How to Develop a Better Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) for Occupants

As there is a relationship between building occupants and building owners, facility managers are desired to develop a better Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) for occupants. Green building movement has created an awareness among the people and the facility managers are wishing to improve and maintain IAQ and indoor environment at the time of building design, maintenance and operations.

Facility managers can implement better IAQ by following three steps: firstly it is necessary to increase their knowledge on IAQ, facility managers must be involved as a key member in facility design or retrofits, help building owners with practical affects including energy efficiency and the effect of change in climate on IAQ practices.

There is a lot of information available from a variety of resources that provides an outline for IAQ problems and solutions. Facility managers can use this information that is helpful to serve their owners to strengthen IAQ within the building.

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, provides an introduction to preventing, identifying, and resolving IAQ problems in various public and commercial buildings. Facility managers use this resource for developing IAQ profile based on building conditions. It also enables them to create an IAQ management plan, implement strategies for identifying causes of IAQ problems and determining if an IAQ problem is resolved.

Indoor air pollution can be seen due to poor IAQ, which causes symptoms of health problems. The effects of pollutants such as carbon monoxide are a cause on building occupants.

A better indoor air quality can be developed by following strategies of radon control with potential ventilation paths that limit the impact of emission on buildings.