Issue 22, April 2007

Cetec has been a key participant in developing guidelines for Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) management for the past 15 years. Through its overseas network, Cetec recently conducted a survey of international practice for IAQ management by building owners and managers, and found that international practice is similar to Australia, where assessment for IAQ is limited in scope and done to show conformance to guidelines. 

To improve the IAQ and promote public awareness of the importance of IAQ, selected Asian countries have implemented an IAQ management programs involving voluntary and compulsory IAQ Certification Schemes for offices and public places.

Key features of the Hong Kong scheme:

• A 2-level IAQ objectives (Excellent Class and Good Class) is used as the benchmark to assess IAQ of premises/buildings;
• A voluntary and self-regulatory approach is adopted for annual certification;
• Participation is free but premises/building owners or management are responsible for all expenses, including but not limited to, employing competent examiners to assess IAQ of their premises/buildings against the IAQ objectives;
• The competent examiner issues an IAQ certificate for premises/building owners. The certificate is then displayed for public information.

The IAQ measurements involve temperature, relative humidity, air movement, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, PM10, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, formaldehyde, volatile organic compounds, radon and airborne bacteria. Airborne fungi is to be included at the next review of the scheme.

The scheme details the sampling criteria (period, points and location), measurement methods and compliance requirements;

• The certificate is valid for 12 months. For certificate renewal, a full set of parameters on IAQ objectives are measured once every 5 years, and for the 4 years in between, only carbon dioxide and PM10 need to be measured annually if certain conditions are met;
• Certification is generally made on the basis of a building as a unit. Nevertheless, premises/building owners or management can choose to certify certain parts or certain floors of a building; and
• Premises/building owners or management have to manage post-certification IAQ to ensure IAQ is maintained at the certified level.

South Korea has recently introduced legislation known as Public Facility Indoor Air Quality Management Regulation.  Details include:

• Applicable to public facilities or spaces such as transport termini (train, bus, airport, ship/ferry), libraries, museums, galleries, medical centres, child care centres, aged care facility and indoor parking lots;
• The managers of the above areas are to be educated in the principles of IAQ. The training is to be provided by the environmental authority;
• New buildings are to have a pre-occupancy IAQ assessment and be certified as meeting the specified parameters. The pre-occupancy assessment involves the determination of formaldehyde and selected volatile organic compounds;
• The environmental authority is to publish a list of banned construction materials. This list is based upon a specification for formaldehyde and volatile organic compound emissions rates from building materials;
• Appropriate ventilation must be provided; and
• Existing buildings to meet specified limits for IAQ parameters such as PM10, carbon dioxide, formaldehyde, airborne bacteria, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, radon, volatile organic compounds, asbestos and ozone.

At Cetec, we can offer your business guidance in the development and implementation of a IAQ or Indoor Environment Quality Management program.  The benefits to your facility, your occupants and your business will be significant.

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