Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
The field of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) deals with the many interrelated factors that influence air quality in the indoor environment. Air is a constant interaction with our environment due to breathing and heat exchange through the skin. That is why the quality of air in homes, offices, and public spaces plays a major role in the comfort and health of the occupants.
If your company requires an Indoor Air Quality Assessment, Trileaf Corporation can perform an IAQ Inspection to determine the cause of health complaints and if any improvements could or should be made to achieve better air quality.
What to do if you suspect an indoor air quality problem?
First, determine if there is a fast progressing problem among numerous people. With most indoor air quality (IAQ) problems you have time but not with carbon monoxide. If anyone is suffering from severe headaches and fighting to stay awake it may be carbon monoxide poisoning which requires and evacuation and medical attention for those suffering symptoms. Carbon monoxide detectors are inexpensive and it is recommended that all homes and buildings be outfitted with them.
Assuming the indoor air quality problem isn't severe enough to require evacuation it is prudent to collect information that can help determine the problem. Describe the symptoms and when they appeared. Find out how many people have been affected. Collect basic information regarding the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Inquire whether any out of the ordinary activities may have introduced contaminants into the air.
IAQ consultants collect as much information as possible in order to pinpoint indoor air quality problems and recommend solutions. If a cause and solution is not apparent after taking the above steps it may be time to contact your local Health Department for advice or contact an IAQ consultant.
If you require an indoor air quality assessment and would like more information about the IAQ services we provide, visit our Indoor Air Quality services page.
How can building owners and managers improve indoor air quality?
It's always best to head off problems before they start. Building owners and managers should perform preventative maintenance on the HVAC system, plumbing, and building exterior. Owners and managers should also recognize that some construction and maintenance tasks as well as new activities by occupants can hamper the HVAC system or introduce new pollutants that overwhelm a building that previously had adequate indoor air quality (IAQ).
Making sure the HVAC system is providing the amount of good quality air as designed can prevent problems associated with excess dust, temperature and humidity control, stuffiness, or drafts. Air filters should be inspected once a month and replaced if necessary. The ideal filter is neither perfectly clean nor clogged with dust. Some particulate in the filter actually improves the cleaning efficiency of the filter. Establish a spring and fall routine to check the settings of a humidifier if one is part of the HVAC system. Failing to turn off the humidifier prior to the air conditioning season and turning it off prior to the heating season can cause comfort complaints and waste money.
Plumbing leaks or breaks and sewage backups allow water, bacteria, and odors to create indoor air quality problems. Consider installing a sump pump with battery back-up and inspect it according to manufacturer's instructions to ensure it will operate under worst case conditions such as power outages during severe storms.
Building exteriors should be inspected in spring and fall for problems with the gutters, roof, vents, windows, brick or siding. The exterior checks serve to minimize water leakage into the building which can cause IAQ problems such as mold, mildew, or simply excess humidity.
It can be difficult to control activities of building occupants but owners and managers can attempt to plan ahead for events that can cause air quality complaints and communicate with everyone how their activities can affect others. Demolition, drywall installation, painting, carpet installation, and new furnishings are common causes of indoor air quality complaints but planning can minimize problems. Prior to any remodeling projects determine if the proposed project will decrease the effectiveness of the HVAC system and plan improvements if necessary. Adding walls changes air distribution patterns and can cause areas to no longer have enough fresh air.
If you require a indoor air quality assessment and would like more information about the overall IAQ assessment services we provide, visit our homepage for a list of all Indoor Air Quality services that we provide.
Frequently Asked Questions about Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
Why do some people complain of bad air quality when others feel fine?
People have varying sensitivity to factors that affect indoor air. One person may have no complaints with interior dust levels that cause others problems yet be irritated by a fresh coat of paint. The following are usually bothersome to a majority of people:
- Temperatures far outside normal room temperature of 74 deg F.
- Humidity levels far outside the comfort range
- Very low amount of fresh, clean outside air
- Large-scale application of latex paint
- Use of oil-based paint, and lacquers
- Use of aerosol products in small or poorly ventilated spaces
What affects a person's sensitivity to air quality?
Health status, nutritional status, smoker-status, and age are just some factors that affect whether a person is susceptible to effects of poor air quality. Conditions such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, chronic pulmonary obstruction, immune disorders, etc. can greatly increase sensitivity. Air quality sensitivity can be a side effect of certain medications. Poor nutrition can invite infections passed via contaminated indoor air. Smoker's airways tend to be more irritated and sensitive to irritants other than smoke. Age effects the amount of air a person is exposed to via breathing. Young children have higher respiration rates than adults thus can be more sensitive to poor air quality.
Why is indoor air quality more of a concern now than in the past?
The most commonly given reason is that "tight" energy efficient buildings do not allow for adequate fresh air to disperse indoor air pollutants. Many modern office buildings are not equipped with windows that open. Energy efficiency and good indoor air quality are not mutually exclusive. A goal of IAQ experts is to balance the positive aspects of energy efficiency with the need to allow plenty of fresh air for occupants.
Another reason is the change in lifestyle from more active and outdoor to majority sedentary and indoors. Spending an increasing amount of time indoors not only raises the odds that poor air quality will take its toll but can be the cause of poor air quality itself.
A third reason is the awareness level of indoor air quality problems has increased through collection and sharing of scientific knowledge as well as media exposure of high profile cases involving bad IAQ. Mold has supplanted environmental tobacco smoke as the indoor air quality concern getting the most media attention since many buildings are now smoke-free.
What are Building Related Illnesses?
Building related illnesses are specific illnesses which can be attributed to specific indoor air pollutants. Legionnaires's disease is a classic example of a building related illness first discovered in 1976 after an outbreak at an American Legion convention in Philadelphia. Legionella pneumophila bacteria can proliferate in moist environments such as cooling towers and associated ventilation equipment and causes Legionnaire's disease which is a bacterial pneumonia.
With a building related illness a person will not find relief from symptoms simply by leaving the building. Building related illnesses typically affect a smaller percentage of occupants than Sick Building Syndrome.
What is Sick Building Syndrome?
Sick building syndrome can affect a large percent of occupants with nonspecific symptoms and the cause is often difficult to pinpoint. Symptoms such as itchy eyes, runny nose, repeated sneezes, and headache are common. Causes can include a combination of cigarette smoke, dust levels, chemicals, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and many other irritants.
What do I need to know about mold?
Mold is a complex subject but several concepts can be helpful to understand. First, mold can typically be controlled by controlling moisture, preventing water leakage, or cleaning and drying material within 48 hours of becoming wet. Second, only elevated levels of mold are a concern as mold is nearly everywhere. It is not feasible or necessary to create mold-free buildings. A third concept is that mold is often detected visually but the exposure is via airborne mold spores. Mold related health complaints can occur in areas with no visible mold but elevated airborne mold spore levels. Conversely there may be significant visual mold but minimal airborne mold spores due to the life cycle of the mold.
If you have more questions about indoor air quality and the services that Trileaf offers, please contact our Saint Louis, Missouri office or visit our Indoor Air Quality services page.