Indoor Air Quality Guide Best Practices for Design, Construction and Commissioning

Andrew Persily, PhD ASHRAE Vice-President 301 975-6418, andyp@nist.gov

ASHRAE Philadelphia Chapter May 14, 2009

Why an IAQ Guide? IAQ Matters Occupant health, comfort and productivity Bad IAQ stinks!

Good IAQ is part of Sustainability It ain’t just energy efficiency!

Standard 62.1 & codes are minimums

IAQ impacts of design decisions not appreciated IAQ not considered early enough in design process Some efforts to “improve” IAQ may not work

PROJECT OVERVIEW Collaborative effort between ASHRAE and AIA (architects), BOMA (building owners & managers), EPA (funder), SMACNA (contractors) and USGBC Covers commercial and institutional buildings Same scope as ASHRAE Standard 62.1 Audience Design engineers, architects, specifiers & contractors Building owners, developers & other decision makers Organizations promoting sustainable buildings Building occupants

Project Objectives Describe design and construction practices to improve IAQ relative to current practice and minimum codes & standards.

Better than Standard 62.1!!! Transform mid-range of practice into better practice; not targeting the least or most sophisticated

Facilitate O&M through informed design decisions.

Make application easier and more likely: tabulated recommendations, sample details, great graphics

Help to define good IAQ practice for use in green and sustainable building programs.

Project Committee Martha Hewett (Chair) Ben Leppard Center For Energy & Environment Leppard Johnson & Associates

Leon Alevantis Hal Levin California Dept of Public Health Building Ecology Research Group

Wagdy Anis Paul Marmion Wiss, Janey, Elstner Associates, Inc. Stantec Consulting Ltd.

Terry Brennan Bob Magee Camroden Associates National Research Council Canada

Hoy Bohanon Phil Morey Working Buildings Environ

Barney Burroughs Tom Phoenix Building Wellness Consultancy, Inc Moser Mayer Phoenix Assoc PA

George DuBose Larry Schoen Liberty Building Forensics Group Schoen Engineering Inc

James Hall Wayne R Thomann Systems Management & Balancing Inc. Duke Univ Medical Center

What are the IAQ Problems? Failure to address IAQ during design and construction

• Moisture in building assemblies • Poor outdoor air quality • Moisture and dirt in air handling systems • Indoor contaminant sources • Inadequate ventilation rates • Ineffective filtration and air cleaning

Document Organization Most IAQ problems caused by poor design/poor execution. Therefore, focus on advancing design and construction practice rather than “advanced” design and technology

Guidance Organized Around Eight Key Objectives 1. Manage the process to achieve good IAQ 2. Control moisture in building assemblies 3. Limit entry of outdoor contaminants 4. Control moisture & contaminants in mechanical systems 5. Limit contaminants from indoor sources 6. Contain and exhaust contaminants from equipment & activities 7. Reduce concentrations through ventilation and air cleaning 8. Apply more advanced ventilation approaches

Eight Objectives; 40 Strategies Objective 1 – Manage the Process to Achieve Good IAQ 1.1 – Integrate Design Approach and Solutions 1.2 – Commission to Ensure that the Owner’s IAQ Requirements are Met 1.3 – Select Systems to Improve IAQ & Reduce the Energy Impacts of Ventilation 1.4 – Establish a Project Schedule that Facilitates Achievement of Good IAQ 1.5 – Facilitate Effective Operation and Maintenance for IAQ

Objective 2 – Control Moisture in Building Assemblies 2.1 – Limit Penetration of Liquid Water into the Building Envelope 2.2 – Limit Condensation of Water Vapor within the Envelope and on Interior Surfaces 2.3 – Maintain Proper Building Pressurization 2.4 – Control Indoor Humidity 2.5 – Select Suitable Materials, Equipment &Assemblies for Unavoidably Wet Areas 2.6 – Consider Impacts of Landscaping &Indoor Plants on Moisture & Contaminants

Objective 3 – Limit Entry of Outdoor Contaminants 3.1 – Control Entry of Outdoor Contaminants 3.2 – Locate Outdoor Air Intakes to Minimize Introduction of Contaminants 3.3 – Control Entry of Radon 3.4 – Control Intrusion of Vapors from Subsurface Contaminants 3.5 – Provide Effective Track-Off Systems at Entrances 3.6 – Design and Build to Exclude Pests

Objective 4 – Control Moisture and Contaminants Related to Mechanical Systems 4.1 – Control Moisture and Dirt in Air-Handling Systems 4.2 – Control Moisture Associated with Piping, Plumbing Fixtures, and Ductwork 4.3 – Facilitate Access to HVAC Systems for Inspection, Cleaning, and Maintenance 4.4 – Control Legionella in Water Systems 4.5 – Consider Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation

Objective 5 – Limit Contaminants from Indoor Sources 5.1 – Control Indoor Contaminant Sources through Appropriate Material Selection 5.2 – Employ Strategies to Limit the Impact of Emissions 5.3 – Minimize IAQ Impacts Associated with Cleaning and Maintenance

Objective 6 – Capture and Exhaust Contaminants from Building Equipment and Activities 6.1 – Properly Vent Combustion Equipment 6.2 – Provide Local Capture and Exhaust for Point Sources of Contaminants 6.3 – Design Exhaust Systems to Prevent Leakage of Exhaust into Occupied Spaces 6.4 – Maintain Proper Pressure Relationships Between Spaces

Objective 7 – Reduce Contaminants thru Ventilation, Filtration & Air Cleaning 7.1 – Provide Appropriate Outdoor Air Quantities for Each Room or Zone 7.2 – Continuously Monitor and Control Outdoor Air Delivery 7.3 – Distribute Ventilation Air Effectively 7.4 – Effectively Distribute Ventilation Air for Multiple Spaces 7.5 – Provide Particle Filtration and Gas-Phase Air Cleaning Consistent with Project Objectives 7.6 – Provide Comfort Conditions that Enhance Occupant Satisfaction

Objective 8 – Apply More Advanced Ventilation Approaches 8.1 – Use Dedicated Outdoor Air Systems 8.2 – Use Energy Recovery Ventilation Where Appropriate 8.3 – Use Demand-Controlled Ventilation Where Appropriate 8.4 – Use Natural or Mixed-Mode Ventilation Where Appropriate 8.5 – Use the ASHRAE Standard 62.1 IAQ Procedure Where Appropriate

Format Printed document of 150-200 pages Companion CD with about 500 pages of additional material (drawings, details, background documentation) Electronic version of printed document on CD will use links to navigate document and access to material on CD

Eight Key Objectives 1.  Manage the process to achieve good IAQ 2.  Control moisture in building assemblies 3.  Limit entry of outdoor contaminants 4.  Control moisture & contaminants in mechanical systems 5.  Limit contaminants from indoor sources 6.  Contain and exhaust contaminants from equipment & activities 7.  Reduce concentrations through ventilation and air cleaning 8.  Apply more advanced ventilation approaches

Example OBJECTIVE 5 – LIMIT CONTAMINANTS FROM INDOOR SOURCES

OVERVIEW TEXT

STRATEGY 5.1 Control Indoor Contaminant Sources through Appropriate Material Selection

Protect Ductwork during Construction Pay me now, or pay me later

Maintain to Sustain A little access, please???

Schedule First meeting of Steering Committee, December 2006 First meeting of Project committee, April 2007

Peer review of 60 % draft, Feb 08 Peer review of 90 % draft, August 2008 Satellite broadcast/free webcast, April 2009 Approved by Steering Committee, May 2009

Currently in production Publication late summer of 2009

Follow-up educational program being developed

More info: www.ashrae.org/technology/page/678

Distribution and Cost

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IAQ Guide: Summary Guidance Document and Detailed Guidance (Download or Book/CD)

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