Partner’s team of qualified Industrial Hygienists and Certified Industrial Hygienists (CIH’s) assist public and private clients nationwide to identify indoor air quality issues and recommend effective solutions.
Indoor air quality (IAQ) refers to the air within and surrounding buildings or structures and how it relates to the comfort and health of the building occupants. Indoor pollution sources which release gas or particulates into the air are generally the primary cause of indoor air quality issues. Factors which can amplify indoor air quality pollutants can include inadequate ventilation, high temperature and high humidity levels, faulty building equipment such as boilers, HVAC systems, and plumbing, inadequate cleaning protocols within the building and of course occupancy levels.
Indoor air pollutants can be released into the building from either exterior sources or sources from within the building itself, leading to potential health hazards. It is essential to be proactive when approaching indoor air quality issues to prevent health concerns and legal liabilities. A proactive approach helps to ensure the occupants do not become ill and occupant concerns do not increase in severity. The best way to remedy or prevent Indoor air quality issues in your building is through conducting thorough building investigations, IAQ sampling, testing, and reporting.
Partner’s field sampling is performed in accordance with applicable analytical methods established by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and/or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), when applicable, and field samples are analyzed by a laboratory accredited by the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA).
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Indoor air quality refers to the air in and surrounding buildings or structures. Indoor air pollutants can be released into the building, causing a potential health hazard for inhabitants. These may include microbial contaminants (like mold or bacteria); gases (like carbon monoxide, VOCs or radon); toxic chemicals (cleaners) or building materials (formaldehyde) and components (asbestos and lead). It is essential to be proactive when approaching indoor air quality issues to prevent health concerns and legal liabilities. This approach helps to ensure the occupants do not become ill and that current concerns do not increase in severity. The best way to remedy or prevent Indoor air quality issues in your building is through IAQ sampling, testing, and reporting.
Sampling for general indoor air quality parameters during a routine assessment should include field measurements of temperature, relative humidity, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and organic compounds, using hand-held meters (e.g., IAQ meter, four-gas meter, photo-ionization detector (PID). Where water intrusion is suspected, a moisture survey should be conducted using appropriate instrumentation. If indoor air sampling for total fungal spore concentrations (spore trap) is performed, then appropriate samples should also be collected outdoors for comparison-to-baseline purposes. Additionally, chemical sampling and analysis may be performed if warranted, by observing site conditions, and/or if exposure to specific chemical contaminants is suspected. Justification for chemical sampling and analyses should be provided based on occupant concerns or potential exposures.
Common indoor air pollutants and sources can include:
Asbestos, Biological Pollutants (mold and bacteria), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Formaldehyde/Pressed Wood Products, Pesticides, Radon, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s), Allergens, Smoke/Soot, Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2 – Sewage Odors), and Pests.
