Health and Safety A - Z
Topic: Indoor Air Quality
Summary:
Indoor air quality (IAQ) is important for both health and comfort.
Most modern buildings have been sealed for energy conservation purposes; Very little untempered (e.g. heated or cooled) outdoor air enters a sealed building. Mechanical ventilation systems to replace contaminated indoor air with fresh outdoor air.
Normal office activities produce a number of indoor air pollutants (e.g. carbon dioxide in exhaled air, emissions from photocopiers, printers, carpets, furniture, glues and adhesives, dusts from clothes, skin and building materials). Building HVAC (Heating, ventilation and air conditioning) and related systems are designed to keep those contaminants to a minimum.
Indoor activities that exceed the design or intended purpose of a building can negatively affect indoor air quality. Activities that produce relatively high concentrations of air pollutants (e.g. high-volume printing, ‘construction-related’ activities, overcrowding) may require additional controls, such as local exhaust ventilation.
HVAC and related systems must be maintained in good repair. Water leaks and condensation / high-humidity can lead to mould growth. Moisture issues should be promptly addressed.
Outdoor air contaminants can affect IAQ. Precautions are required to ensure air pollutants from sources such as parked vehicles, barbeque or cigarettes don’t enter the building through doors, windows and HVAC air intakes.
Indoor and outdoor activities should be managed accordingly. HVAC or building-related IAQ concerns should be reported to fixit@trentu.ca
For Information See:
Indoor Environmental Quality, Dampness and Mold in Buildings, CDC.
Indoor Environmental Quality, Building Ventilation, NIOSH Workplace Safety and Health
Building Air Quality: DHHS (NIOSH) Publication Number 98-123, Action Plan
Additional Resources:
Ontario MOL Alert: Mold in Workplace Buildings
Workplace Safety and Prevention Services
Last Revised: April 26, 2019