September 2025

Inside the September Issue

 

 

Common Pollutant Categories IAQ Strategies for Commercial HVAC

Although there are numerous indoor air pollutants that can be spread through a building, they typically fall into three basic categories:
biological, chemical, and particle.

Biological: Excessive concentrations of bacteria, viruses, fungi, dust mites, animal dander, and pollen may result from inadequate maintenance and housekeeping, water spills, inadequate humidity control, condensation, or water intrusion through leaks in the building envelope or flooding.

Chemical: Sources of chemical pollutants (gases and vapors) include emissions from products used in the building (e.g., office equipment; furniture, wall and floor coverings; pesticides and cleaning and consumer products), accidental spills of chemicals, products used during construction activities such as adhesives and paints, and gases such as carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and nitrogen dioxide, which are products of combustion.

Particles: Solid or liquid, non-biological, substances that are light enough to be suspended in the air. Dust, dirt, or other substances may be drawn into the building from outside.

Particles can also be produced by activities that occur in buildings such as construction, sanding wood or drywall, printing, copying, and operating equipment.

IAQ Management Approach Ideally, an employer should use a systematic approach when addressing air quality in the workplace. The components of a systematic approach for addressing IAQ are the same as those for an overall safety and health program approach, and include management commitment, training, employee involvement, hazard identification and control, and program audit.

Management needs to be receptive to potential concerns and complaints, and to train workers on how to identify and report air quality concerns. If employees express concerns, prompt and effective assessment and corrective action is the responsibility of management. Full story »

 

 

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