Improved IQ on IAQ

"Improved IQ on IAQ"
Today's Facility Manager (11/08) Vol. 20, No. 11, P. 22; Mackey, Jr., Ray H.

Building managers often encounter difficulties in measuring indoor air quality (IAQ) because many variables are involved and many contaminants are odorless, colorless, and tasteless. IAQ has been pushed to the forefront by rising liability risks for mold and other contaminants and research indicating that improved IAQ bolsters worker productivity. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has teamed up with the American Institute of Architects, the Building Owners and Managers Association International, the U.S. Green Building Council, the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors of North America, and the Environmental Protection Agency on new IAQ guidance that will help building managers go further in complying with ASHRAE Standard 62.1, which imposes minimum ventilation rates and other requirements for commercial and industrial structures. The guidance, "Indoor Air Quality: Best Practices for Design, Construction, and Commissioning," will pave the way for designing IAQ throughout the building's life cycle. According to Andrew Persily, chair of the steering committee for the guide, "If developers or owners want to focus on IAQ, they need to think about it at the very beginning of the process so key decisions related to IAQ can be integrated with other design decisions upfront."
(Web Link)