Indoor Air Quality

Indoor Air Quality

Indoor Environmental Consultants (IEC)

787 568-8880 www.iec-pr.com

carlos@iec-pr.com

The News

Several studies by EPA, states, and independent scientific panels have consistently ranked indoor air pollution as an important environmental health problem.

The Good News

Indoor Environmental Consultants (IEC) can help you in all your Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) needs.

Acceptable Indoor Air Quality

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) defines acceptable IAQ as “air in which there are no known contaminants at harmful concentrations as determined by cognizant authorities and with which a substantial majority (80% or more) of the people exposed do not express dissatisfaction.(ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2010, Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality)

Why is Indoor Air Quality Important?

EPA Statement:

Indoor air quality is a major concern to businesses, building managers, tenants, and employees because it can impact the health, comfort, well being, and productivity of building occupants.

Why is Indoor Air Quality Important?

Most Americans spend up to 90% of their time indoors and many spend most of their working hours in an office environment. Studies conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and others show that indoor environments sometimes can have levels of pollutants that are actually higher than levels found outside.Pollutants in our indoor environment can increase the risk of illness.

Can better air quality reduce your buildings operating costs?

A proactive approach to indoor air quality (IAQ) can save money through improved heating and cooling efficiencies; improved office environment, occupant morale, and increased employee productivity.

Can better air quality reduce your buildings operating costs?

IAQ affects occupant health, comfort, and productivity, and in some cases even building usability, all of which can have significant economic impacts for building owners and occupants.While it is hard to put firm numbers on these benefits, there is increasing evidence of measurable productivity increases and reduced absentee rates in spaces with better IAQ. In considering the economics of IAQ, it is important to note that the salaries of building occupants are the largest cost associated with building operation, over passing energy by a factor of 50 or even 100.

Can better air quality reduce your buildings operating costs?

To think about:

If you are a property manager, improved IAQ

will also help make your building more marketable to prospective tenants.

Proactive approach

A Pro-Active approach is to assess your building to identify factors or conditions that could negatively impact indoor air quality, including mold growth or water intrusion and to conduct air sampling to assure compliance with recognized standards for IAQ.

Proactive approach

By taking a proactive approach, building management can lessen the chance that problems will occur and be ready to deal with IAQ issues when they do arise.

Our Mission IEC

To help you to assure compliance with maximum indoor pollutant concentrations and to identify any issue that can have major impact on IAQ.This is why as a joint venture we offer for your peace of mind, the following services:

BASELINE IAQ TESTING

HVAC System Verification: To assure compliance with recognized standards for indoor air quality including ASHRAE Standard 62-2010 or latest version, verify the performance of each HVAC system including space temperature and space humidity uniformity and outside air quantity.

BASELINE lAQ TESTING

Air Sampling:Collect air samples during normal business hours, with building operating at normal HVAC rates for:- Sample and record outside air levels of formaldehyde and TVOC contaminants at outside air intake simultaneously with indoor tests to establish basis of comparison for these contaminant levels. Indoor testing will be done in the breathing zone; between 3' and 6' from the floor.

BASELINE IAQ TESTING

Environmental (Indoor) Monitoring for: - Particles (PM10,  PM2.5) - Total VOCs

-Bioaerosols air (indoor vs. outdoor comparison)

-Bioaerosols surfaces (visible growth)

-Carbon Dioxide - Carbon Monoxide - Ozone- Nitrogen dioxide - Ammonia -Hydrogen sulfide

BASELINE lAQ TESTING

Air-O-Cell samples, in order to ascertain levels of air borne particles such as opaque particles, skin cell fragments, dust and fibers.

BASELINE lAQ TESTING

HVAC System Inspection: 

Cleaning and hygiene condition assessment including the AHU’s and Ductwork. Note: Maintaining clean heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems is an important part of sustaining acceptable indoor air quality (IAQ).

BASELINE lAQ TESTING

HVAC System Inspection:

Filtration System assessment including; filter installation; integrity, efficiency and replacement schedule.

  Drain pan operation and condition.

BASELINE IAQ TESTING

HVAC System Inspection:Identification of visible contamination

sources; internal insulation, fan, coil and other internal components

Condition and physical integrity of the housing, components and surfaces.

Fresh air intake location.

HVAC System Inspection

This inspection of the AHU’s will be conducted according to the NADCA ACR 2006 Standard “Assessment, Cleaning and Restoration of HVAC Systems” and the guidelines published in the Inspection Manual of Air Conditioning Systems “Procedures for Assessing the Cleanliness of Commercial HVAC Systems”

Building Checklist

Use, Occupancy, Outdoor Sources, Water Damage and Fire Damage events, Renovations, Pest Control and Cleaning Practices.

 Visual inspection of the plenum area to determine the presence or absence of microbial contamination and/or any other contaminants.

Building Checklist

Visual inspection of structural components to determine the presence or absence of microbial contamination or water damage (ceiling tiles, gypsum board, etc.).

 Water activity (%) sampling at hydroscopic buildings materials.

Building Checklist

Verification of building pressure differential assessment.

 Verification of building pressure differential.

Can we help you in a Reactive approach?

YesA reactive approach is a situation in which you attempt to identify and solve indoor air quality problems which are occurring.

We can help you to identify the problem, its cause and by designing the mitigation protocol. It is important to understand that attempting to correct IAQ problems without understanding the cause of those problems can be both ineffective and expensive.

Can we help you in a Reactive approach?

We can also help you pre-qualifying the remediation contractor and to act as a project manager if you request so.

Other Services Available

Renovation and Construction Impact on IAQ Guidelines Any construction or renovation activity can be considered a source of indoor air pollutants and potential contributor to IAQ problems. These activities have the potential to impact occupants both in new buildings where work is ongoing after some areas are occupied and in old buildings under renovation or reconfiguration projects.

Renovation and Construction Impact on IAQ Guidelines

The best time to address the effects of renovation and repair on IAQ is in the planning stage. Many methods are available to maintain IAQ during demolition, construction or renovation and we can help you to establish the necessary guidelines to minimize the impact of the works on the occupied areas.

Consulting services for U.S. Green Building Council, LEED, Indoor Environmental Quality prerequisites and credits

Our technical consulting team provides consultation for best practices on how to achieve your indoor environmental quality goals during the construction phase

USGBC, LEED, Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) prerequisites and credits

and/or our trained field staff conducts on-site building IEQ commissioning through a baseline IAQ testing after construction ends and prior to occupancy using testing protocols consistent with the USEPA Compendium of Methods for the Determination of Air Pollutants in Indoor Air.

Indoor Air Quality Awareness Program

Designed to provide information and training to your key personnel and employees in how to properly maintain your facilities in order to ensure a healthy indoor environment.

Mold Awareness Program

Designed to provide information and training your key personnel and employees to limit mold related issues and property damage due to mold and water intrusion. This program also provides guidance in the event of a moisture or mold incident.

Indoor Environmental Consultants