than the other procedure

INDOOR AIR QUALITY PROCEDURE Direct approach to control of indoor air contaminants Restricts the levels of all known contaminants of concern to some specified acceptable levels

INDOOR AIR QUALITY PROCEDURE Quantitative evaluation Qualitative evaluation  Odor  Complex mixtures Additional condition: Recirculation – cleaning of gas and particulates

QUANTITATIVE EVALUATION The standard provides three different sources for acceptable levels of contaminants:  A table for acceptable contaminant levels in outdoor air from U.S. NAAQS  A table for four indoor air contaminants  Tables based on guidelines used in U.S.,Canada and WHO

IMPLEMENTING AN IAQ PROGRAM The IAQ program should consist of:  A policy statement  A management plan  The designation of an IAQ manager  Detailed building operation and maintenance procedures  Complaint response mechanisms  Education and training For an IAQ program to be successful, written documentation must be maintained