subject: Demonstration Of Improved Indoor Air Quality In New Buildings [print this page] Control of the sources indoor air contamination in buildings is the most effective and energy efficient way to assure acceptable indoor air quality (IAQ). Traditionally, ventilation with relatively clean outdoor air is used to remove indoor air contaminants. However due to our societys increasing focus on energy conservation, new buildings are constructed with tighter structures and lower rates of outdoor air ventilation. This is particularly true for residences, which typically dont have dedicated ventilation systems. Thus, there is less dilution of indoor air contaminants and sources of air contaminants take on more importance. Sources of emissions of volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), an important contaminant class, include the large quantities of interior building products and furniture that are introduced during the construction, renovation, and decorating of buildings. Additionally, large amounts of some consumer products, such as cleaning agents, are used regularly indoors.
Indoor air quality standards can be used to guide the selection of building products, furniture, and other products. For example, many building products, such as carpet, hard surface flooring, wall panels and paints, are now tested for their emissions of VOCs following a method developed by the California Department of Public Health that is widely known as CA Section 01350. Products that meet this standard have demonstrated low emissions of many VOCs of concern. Formaldehyde emission standards for composite wood panels also are contributing to the increased availability of finished products, such as cabinetry and doors, with lower IAQ impacts. Architects can select these lower emitting interior building products and furnishings to help achieve improved and acceptable IAQ. For example, by careful selection of products with very low formaldehyde emissions, it now should be possible to construct buildings with indoor air formaldehyde concentrations of less than 10 parts-per-billion.
Architects can demonstrate that their efforts to control the sources of indoor air contaminants in new or renovated buildings have been effective by measuring the concentrations of VOCs in these buildings before they are occupied. This type of indoor air quality testing is routinely conducted to fulfill the requirements of the U.S. Green Building Councils LEED IAQ management plan credit. The testing is accomplished by qualified field investigators using appropriate analytical laboratory services. In some cases, organizations may have both field investigation and chemical analysis capabilities in house. In other cases, the field team contracts for analytical laboratory services. The final IAQ report should include the target VOC air contaminant criteria and the concentrations that were achieved. If the architect has done his/her job well and was able to control the most important sources, the air quality in the building should meet expectations.
