Guidelines and Strategies for Maintaining Acceptable Indoor Air Quality

ASHRAE, SMACNA, LEED, EPA, OSHA, NIOSH, NYCDOH, ACGIH, AIHA what do these have to do with building air quality?

Victor DAmato, CIH, CSP

Reston, VA 703-689-9482, ext, 111 www.atriumehs.com vdamato@atriumehs.com

Objectives
Problem Everyone faces indoor air or environmental quality issues in one way or another. Plethora of guidelines, standards, recommendations, etc.but no clear rules. Solution (well, at least part of it) Understand whats out there Understand how its inter-related Understand the scope and limitations

Lets Start From The End!

ANY QUESTIONS?

IAQ Basics - HVAC System Layout

Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) vs Building Related Illness (BRI)

Sick Building Syndrome

A persistent set of symptoms in ~20%
Eye, nose, throat irritation Headaches Fatigue Reduced concentration Irritability Dry skin Nasal congestion Difficulty breathing Nose bleeds Nausea

Cause(s) not recognizable Complaints/symptoms relieved after exiting building

Building Related Illness

Clinically recognized disease Exposure to indoor pollutants Recognizable causes
Legionnaires disease Hypersensitivity pneumonitis Humidifier/Pontiac fever Asthma Allergies Respiratory diseases

Acceptable Indoor Air

Air in which there are no known contaminates at harmful concentrations and which a substantial majority (usually ~80%) of the people exposed do not express dissatisfaction.
ASHRAE 62-1999

Factors Affecting Indoor Air Quality

Source: there is a source of contamination or discomfort indoors, outdoors, or within the mechanical systems of the building. HVAC: the HVAC system is not able to control existing air contaminants and ensure thermal comfort (temperature and humidity conditions that are comfortable for most occupants). Pathways: one or more pollutant pathways connect the pollutant source to the occupants and a driving force exists to move pollutants along the pathway(s). Occupants: building occupants are present.

DESIGN RENOVATE EPA ASHRAE ASHRAE LEED

MAINTAIN

ACCEPTABLE BUILDING AIR QUALITY LIFE CYCLE

SMACNA

CONSTRUCT

LEED SMACNA ASHRAE COMMISSION

ASHRAE Standard 62.1 What Is It?

Title: Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality Purpose: to specify minimum ventilation rates and indoor air quality that will be acceptable to human occupants and are intended to minimize adverse health effects. Scope: All commercial, institutional, and high-rise residential buildings

Its the ventilation standard

ASHRAE Standard 62.1

Its the basis for many ventilation codes, both now (UMC) and in the future (IMC) More stringent than codes in some cases (may help establish the standard-of-care) Less stringent than codes in some cases Compliance with Std 62.1-2004 is a prerequisite for any LEED credits under the New Construction (NC) criteria

What Does Std 62.1 Require?

General requirements (Sect 4 and 5)
To reduce generation of indoor contaminants and introduction of outdoor contaminants

Ventilation requirements (Sect 6)

To dilute and remove indoor contaminants

Construction, startup, operation and maintenance requirements (Sect 7 and 8)

To assure installation/operation as designed

Std 62.1-2007 Section 6.0 Procedures

6.1.1 Ventilation Rate Procedure (VRP). Prescribes procedures and outdoor air rates, assuming typical space contaminant sources and source strengths 6.1.2 IAQ Procedure (IAQP). Requires analysis of contaminant sources, concentration targets and perceived air quality targets and calculation of outdoor air rates needed to assure IAQperformance specified
Compliance with Standard 62.1 using the IAQP does NOT meet LEED NC EQp1

VRP - Outdoor Air Quality

National Ambient Air Quality Standards
Primary Standards Level Averaging Time 9 ppm 8-hour (10 mg/m3) 35 ppm 1-hour (40 mg/m3) 0.15 g/m3 Rolling 3-Month Average 3 1.5 g/m Quarterly Average 0.053 ppm Annual (100 g/m3) (Arithmetic Mean) 0.100 ppm 1-hour 3 150 g/m 24-hour 15.0 g/m3 35 g/m3 0.075 ppm (2008 std) 0.08 ppm (1997 std) 0.12 ppm 0.03 ppm 0.14 ppm Annual (Arithmetic Mean) 24-hour 8-hour 8-hour Secondary Standards Level Averaging Time None Same as Primary Same as Primary Same as Primary None Same as Primary Same as Primary Same as Primary Same as Primary Same as Primary

Pollutant Carbon Monoxide

Lead

Nitrogen Dioxide Particulate Matter (PM10) Particulate Matter (PM2.5) Ozone

Sulfur Dioxide

1-hour Same as Primary Annual 0.5 ppm 3-hour (Arithmetic Mean) (1300 g/m3) 24-hour

Ventilation Rate Procedure Minimum Ventilation Rates

IAQ Procedure - Section 6.3

Contaminant Sources. Must identify contaminants of concern, along with sources and source strengths Contaminant Concentration. Must specify target concentration and exposure time, referencing cognizant authority, for each C of C Perceived IAQ. Must specify target perceived air quality in terms of percent satisfied Design Approaches. Must follow an acceptable design procedure to find required zone and system airflow rates, and other parameters (e.g.,air cleaner efficiency)

LEED IEQ
Goal is to design and construct buildings that minimize the potential for IAQ concerns
Control Sources Appropriate HVAC design Minimize potential pathways

LEED Control Sources

Environmental Tobacco Smoke Selection of materials
Low emitting adhesives, sealants, paints, coatings, flooring systems, composite wood and agrifiber products, systems furniture and seating

Buyer Beware
Construction Adhesive VOC compliant <0.008 % formaldehyde .008 X 10,000 = 80 ppm PEL formaldehyde 0.75 ppm Maximum concentration IAQ mgmt Plan 27 ppb or 0.027 ppm

LEED Control Sources

Construction Indoor Air Quality Management Plan
During construction and prior to occupancy
Chemical Contaminant Formaldehyde Particulates (PM10) Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOC) 4-Pheylcyclohexene (4-PCH) Carbon Monoxide (CO) Maximum Concentration 27 parts per billion (ppb) 50 g/m3 500 g/m3 6.5 g/m3 9 ppm, <2 ppm above outdoors

LEED - HVAC
Design according to ASHRAE 62.1 Ventilation requirements are based on space utilization

LEED - PATHWAYS
Isolate areas of hazardous materials or processes
Separation of storage rooms, workrooms, etc i.e. slab to slab walls and isolated ventilation

SUMMARY
LEED shouldnt be the driver behind building design and construction, it is a method for verifying sustainable design/construction decisions and methods. LEED certification doesnt mean building occupants wont have IAQ concerns the LEED process does, however, address 3 of the 4 factors recognized as affecting IAQ, and should minimize their occurrence.

SMACNA - IAQ GUIDELINES FOR OCCUPIED BUILDINGS UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Chapter 3 Control Measures
HVAC Protection Source Control Pathway Interruption Housekeeping Scheduling

SMACNA - IAQ GUIDELINES

Chapter 4 Managing the Process
Assigning Responsibilities Initial Planning On-going Management Selecting IAQ Controls Identify sources of odors and dusts Locate areas potentially affected by project Identify polluting construction activities Classify potential problems by severity Identify control options Select specific control measures

SMACNA - IAQ GUIDELINES

Appendix C Planning Checklist

Potential Emissions Source & Class Pathway Affected Areas & Worst Case Controls Options & Comments

Appendix D Inspection Checklist

EPA
1991 Building Air Quality, developed by the EPA and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, provides practical suggestions on preventing, identifying, and resolving indoor air quality (IAQ) problems in public and commercial buildings. Still relevant today!

Established Criteria
Ventilation for IAQ ASHRAE 62.1-2007
Minimum outdoor (fresh) air (OA) rates Based on number of occupants, space size and activity level Minimum outdoor (fresh) air (OA) rates Based on number of occupants and activity level Designed to maintain CO2 <700 ppm above outdoor levels Objective is to control

Ventilation for Dilution ASHRAE 62.1-2007 App. C

bioeffluents

Thermal Comfort ASHRAE 55-2004

Recommended temperature based on season and relative humidity

Established Criteria
OSHA
Occupational Exposure Levels for Volatile organic compounds Asbestos Lead

EPA
Radon Lead in paint (LBP) and lead dust

Established Criteria
The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), Bioaerosols, Assessment and Control The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), Assessment, Remediation and Post-Remediation Verification of Mold in Buildings Visual inspection and verification of the presence of mold growth is critical Recommend that a comparison of indoor air sample results to outdoor air sample results Results may be used to assess if an indoor source is contributing to indoor fungal spore concentrations

Established Criteria
ACGIH and AIHA - Any of the following conditions found in air sampling results may indicate an indoor fungal source is present and further evaluation and investigation is warranted: concentrations of fungi measured indoors are significantly greater than those measured outdoors; or, the predominant type of fungi measured indoors is different than the predominant type measured outdoors; or, potentially pathogenic fungi are measured indoors. OSHA refers to an indoor airborne concentration of 1,000 colony forming units of culturable (viable) fungi per cubic meter of air (cfu/m3) as a possible indicator of indoor contamination

Recognized IAQ Guidelines

CO CO2 VOCs OSHA PEL: 50 ppm 8-hr TWA 5000 ppm 8-hr TWA Depends on compound 3 (1,800 mg/m for n-hexane) PEL: 0.75 ppm 8-hr TWA AL: 0.5 ppm 8-hr TWA 1,000 CFU/m
3

ASHRAE 9 ppm 8-hr TWA 35 ppm 1-hr TWA 700 ppm above outdoor Depends on compound

ACGIH/AIHA 35 ppm 8-hr TWA 5,000 ppm 8-hr TWA Depends on compound 3 (176 mg/m for n-hexane) Ceiling: 0.3 ppm - less than outdoor - similar prevalence to outdoors - no know pathogens

Formaldehyde Airborne Mold

Not Specified Not Specified

Radon: 4 pCu/L (EPA Action Level) Lead Paint: 1 mg/cm2 (by XRF), 0.5% (5,000 ppm) by weight (EPA) Lead Dust: 40 ug/ft2 floors/ 250 ug/ft2 window sills (EPA/HUD) Relative Humidity
30-50% 50-60% 60-70%

Winter Temperature
68.5 - 76.0 68.5 - 74.5 68.0 - 74.0

Summer Temperature
74.0 - 80.0 73.0 - 79.0 72.5 - 78.0

Recommended Criteria For Allergens

There are no established regulatory standards
RECOMMENDATIONS Allergen Fungal (mold) Spores Dust Mites Cat Dog Cockroach Rat Mouse
LOW SIGNIFICANT HIGH

Depends on genus and species < 2 ug/g < 1 ug/g < 10 ug/g < 2 U/g < 0.5 ug/g < LOD 2 - 10 ug/g 1 - 8 ug/g > 10 ug/g > 2 U/g > 0.5 ug/g > LOD > 10 ug/g > 8 ug/g

ANY QUESTIONS?