Indoor Air Quality

Indoor air quality, IAQ, covers a broad range of issues. Some of the items that fall into IAQ may be temperature extEHSes, elevated relative humidity, stuffy air, odors, sleepiness, headaches, and sinus congestion. Any of these issues should persist for two or more weeks and affect 25% of the occupants before being considered to be related to the building. Individual sensitivities will cause each person to react differently.

The presence of transient odors does not necessarily constitute poor indoor air quality. Transient odors may include smells pulled in on the outside air such as vehicle exhaust or roofing repair work and paint or construction odors within a building. This is not to say that some transient odors will not cause short term headaches or mucous membrane irritation. Generally these odors are short-lived and do not present a long-term health hazard.

Indoor air complaints are investigated by EHS. Investigations may include temperature, relative humidity, carbon dioxide, and mold and bacteria concentrations. Additional parameters may be checked depending on the specific complaint. Repair, equipment modifications, and evaluations are conducted by Zone Maintenance and/or the central IAQ Shop. Special room cleaning and disinfection may be conducted by Building Services when necessary.

If you suspect a problem with the air quality of your work space, please complete the Indoor Air Quality Concern Form and submit it by clicking the “submit by email” button on the form. If you are unable to submit the form by email, please print the form and send it via campus mail to IAQ/EHS/HAMP. This form should be filled out with your immediate supervisor, so that they are aware of the issue.  If you are experiencing a medical condition that you believe to be attributed to the air quality in your work space, please also fill out the First Report of Injury with your supervisor.

If you have any questions please contact the EHS Industrial Hygiene section.