indoor air quality management plan

Indoor Air Quality Management Plan 1Issued July, 2000

Contents

1. INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................22. PURPOSE ...................................................................................................23. OBJECTIVES OF THE MANAGEMENT PLAN...............................2-34. SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS....................................................................3

&

Property & Facilities Division

Indoor Air Quality Management Plan

5. GLOSSARY OF TERMS6. LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

6.1 Statutory requirements6.2 Common Law6.3 Standards6.4 Guidelines6.5 Other References

7. ORGANISATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES8. FACTORS AFFECTING INDOOR AIR QUALITY9. MANAGING INDOOR AIR QUALITY

9.1.1 Maintenance of Air Conditioning Plant and Associated Equipment9.1.2 Compliance Audits9.1.3 Building Design/Commissioning of New Systems9.1.4 Cleaning and Waste Disposal9.1.5 Pest Control9.1.6 Loading Bays9.1.7 Air Conditioning Plant Rooms

9.2 Remedial Control Measures

9.1 Preventative Control Measures

10.1 Management of Indoor Air Quality Problems10.2 Notification of problem10.3 Complaint / Incident investigation10.4 Determining the Cause of the Problem10.5 Collecting Additional Information and Testing Hypotheses10.6 Remediation of the problem

10. COMPLAINT RESOLUTION

Page Number

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11. ASSESSING INDOOR AIR QUALITY

Appendices

Appendix A Pollutant Sources and Known Health EffectsAppendix B HVAC ChecklistAppendix C Appendix A of Australian Standard 3666.2, 1995

1. Introduction

The University of Queensland (UQ) has a legal obligation under the Workplace Health and Safety Act,1995 to ensure the health and safety of each of its workers, and anyone else who enters their workplace.The University fulfills its legal obligation by identifying real and potential risks that may exist at theworkplace and managing them in a safe way.

Given the numerous buildings that either belong to, or are maintained by, the University, it is not surpris-ing that indoor air quality has been identified as a potential health risk that requires management. To thisend, the following document has been prepared to enable the University to effectively manage indoor airquality (IAQ) related issues and thus meet its legal obligations.

2. Purpose

This document has been developed by Property and Facilities (P&F) and the University of QueenslandOccupational Health and Safety Unit to provide University personnel with an increased understandingand awareness.

The management plan is primarily designed to provide guidance on the prevention of IAQ-related prob-lems. However, when problems do arise the management plan will also provide guidance on how torectify them.

3. Objectives of the Management Plan

There are three main objectives of this management plan:

1. To ensure that the air quality supplied to the occupants of buildings either owned or maintained bythe University is satisfactory and does not cause harm or discomfort;

2. To ensure that when air quality problems do arise they are quickly controlled and eliminated,

11.1 Indoor Air Quality Audit11.2 Indoor Air Quality Investigation

12. RESPONSE TO HIGH RISK SITUATIONS

12.1 Water Sampling for Legionella12.2 Asbestos Exposure12.3 Other situations

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thereby minimising their impact on the building occupants; and

3. To ensure the University complies fully with its legal requirements in relation to indoor air quality.

4. Scope and Limitations

The term ‘indoor air quality’ refers to a range of characteristics including:

• air purity;

• air movement;

• the ratio of fresh air (make-up air) to recirculated air; and

• the amount of carbon dioxide and oxygen.

Indoor air quality is typically associated with office-type buildings that are ventilated by mechanicalventilation systems. For the purposes of this document, indoor air quality shall apply to any building thatis normally occupied and which may, or may not, be fitted with ventilation systems.

However, this document does not apply to the following:

• buildings not serviced or maintained by the University; and

• buildings, areas or rooms that are normally unoccupied (e.g. electrical sub-stations, mineshafts, grain silos, hazardous substance storage facilities).

5. Glossary of Terms

Air Exchange Rate Used in two ways:

1. the number of times that the outdoor air replaced the volume of air in a

building per unit time, typically expressed as air changes per hour;

2. the number of times that the ventilation system replaces the air within aroom or area within the building.

Biological Contaminants Agents derived from or that are living organisms (e.g., viruses, bacteria, fungai,

and mammal and bird antigens) that can be inhaled and can cause many types ofhealth effects including allergic reactions, respiratory disorders, hypersensitivity

diseases, and infectious diseases. Also referred to as “microbiologicals” or

“microbials”.

BOMA Building Owners and Managers Association. Now known as the Property Council

of Australia.

Breathing Zone Area of a room in which occupants breathe as they stand, sit, or lie down.

Building-Related Illness Diagnosable illness whose symptoms can be identified and whose cause can be

directly attributed to airborne building pollutants (e.g., Legionnaire’s disease, hy-

persensitivity pneumonitis).


Building related illnesses are specific illnesses with clear and diagnosable causes

related to the building environment. Hypersensitivity (allergic reactions), infec-tions (such as Legionnaire’s Disease), and illnesses related to inhalation of fibres

(such as Asbestosis) are the major types of building related illness. It is typical of

building related illnesses that symptoms persist for some time after an individualhas left the building.

CO Carbon monoxide.

CO2

Carbon dioxide.

Cooling Towers A device for lowering the temperature of water by evaporative cooling in which air

passes through sprayed water exchanging heat, and includes a device incorporat-

ing a refrigerant or water heat exchanger.

Ceiling Plenum Space below the flooring and above the suspended ceiling that accommodates the

mechanical and electrical equipment that is used as part of the air distribution sys-

tem. The space is kept under negative pressure.

Conditioned Air Air that has been heated, cooled, humidified, or dehumidified to maintain an inte-

rior space within the “comfort zone.” (Sometimes referred to as “tempered” air.)

Constant Air Volume System Air handling system that provides a constant air flow while varying the tempera-ture to meet heating and cooling needs.

Dampers Controls that vary airflow throughout an air outlet, inlet, or duct. A damper posi-

tion may be immovable, manually adjustable, or part of an automated control sys-tem.

Evaporative Cooler A device that effects a reduction of dry bulb temperature by evaporating water into

the air being treated.

Diffusers and Grilles Components of the ventilation system that distribute and diffuse air to promote air

circulation in the occupied space. Diffusers supply air and grilles return air.

HEPA High efficiency particulate air (filters).

HVAC Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system.

Hypersensitivity Diseases Diseases characterised by allergic responses to animal antigens. The hypersensi-

tivity diseases most clearly associated with indoor air quality are asthma, rhinitis,and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is a rare but seri-

ous disease that involves progressive lung damage as long as there is exposure to

the causative agent.

IAQ Indoor air quality.

Legionnaires Disease An illness characterised by pneumonia caused by infection with legionella species,

commonly legionella pneumophila. The incubation period ranges from 2 days to10 days, and the attack rate is low.

Make-up air Fresh air or outside air that makes up part of the supply air.


NHMRC National Health and Medical Research Council.

Plenum Air compartment connected to a duct or ducts.

Psychosocial Factors Psychological, organisational and personal stressors that could produce symptoms

similar to poor indoor air quality.

SBS See “Sick Building Syndrome”.

Sick Building Syndrome Term sometimes used to describe situations in which building occupants experi-

ence acute health and/or comfort effects that appear to be linked to time spent in a

particular building, but where no specific illness or cause can be identified. Thecomplaints may be localise in a particular room or zone, or may be spread through-

out the building.

According to the World Health Organisation, ‘sick building syndrome’ refers to arange of symptoms that may affect a significant number of building occupants.

Itchy eyes, tiredness or headaches are typical complaints. ‘Sick building syndrome’

symptoms do not have clear causes, and are therefore often referred to as ‘non-specific’ symptoms. Such symptoms often abate when an individual is no longer

inside the building.

Static Pressure Condition that exists when an equal amount of air is supplied to and exhaustedfrom a space. At static pressure, equilibrium has been reached.

TBC Total bacteria count

VAV Variable air volume system.

VOCs See “Volatile Organic Compounds.”

Variable Air Volume System Air handling system that conditions the air to a constant temperature and varies the

outside airflow to ensure thermal comfort.

Volatile Organic Compounds Compounds that evaporate from the many housekeeping, maintenance, and build-

ing products made with organic chemicals. These compounds are released from

products that are being used and that are in storage. In sufficient quantities, VOCscan cause eye, nose and throat irritations, headaches, dizziness, visual disorders,

memory impairment; some are known to cause cancer in humans. At present, notmuch is known about what health effects occur at the levels of VOCs typically

found in public and commercial buildings.

WHO World Health Organisation.


6. Legal Requirements

6.1 Statutory requirements

Currently, there are no statutory requirements that pertain directly to indoor air quality. No regulationshave been developed to cater specifically for indoor air quality and the legal regulation of indoor airquality is considered complex as there are many interacting factors that need to be considered (State ofthe Environment Advisory Council 1996).

Notwithstanding the lack of statutory regulation pertaining directly to indoor air quality, there are statu-tory requirements indirectly related to indoor air quality that impose legal obligations on building ownersand tenants, builders and designers, and suppliers of material and equipment (Pengilley 1992; BOMA1994). The indirect statutory requirements relate mainly to the maintenance of mechanical ventilationsystems. Mechanical ventilation systems are classified as “specified high risk plant” under the Queens-land Workplace Health and Safety Act. This classification imposes legal obligations on various partiesincluding: designers, manufacturers, erectors, installers and owners. As such, the University has a legalobligation to ‘…ensure the plant is maintained in a condition that ensures the plant is safe, and withoutrisk to health when used properly’.

6.2 Common Law

Under common law, occupiers of land and premises owe a duty of care to take reasonable care of allpersons entering their premises. This duty of care means that occupiers are expected to minimise orprevent any risk that is reasonably foreseeable. Failure to either identify or control a foreseeable risk isconsidered a breach of duty of care under common law. It could be argued that risks associated withunsatisfactory air quality or poorly maintained ventilation systems are reasonably foreseeable thus ena-bling injured parties to claim damages under common law.

6.3 Standards

There are various standards that specify minimum requirements in terms of ventilation and air quality.These standards may be used in legal proceedings to show the minimum acceptable level of compliance.Whilst it is not necessary for occupiers to comply with these standards, they must demonstrate they haveat least met or exceeded the minimum requirements specified in the standards.

The relevant standards are:

� Queensland Workplace Health and Safety Advisory Standard for Plant, Supplement No. 2 –Legionella Control in Air conditioning Units and Cooling Towers (1999);

� Queensland Workplace Health and Safety Advisory Standard for Amenities – Workplace (2000);

� Australian Standard 1668.2 ”Mechanical ventilation for acceptable indoor air quality”;

� Australian Standard 1677 “Refrigerating systems”;

� Australian Standard 3666 “Air handling and water systems of buildings – Micro-bial control”;

� Australian Standard AS/NZS 3666.3 “Air handling and water systems of buildings– Microbial control. Part 3: Performance-based maintenance of cooling water systems”;

� Australian Standard, 1324 ‘Air filters for use in general ventilation and air conditioning’


� Australian Standard SAA/SNZ HB 32 “Control of microbial growth in air-handling andwater systems in buildings”; and

� Building Code of Australia (BCA) (1996).

6.4 Guidelines

Various recognised guidelines have been published on indoor air quality both here in Australia andoverseas. These guidelines are not statutory requirements however, they do provide a useful reference forthose occupiers wishing to achieve best practice. The guidelines relevant to Queensland are:

• National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Indoor Air Quality Goals;

• National Occupational Health and Safety Commission (NOHSC) 1995, Exposure Standardsfor Atmospheric Contaminants in the Occupational Environment;

• BOMA Guidelines 1994, Managing Indoor air Quality; and

• ASHRAE Standard 62 – 1989, Ventilation for acceptable indoor air quality.

6.5 Other References

Other useful references include:

• CSIRO BCE Technical Report TR97/3 1997, Indoor Air Quality Guidelines for Sydney Olym-pic Facilities;

• USEPA 1991, Building Air Quality: A Guide for Building Owners and Facility Managers;

• Comcare Australia 1994, Air conditioning and thermal comfort in Australian Public Serviceoffices; and

• World Health Organisation 1987, Air quality guidelines for Europe.


7. Organisational ResponsibilitiesThe following personnel are responsible for the implementation and management of the control measuresdiscussed in this document:

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climate, building systems, furniture items, internal activities, external activities and the occupants them-selves to name but a few. The following table provides an overview of the three main sources of factorsaffecting indoor air quality.Factors Effects Control Options

A. From outside the buildingClimate Air temperature & humidity Optimise ventilation

Ventilation with & infiltration of Intake air quality Select location of air intake;outdoor air reduce non-designed air entry

Infiltration of water Unwanted moisture entry Design and maintain waterproofconstruction; ensure moisturedoes not form in HVAC systems

B. From the building and HVAC.systemBuilding design Natural/mechanical Building depth; location &

ventilation orientation

Structural building materials-adhesives and sealants Solvents Choose low-emission products

-glass Lamination interlayers & Impact on IAQ unknowncoatings

-metals, ferrous and non-ferrous Pre-painting Imapct on IAQ unknown

-termite control Physical termite barriers & Physical barriers do not affectchemicals Iaq; synthetic prethroid/

chlorpyrifos mixtures needfrequent reapplication and cancause human toxicity

-timber preservation Use of toxic products Avoid where possible; use durabletimbers

-brick and block Natural radioactivity Found to be low in range ofproducts

-concrete products Natural radioactivity, Control levels of f ly ash, impactadditives of additives unknown

-wood framing Volatiles affecting sensitive Impact on IAQ unknownindividuals

-thermal insulation Fibre and volatile organic Product selectionemissions

-Heating, ventilation & Generation, transfer & System design & maintenance

8 Factors Affecting Indoor Air Quality

airconditioning removal of air contaminants

The indoor environment in any building is affected by many factors including site aspect,


Factors Effects Control Options

C.From the building interior Pollutant sources, ventilation Material selection, ventilationInterior design flow design

Interior materials Odorous or toxic emissions, Material selectionsinks & reservoirs forpollutants

-plywood/LVL Formaldehyde & volatile Select low-emission productsorganic emissions

-reconstituted wood-based panels Formaldehyde & volatile Select low-emission productsorganic emissions and overlay adhesives

-plastic laminates Volatile organic emissions Select low-emission adhesives

-plaster/gypsumboard Few emissions but sinks for -pollutants

-ceramic tiles Emissions from Select low-emission materialsadhesives/grout

Interior surface finishes

- wallpaper Formaldehyde & volatile Low-emission products; delayorganic emissions occupancy

-paints Solvent & additive vapours Low-emission productsduring & after application

Floor coverings

-carpet Odour & volatile organic Low-emission adhesives;emissions; accumulation of cleaning methods; walk-off matscontaminants

-linoleum Volatile organic emissions Low-emission productsfrom adhesives

-vinyl Long-term emission of Low-emission productsvolatiles & plasticisers

Furnishings & furniture Formaldehyde & volatile Low-emission productsorganic emissions fromcomponents & surfacetreatments

Equipment & appliances Volatile organics & ozone Low-emission products; exhaustfrom photocopiers & printers fluescombustion products from gas& fuel appliances


Factors Effects Control Options

Occupant bioeffluence Odours; skin flakes Ventilation to standards

Occupant activities Smoking; cooking; hobbies; Smoking prohibition;cleaning rangehoods; cleaning practice

Consumer products Volatile organics from ‘wet’ Quantity of productsproducts; dry-cleanedclothing; printed material

Pest management Pesticide residues, indoor Product usageand outdoor

Cleaning Volatile organic emissions Low-emission products; high-from products; dust disturbance efficiency vacuum cleaners

Interior renovation Volatile organic emissions Low-emission products;from new products; pollutant isolation of areatransfer throughout building


9. Managing Indoor Air Quality

9.1 Preventative Control Measures

9.1.1 Maintenance of Air Conditioning Plant and Associated Equipment

All maintenance and operation of air conditioning systems and associated equipment is to be carried outin compliance with relevant Work place Health and Safety legislation, Advisory Standards, and AustralianStandards. Accordingly, the University requires that the maintenance activities detailed in Table 9.1 becarried out at University sites.

Table 9.1 Maintenance of Air Conditioning Plant and Equipment

Equipment Description Minimum UQRequirement Requirement

*Cooling towers Inspection Monthly Monthlyand evaporative Cleaning 6 monthly 3 monthlycondensers

Laboratory analysis for Total Bacteria Monthly MonthlyCount

Laboratory analysis for legionella n/a Monthly

Air intakes and Inspection Monthly Monthlyexhaust outlets Cleaning Where necessary Annually

Washable Air Exchanged for cleaned filters Where MonthlyFilters necessary

Disposable Air Inspected Monthly MonthlyFilters (-pressure

drop reading)Replaced (>140 Pascal) Where Where

necessary necessary

Evaporative air Inspected and maintained in 3 Monthly 3 Monthlycoolers accordance with AS/NZS 3666

RAC and non- Inspection N/A Annuallyducted split Cleaning N/A Annuallysystem filters

Fountains Inspection/ TBC / Legionella N/A 6 MonthlyCleaning N/A


Equipment Description Minimum UQRequirement Requirement

**Lakes Inspection / Legionella N/A Annually(Summer)

**Irrigation Systems Inspection / Legionella N/A Annually(Summer)

Civil Eng Flume Inspection / Legionella N/A Annually

*For multi-tower systems, each unit is to be sampled individually.**Random samples to be taken during summer months.

Personnel working in the vicinity of the air handling and water systems shall wear appropriate personalprotective equipment (PPE) in accordance with appendix A of AS/NZS 3666.1, 1995 (refer to appendix C).

9.1.2 Compliance Audits

To monitor the performance of Property and Facilities in the management of air conditioning plant mainte-nance, the University OHS Unit will carry out audits of maintenance documentation and physical inspectionof high risk plant. These audits will be undertaken randomly across the University on a regular basis by theOH&S Unit.

9.1.3 Building Design/Commissioning of New Systems

All building design work shall comply with relevant codes and standards and University Design Standards.Air conditioning plant should be installed so that appropriate maintenance can be carried out. Special careshould be taken when locating cooling towers/evaporative condensers to ensure that the local environmentis not favourable to microbial contamination.

In accordance with AS/NZS 3666.1:1995, new cooling water systems shall be flushed, chemically cleanedand pre-treated for corrosion and microbial control purposes by competent personnel before being broughtinto service.

9.1.4 Cleaning and Waste Disposal

Cleaning and Waste disposal will be generally carried out as per table 9.2 below. Cleaners are to provideMaterial Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for cleaning products used. Cleaning products are not to be stored innon-labelled containers.

Table 9.2 Main Areas Cleaned

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9.1.5 Pest Control

Where possible, all pest control spraying is to be carried out after hours. Building occupants are to be givenadvance notice in writing before the spraying takes place. MSDS are required for all chemicals used. Alltermite treatments shall be carried out in compliance with relevant Australian Standards and by a licensedcontractor.

9.1.6 Loading Bays

Where possible, delivery vehicles should be turned off while loading and unloading to reduce the risk ofexhaust fumes entering buildings.

9.1.7 Air Conditioning Plant Rooms

Air conditioning plant rooms should be maintained in a clean and tidy state and should not be used asgeneral storage space.

9.2 Remedial Control Measures

Problem One – Outdoor Air Ventilation Rate is Too Low

Examples:

� routine odours from occupants and normal office activities results in problems (eg. drowsiness, head-aches, discomfort);

� measured outdoor air ventilation rates do not meet guidelines for outdoor air supply (eg. design specifi-cations, applicable codes, or ASHRAE 62-1989);

� peak CO2 concentrations above 1000 ppm indicate inadequate ventilation; and

� corrosion of fan casing causes air bypassing and reduces airflow in system.

Solutions:

� open, adjust or repair air distribution system:� outdoor air intakes;� mixing and relief dampers;� supply diffusers;� fan casings;

� increase outdoor air within the design capacity of:� air handler;� heating and air conditioning equipment;� distribution system;

� modify components of the HVAC system as needed to allow increased outdoor air (eg. increase capacityof heating and cooling coils);

� design and install an updated ventilation system;� reduce the pollutant and/or thermal load on the HVAC system:� reduce the occupant density: relocate some occupants to other spaces to redistribute the load on the ventilation system; and� relocate or reduce usage of heat generating equipment.


Problem Two – Occupant Activities Contribute to Air Contaminants or to Comfort Problems

Examples

� smoking;� special activities such as print shops, laboratories, kitchens;� interference with HVAC system operation:

� blockage of supply diffusers to eliminate drafts;� turning off exhaust fans to eliminate noise;� use of space heaters, desktop humidifiers to remedy local discomfort; and

(Note: While such interference can cause IAQ problems, it is often initiated in response tounresolved ventilation or temperature control problems).

Solutions

� remove the source by eliminating the activity: (Note: This may require a combination of policy setting and educational outreach.)� smoking;� use of desktop humidifiers and other personal HVAC equipment;� unsupervised manipulation of HVAC system;

� reduce the source:� select materials and processes which minimise release of contaminants while maintaining adequate

safety and efficacy (eg. solvents, art materials);� install new or improved local exhaust to accommodate the activity, adjust HVAC system to ensure

adequate make-up air, and verify effectiveness:� smoking lounge, storage areas which contain contaminated sources; and� laboratory hoods, kitchen range hoods(venting to outdoors, not recirculating).

Problem Three – Surface Contamination Due to Poor Sanitation or Accidents

Examples� biological contaminants result in allergies or other diseases:� fungal, viral, bacterial (whole organisms or spores);� bird, insect, or rodent parts or droppings, hair, dander (in HVAC, crawlspace, building shell, or near

outdoor air intakes);� accidents:� spills of water, beverages, cleansers, paints, varnishes, mastics or specialised products (printing,

chemical art supplies); and� fire damage: soot, odours, chemicals.

Solutions

� clean:� HVAC system components;� some materials and furnishings (others may have to be discarded); (Note: Use biocides, disinfectants, and sanitisers with caution and ensure that occupants exposure is

minimised).� remove sources of microbiological contamination:� water damaged carpet, furnishings, or building materials;

� modify environment to prevent recurrence of microbiological growth:� improve HVAC system maintenance;� control humidity or surface temperatures to prevent condensation;

� provide access to all items that require periodic maintenance;� use local exhaust where corrosive materials are stored; and� adjust HVAC system to provide adequate make-up air, and test to verify performance.


Problem Four – Mould and Mildew Growth Due to Moisture from Condensation

Examples

� interior surfaces of walls near thermal bridges;(eg. uninsulated locations around structural members)

� carpeting on cold floors; and� locations where high surface humidity promotes condensation.

Solutions

� clean and disinfect to remove mould and mildew;(Note: Follow up by taking actions to prevent recurrence of microbiological contamination. Usebiocides, disinfectants, and sanitisers with caution and ensure that occupant exposure is mini-mised.)

� increase surface temperatures to treat locations that are subject to condensation:� insulate thermal bridges;� improve air distribution;

� reduce moisture levels in locations that are subject to condensation:� repair leaks;� increase ventilation (in cases where outdoor air is cold and dry);� dehumidify (in cases where outdoor air is warm and humid);

� dry carpet or other textiles promptly after steam cleaning; and(Note: Increase ventilation to accelerate drying).

� discard contaminated materials.

Problem Five – Building Materials and Furnishings Produce Contaminants

Examples

� odours from newly installed carpets, furniture, wall coverings; and� newly dry cleaned drapes or other textiles.

Solutions

� remove source with appropriate cleaning methods:� steam clean carpeting and upholstery, then dry quickly, ventilating to accelerate the drying process;� accept only fully dried, odourless dry cleaned products;

� encapsulate source:� seal surfaces of building materials that emit formaldehyde;

� reduce source:� schedule installation of carpet, furniture, and wall coverings to occur during periods when the

building is unoccupied;� have supplier store new furnishings in a clean, dry, well ventilated area until VOC outgassing has

diminished;� increase outdoor air ventilation:� total air supplied;� proportion of fresh air; and

� remove the materials that are producing the emissions and replace with lower emission alternatives.(Note: Only limited information on emissions from materials is available at this time. Purchaserscan request that suppliers provide emissions test data, but should use caution in interpreting the testresults.)


Problem Six – Housekeeping or Maintenance Activities Contribute to Problems

Examples

� cleaning products emit chemicals, odours;� particulates become airborne during cleaning (eg. sweeping, vacuuming;� contaminants are released from painting, caulking, lubricating; and� frequency of maintenance is insufficient to eliminate contaminants.

Solutions

� remove source by modifying standard procedures or frequency of maintenance;(Note: Changing procedures may require a combination of policy setting and training in IAQ impactsof staff activities.)� improve storage practices;� shift time of painting, cleaning, pest control, other contaminant producing activities to avoid occu-

pied periods;� make maintenance easier by improving access to filters, coils and other components;

� reduce source:� select materials to minimise emissions of contaminants while maintaining adequate safety and

efficacy;� use portable HEPA (high efficiency particulate arrestance) vacuums vs. low efficiency paper bag

collectors;� use local exhaust:� on a temporary basis to remove contaminants from work areas; and� as a permanent installation where contaminants are stored.

Problem Seven – Serious building Related Illness

Some building related illnesses can be life threatening. Even a single confirmed diagnosis (which involvesresults from specific medical tests) should provoke an immediate and vigorous response.

Examples

� Legionnaire’s disease; and (Note: If you suspect Legionnaire’s disease, call the local public health department, check for obvious

problem sites, and take corrective action. There is no way to be certain that a single case of this diseaseis associated with building occupancy, therefore, public health agencies usually do not investigate singlecases. Watch for new cases.)

� Hypersensitivity pneumonitis. (Note: Affected occupant(s) should be removed and may not be able to return unless the causative

agent is removed from the affected person’s environment.)

Solutions

� work with public health authorities:�evacuation may be recommended or required;

� remove source:� drain, clean, and decontaminate drip pans, cooling towers, room unit air conditioners, humidifiers,

dehumidifiers, and other habitants of Legionella, fungi and other organisms using appropriate pro-tective equipment;

� install drip pans that drain properly� provide access to all the items that must be cleaned, drained or replaced periodically;� modify schedule and procedures for improved maintenance;


� discontinue processes that deposit potentially contaminated moisture in air distribution system:� air washing;� humidification; and� cease night time shutdown of air handlers.

10. Complaint Resolution

10.1 Management of Indoor Air Quality Problems

This section describes the process for managing indoor air quality (IAQ) problems at the University ofQueensland. It aims to define the reporting line for these types of issues, to ensure a quick response and earlymanagement of the problem.

The IAQ investigation is a cycle of information-gathering, hypothesis formation and testing, and feedbackto building occupants.

The flow chart defining the process and reporting lines for the management of IAQ problems can befoundat the following web address: pol-IAQflowchart.pdf

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10.2 Notification of problem

An IAQ investigation commences with one or more reasons for concern, usually occupant complaints orproblems identified during routine maintenance or inspections. Health related complaints that arise fromsymptoms (e.g. eye, skin and respiratory tract irritation, headaches, fatigue, infections) or discomfort (e.g.drafts, smells) should be directed to the Occupational Health and Safety Unit (OH&S Unit) where the detailsare recorded. The Occupational Hygiene Adviser is responsible for investigating the complaint, and willdiscuss the problem with the complainant before taking the investigation further.

Building related complaints (e.g. temperature control, air flow problems) should be directed to the Propertyand Facilities Works Control Centre where the complaint will be recorded and directed to the appropriateperson within Property and Facilities for action.

Awareness of an IAQ problem may also arise during routine maintenance or inspection of a ventilationsystem. These problems will usually be identified by Property and Facilities or outside maintenance con-tractors.

10.3 Complaint / Incident investigation

Depending on the nature of the problem, the issue will be investigated solely or jointly by Property andFacilities and the OH&S Unit. Preliminary investigation should gather information about the factors influ-encing indoor air quality such as the occupants, HVAC system, pollutant pathways and contaminant sources.This initial investigation may involve discussions with the affected people to determine potential sources ofproblems (e.g. types of activities conducted, types and timing of symptoms), and walk-through inspectionsof the area including inspections of the ventilation system, and/or preliminary monitoring of some indoor airquality parameters (e.g. temperature, relative humidity, carbon dioxide levels, air flow patterns). This stageof the IAQ investigation process may be either very basic or detailed, depending on the complexity of theproblem. For complex situations, there may be many explanations for the problem, and further investigationmay be required. It is at this stage where external assistance may be required.


10.4 Determining the Cause of the Problem

During the preliminary investigation, the cause of the problem may become apparent immediately. Insome cases, the cause of the problem will be obvious, for example a break down of the ventilation system,lack of filter maintenance or the temperature being at an uncomfortable level. If the cause has been iden-tified, the next step requires remediation of the problem by the appropriate party (P&F, Department, con-tractor) – see section on remediation of problem.

10.5 Collecting Additional Information and Testing Hypotheses

Where multiple explanations are possible, it is necessary to develop and test hypotheses in order to iden-tify and narrow down the possibilities. Testing of hypotheses can be performed by modifying the HVACsystem or attempting to control the potential source or pollutant pathway in order to determine whethersymptoms or other conditions in the building can be relieved. Under some circumstances, detailed orsophisticated measurements of pollutant concentrations or ventilation quantities may be required.

The table of pollutant sources and their known health effects in Appendix A of this document may assist inthe identification of pollutant sources and pathways.

Outside assistance may be needed if repeated efforts fail to produce a successful hypothesis or if theinformation required calls for instruments and procedures that are not available within the OH&S Unit orProperty and Facilities.

If the hypothesis successfully predicts the results of the manipulations, then corrective action may be thenext step.

10.6 Remediation of the problem

The majority of IAQ problems at UQ can be rectified by Property and Facilities staff. There will beinstances, however, where the services of a contractor will be engaged to fix the problem, or alternatively,the problem can be managed at the source by the Department, for example through a change in workpractice.

If the building is still under defects liability, Property and Facilities should arrange for the contractor toattend to the problem immediately.

If the problem no longer exists after initial complaint e.g. may have been due to a single unrepeatableevent such as painting, maintain a record of the event and advise building occupants that problem nolonger exists.


11. Assessing Indoor Air QualityThe assessment of indoor air quality is a vital part of the maintenance program in the strategic managementof air quality in the indoor environment. The indoor air quality assessment is designed to be a systematicassessment of a building’s indoor environment to gain a profile of its operation and performance. Thisinformation can then be used to identify signs and symptoms indicating the presence of either an existing ora potential problem.

Indoor air quality assessments may be undertaken for two main reasons:

1. as a pro-active check on indoor air quality; and

2. to investigate specific problems.

11.1 Indoor Air Quality Audit

The pro-active IAQ audit should be undertaken by trained personnel at regular intervals. The audit shouldinvolve both a physical inspection of representative items of air conditioning plant and equipment, andmeasurement of IAQ parameters.

Items of A/C plant and equipment inspected should include:

• air handling units;

• plant rooms;

• fresh air intakes;

• supply air ductwork;

• air filters;

• heating and cooling equipment;

• occupied spaces; and

• maintenance logs.

During the visual inspection of the above items obvious deficiencies and pollutant sources should be re-corded using a standard checklist (refer to Operations Checklist in appendix B).

In addition to visually inspecting representative items of a/c plant and equipment, an inspection of repre-sentative occupied spaces should be conducted to identify any obvious problems in the workplace. Whilst


inspecting the work space informal discussions with occupants may provide a good insight into how theindoor environment is perceived. Specific problems are often more easily detected using this approach.

As part of the indoor air quality audit it is useful to check a few indoor air quality parameters. Measurementof the following indoor air quality parameters is recommended as part of the audit:

• temperature;

• relative humidity;

• carbon dioxide; and

• air movement.

Temperature and relative humidity measurements provide a useful check on the thermal comfort within anoccupied space.

Carbon dioxide measurements indicate whether the amount of fresh air is sufficient, and airflow measure-ments indicate whether the volume of air supplied is adequate.

11.2 Indoor Air Quality Investigation

Assessment of indoor air quality in response to a complaint requires a different approach to that used for anindoor air quality audit. The investigation is usually initiated in response to a specific problem that has beenraised by an occupant.

In this case it is necessary to firstly interview occupants to obtain as much background information aspossible. Typically, the interview would identify where the complaints are occurring (widespread or local-ised) and when the symptoms are appearing (constantly, intermittently, etc).

After reviewing the information gained from the interview process, it is then necessary to determine what ifany further action is required. Further action may include a physical inspection of the workspace, condition-ing plant, external activities, etc. It may also include the measurement of known indoor air quality param-eters.

There are several known indoor air quality parameters that are broadly classified into four separate areas.They are:

Physical comfort factors

• Temperature;

• relative humidity; and

• air movement.

Chemical pollutants

• carbon monoxide;

• carbon dioxide;

• formaldehyde;


• nicotine;

• nitrogen dioxide;

• ozone;

• polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons;

• radon;

• sulphur dioxide; and

• volatile organic compounds.

Particulates

• asbestos;

• synthetic mineral fibres;

• combustion particles; and

• respirable particulates.

Biological pollutants

• bacteria;

• fungi;

• protozoans;

• dust mites; and

• pollen (and other non-living biological dust).

Selection of the appropriate IAQ parameters for testing purposes should be determined by the informationobtained from the visual inspection and occupant interviews. The selection process usually requires special-ist advice as incorrect selection may produce costly and unhelpful data.

The measurement of some of the above parameters, including temperature, relative humidity, air movement,carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, are relatively straightforward and require minimal knowledge ofsampling procedures. Measurement of many of the remaining parameters however, requires specialisedsampling equipment and sound knowledge of occupational hygiene principles. These indoor air qualityparameters should be measured by specialists or experienced personnel only.

Once measurements have been obtained for the necessary parameters the results are then compared againstrecommended guidelines for indoor air quality. These guidelines are based on community health standards,not occupational exposure standards. Occupational exposure standards apply to industrial workplaces andare not designed for indoor office environments.

The results of sampling and testing, in most cases, will require interpretation from specialists and should beconsidered with all of the other evidence such as occupant interview records and HVAC inspection notes.


12. Response to High Risk Situations

12.1 Water Sampling for Legionella

Situation Response

Legionella detected • as per figure 3.1 AS/NZS 3666.3 (int) 1998 • > 100.cfu/ml, contact OHS unit • > 1,000 cfu/ml, OHS unit to organise information bulletins and notify relevant authorities

High Total Bacteria Count • As per 3.2 AS/NZS 3666.3 (Int) 1998 • > 100,000 cfu/ml, contact OHS unit

Suspected / Confirmed case/s • Immediately contact OHS unit and Health Services •of Legionnaire’s • Immediate investigation of suspect plant

Disease • If deemed necessary, OHS unit/ Health Servicesorganise information bulletins and notify relevant

authorities • Immediate shutdown and decontamination of problem

system.

12.2 Asbestos Exposure

An emergency situation is most likely to entail such a scenario where asbestos materials present on site havebeen inadvertently disturbed through actions of University of Queensland employees, maintenance person-nel, contractors, visitors, or damaged by severe weather conditions (eg. Hail damage to a corrugated asbes-tos cement roof). Where such damage has occurred, University of Queensland Property and FacilitiesDivision shall be notified immediately.

Emergency Response Procedures shall be initiated and implemented in accordance with the flow chartdiagram provided in the University Asbestos Management Plan Figure 2.

12.3 Other situations

For any other indoor air quality emergencies (eg. fumes from chemical spills or failed plant, smoke, severeodour, etc) contact Security on 53333. Use a land line only. Do not use a mobile phone.

Before security responds and if safe to do so:• if possible, shut down any air handling units;• alert other occupants to danger and evacuate the area or building if required; and• isolate the contaminated area. Eg. close doors, fire doors, smoke doors, fume cupboards, etc.

Security will take control on arrival. Follow all directions issued by Security. Security will follow proce-dures to safely handle the situation


Appendix A - IAQ MP

Car

bon

Mon

oxid

e (C

O)

CO

may

ori

gina

te i

nsid

e or

out

side

bui

ldin

gs.

Insi

de:

CO

is a

com

pone

nt o

f to

bacc

o sm

oke

and

is p

rodu

ced

by c

ombu

stio

n ap

plia

nces

suc

h as

prop

ane

refr

iger

ator

s, k

eros

ene

heat

ers

and

gas

stov

es.

Out

side

: V

ehic

le e

xhau

st is

the

maj

or s

ourc

e of

CO

, and

may

ent

er b

uild

ings

whe

n ou

tdoo

r ai

rin

take

s ar

e lo

cate

d ne

ar b

usy

stre

ets,

load

ing

bays

, adj

acen

t or

unde

rgro

und

carp

arks

.

Car

bon

Mon

oxid

e in

terf

eres

wit

h ox

ygen

tran

spor

t in

the

bloo

dstr

eam

, red

ucin

gde

liver

y to

var

ious

org

ans

such

as

the

hear

tan

d br

ain.

It c

an c

ause

cor

onar

y ar

tery

dis

ease

,pe

riph

eral

vas

cula

r di

seas

e, c

hron

icob

stru

ctiv

e pu

lmon

ary

dise

ase

and

has

othe

rno

n-sp

ecif

ic e

ffec

ts.

Exp

osur

e to

hig

h co

ncen

trat

ions

of

CO

may

irre

vers

ibly

dam

age

the

cent

ral n

ervo

ussy

stem

and

cau

se d

eath

.

Lit

tle i

s kn

own

abou

t exp

osur

e to

the

low

leve

ls g

ener

ally

fou

nd in

side

bui

ldin

gs.

How

ever

, in

som

e st

udie

s it

has

been

asso

ciat

ed w

ith:

- de

crea

sed

wor

k ca

paci

ty in

adu

lt m

ales

;-

heac

hach

es, d

ecre

ased

ale

rtne

ss a

ndfl

u-li

ke s

ympt

oms

in h

ealth

y ad

ult;

and

- na

usea

, bre

athl

essn

ess,

diz

zine

ss a

ndfa

tigu

e.

Nit

roge

n O

xide

s (N

O a

ndN

O2 )

The

maj

or s

ourc

es o

f ni

troge

n ox

ides

are

toba

cco

smok

e an

d co

mbu

stio

n ap

plia

nces

suc

h as

gas

stov

es.

Mild

eff

ects

of

expo

sure

incl

ude

eye

and

uppe

r re

spir

ator

y tr

act i

rrita

tio

n. N

O2 i

s a

deep

lung

irri

tant

, and

in

som

e ca

ses

can

caus

em

ore

seve

re e

ffec

ts s

uch

as p

ulm

onar

yoe

dem

a (i

nfla

mm

atio

n an

d sw

elli

ng o

f the

lung

) an

d re

duce

d lu

ng f

unct

ion

in a

sthm

atic

s.

Lev

els

are

gene

rally

low

in

com

mer

cial

offi

ce b

uild

ings

.

Sulp

hur

Dio

xid

e (S

O2)

SO

2 is

rel

ease

d in

the

com

bust

ion

of f

uels

cont

aini

ng s

ulph

ur, e

ithe

r fr

om g

as s

tove

s or

fro

mou

tsid

e ve

hicl

e ex

haus

t and

the

envi

ronm

ent

gene

rally

.

Irri

tati

on o

f th

e up

per

resp

irat

ory

trac

t and

redu

ced

lung

fun

ctio

n in

ast

hmat

ics.

In c

ombi

natio

n w

ith p

arti

cula

tes

in th

e ai

r,th

ere

may

be

syne

rgis

tic e

ffec

ts a

s th

e lu

ngis

alr

eady

par

tiall

y bl

ocke

d.S

O2

has

a ve

ry s

tron

g an

d un

plea

sant

odo

urw

hich

may

cau

se f

urth

er ir

rita

tion

at h

ighe

rco

ncen

trat

ions

.

PO

LL

UT

AN

T

SOU

RC

ES

K

NO

WN

HE

AL

TH

EF

FE

CT

S &

C

OM

ME

NT

SSY

MP

TO

MS

App

endi

x D

. Ta

ble

1: G

ASE

OU

S P

OL

LU

TA

NT

S -

Sour

ces

and

Kno

wn

Hea

lth

Eff

ects


Appendix A - IAQ MP

Pol

ycyc

lic A

rom

atic

Hyd

roca

rbon

s (P

AH

s)T

hese

are

a la

rge

fam

ily o

f co

mpl

ex o

rgan

icsu

bsta

nces

pro

duce

d by

inco

mpl

ete

com

bust

ion

proc

esse

s su

ch a

s w

ood

burn

ing,

coo

king

and

,m

ost c

omm

only

in th

e in

door

off

ice

envi

ronm

ent,

toba

cco

smok

ing.

Can

cer,

car

diov

ascu

lar

dise

ase

and

gene

ral

sens

ory

irri

tati

on.

Alth

ough

indi

vidu

al P

AH

s ha

ve s

peci

fic

effe

cts,

the

y ca

n be

con

side

red

as a

gro

upsi

nce

they

gen

eral

ly o

ccur

in

com

plex

com

bina

tions

.

Vol

atile

Org

anic

Com

poun

ds (

VO

Cs)

The

re a

re th

ousa

nds

of o

rgan

ic c

ompo

unds

that

are

vola

tile

at r

oom

tem

pera

ture

. C

onsu

mer

prod

ucts

and

var

ious

bui

ldin

g m

ater

ials

em

itV

OC

s. T

his

proc

ess

is k

now

n as

‘of

f-ga

ssin

g’.

Con

sum

er P

rodu

cts:

dry

cle

aned

clo

thes

,co

smet

ics,

spr

ay c

ans,

toba

cco

smok

e,de

odor

iser

s, f

elt m

arke

rs, d

eter

gent

s, c

lean

ing

agen

ts, c

arbo

nles

s co

py p

aper

, etc

.B

uild

ing

and

Offi

ce M

ater

ials

: f

urni

shin

gs,

carp

ets,

pri

nted

mat

eria

l, pa

ints

, adh

esiv

es,

part

icle

boa

rd, w

axes

and

pol

ishe

s, s

eala

nts,

foam

, tap

e et

c.

Som

e of

the

mos

t com

mon

ly fo

und

VO

Cs

are

esta

blis

hed

and

susp

ecte

d m

utag

ens

and

carc

inog

ens.

Man

y ar

e m

ucou

s m

embr

ane

irri

tant

s, c

ausi

ng e

ye a

nd u

pper

resp

irat

ory

trac

t pro

blem

s. O

ther

rel

ated

eff

ects

are

head

ache

, nau

sea

and

dizz

ines

s, a

s w

ell a

spo

ssib

le n

euro

toxi

c (n

erv

ous

syst

em)

and

hepa

toxi

c (l

iver

) ef

fect

s.

Mor

e th

an 9

00 V

OC

s ha

ve b

een

iden

tifie

din

indo

or a

ir.

Wh

ile

alw

ays

in h

ighe

rco

ncen

trat

ion

indo

ors

than

out

door

s, t

hey

are

also

alw

ays

wel

l bel

ow t

he l

evel

s se

t as

offi

cial

occ

upat

iona

l he

alth

sta

ndar

ds.

How

ever

, the

re is

gre

at p

oten

tial

for

syne

rgis

tic im

pact

with

oth

er V

OC

s, o

ther

poll

utan

t ty

pes

and

othe

r en

viro

nmen

tal

fact

ors.

The

re c

an b

e lit

eral

ly h

undr

eds

ofV

OC

s in

one

buil

ding

, and

they

may

be

high

ly lo

calis

ed d

epen

ding

on

the

equi

pmen

t and

act

ivit

ies

of v

ario

us te

nant

s,an

d th

e ad

equa

cy o

f th

e ve

ntil

atio

n sy

stem

.T

he s

igni

fica

nce

of t

hese

gas

es b

eing

pres

ent i

s no

t kno

wn,

but

ther

e is

no

doub

tth

at v

entil

atio

n sy

stem

s ca

n re

duce

the

conc

entr

atio

ns o

f suc

h po

llut

ants

.

PO

LL

UT

AN

T

SOU

RC

ES

K

NO

WN

HE

AL

TH

EF

FE

CT

S &

C

OM

ME

NT

SSY

MP

TO

MS


Appendix A - IAQ MP

PO

LL

UT

AN

T

SO

UR

CE

S

KN

OW

N H

EA

LT

H E

FF

EC

TS

C

OM

ME

NT

SA

ND

SY

MP

TO

MS

Ast

hmat

ics

may

hav

e re

acti

ons

tofo

rmal

dehy

de a

nd it

is a

sus

pect

ed h

uman

carc

inog

en.

It h

as a

lso

been

link

ed(i

ncon

clus

ivel

y) t

o he

adac

he,

fati

gue,

mem

ory

laps

e, a

nd d

iffi

cult

y sl

eepi

ng a

ndco

ncen

trat

ing.

Acu

te a

nd c

hron

ic e

ffec

ts a

repo

ssib

le.

Pos

sibl

e E

ffec

tsF

orm

alde

hyde

Con

cent

rati

ons

(PP

M)

For

mal

dehy

de

(HC

OH

)F

orm

alde

hyde

is th

e m

ost n

otor

ious

of

the

VO

Cs,

also

pro

duce

d by

the

‘off

-gas

sing

’ of

man

ym

ater

ials

fou

nd in

bui

ldin

gs s

uch

as:

- pl

ywoo

d &

par

ticle

boa

rd;

- ur

ea f

orm

alde

hyde

foa

m in

sula

tion

(UF

FI)

;-

furn

iture

;-

carp

ets;

- dr

y cl

eane

d cl

othe

s/cu

rtai

ns;

- re

sins

;-

kero

sene

;-

adhe

sive

s;-

carb

onle

ss c

opy-

pape

r;-

othe

r pa

per

prod

ucts

;-

cosm

etic

s; a

nd-

clea

ning

age

nts

etc.

For

mal

dehy

de is

als

o a

com

pone

nt o

f to

bacc

osm

oke.

Odo

ur th

resh

old

Neu

roph

ysio

logi

cE

ffec

ts

Eye

Irr

itat

ion

Upp

er a

ir w

ayIr

rita

tion

Low

er a

irw

ayir

rita

tion

&pu

lmon

ary

effe

cts

Pulm

onar

yoe

dem

a,in

flam

mat

ion,

pneu

mon

ia

Dea

th

0.0

5-1.

0

0.0

5-1.

0

0.0

1-2.

0

0.1

-25

5-30

50-1

00

>10

0

Lev

els

are

alm

ost a

lway

s hi

gher

indo

ors

than

out

door

s. C

once

ntra

tion

depe

nds

on:

- ty

pe a

nd a

ge o

f m

ater

ials

pre

sent

(ne

wm

ater

ials

pro

duce

the

gas

at a

hig

h ra

tean

d sl

ow d

own

wit

h ag

e);

- te

mpe

ratu

re a

nd h

umid

ity (r

ates

of

off-

gass

ing

are

grea

ter w

hen

such

para

met

ers

are

high

);-

the

conc

entr

atio

n of

oth

er g

ases

(S

O2

low

ers

the

emis

sion

rate

); a

nd-

the

pres

ence

of

part

icul

ates

(for

abso

rptio

n of

the

gas

).E

ven

at lo

w c

once

ntra

tion

s, t

he e

ffec

t of

form

alde

hyde

may

be

incr

ease

d by

oth

erfa

ctor

s.

Ozo

ne (O

3)O

zone

is

prod

uced

by

elec

trica

l dis

char

ges

duri

ngth

e op

erat

ions

of

equi

pmen

t suc

h a

sph

otoc

opyi

ng m

achi

nes,

lase

r pr

inte

rs a

ndio

nise

rs.

Ozo

ne i

s a

very

toxi

c ga

s, a

nd h

as e

ffec

ts a

tve

ry lo

w c

once

ntra

tions

. It

cau

ses

eye

and

resp

irat

ory

irri

tatio

n, h

eada

che,

diz

zine

ss,

coug

hing

, sho

rtne

ss o

f br

eath

and

sev

ere

fatig

ue.

Alth

ough

the

heal

th e

ffec

ts a

re s

erio

us,

ozon

e is

a v

ery

reac

tive

gas

and

dec

ays

quic

kly,

with

a h

alf-

life

of

min

utes

. Si

nce

itis

onl

y pr

oduc

ed lo

cally

and

is s

o un

stab

le,

it is

gen

eral

ly n

ot c

onsi

dere

d a

maj

or in

door

poll

utan

t pro

blem

.


Rad

onR

adon

gas

is

prod

uced

by

the

brea

kdow

n of

Ura

nium

and

rad

ium

in t

he E

arth

’s c

rust

. It

diff

uses

out

fro

m th

e so

il an

d ro

cks

unde

rbu

ildi

ngs

and

from

som

e m

ason

ry b

uild

ing

mat

eria

ls.

Als

o, i

t is

solu

ble

in w

ater

and

can

ente

r bu

ildi

ngs

thro

ugh

the

wat

er s

uppl

y.R

adon

dec

ays

into

‘da

ught

er’

prod

ucts

, whi

ch a

reis

otop

es o

f va

riou

s ot

her e

lem

ents

that

und

ergo

furt

her

deca

y:R

adon

-222

→Po

loni

um-2

18→

Lea

d-21

4→

Bis

mut

h-21

4→Po

loni

um-2

14→

Lea

d-21

0→bi

smut

h-21

0→P

olon

ium

-210

→L

ead-

206

Rad

ioac

tive

‘alp

ha p

arti

cles

’ ar

e re

leas

ed d

urin

gsu

ch d

ecay

sta

ges.

Rad

ioac

tive

(al

pha

acti

ve)

‘dau

ghte

rs’

can

atta

ch to

aer

osol

s or

air

born

e pa

rtic

les

and

bein

hale

d. R

adia

tion

pene

trate

s th

e ep

ithel

ial

linin

g of

the

lung

dir

ectly

, dam

agin

g th

ege

netic

mat

eria

l of

the

basa

l ce

lls.

Pro

long

edex

posu

re to

Rad

on a

t som

e co

ncen

tratio

ns is

know

n to

cau

se l

ung

canc

er, b

ut l

ittle

iskn

own

abou

t the

hea

lth e

ffec

ts o

f lo

w l

evel

‘bac

kgro

und ’

exp

osur

es.

The

con

cent

ratio

n of

Rad

on d

epen

ds o

nge

ogra

phic

al l

ocat

ion.

Stu

dies

in A

ustr

alia

to d

ate

show

bac

kgro

und

Rad

on l

evel

s ar

ege

nera

lly v

ery

low

.T

wo

fact

ors

miti

gate

aga

inst

Rad

on b

eing

asi

gnif

ican

t con

trib

utor

to ‘

build

ing

sick

ness

’:1.

Eve

n in

the

mos

t hig

hly

cont

amin

ated

buil

ding

s, t

here

has

bee

n no

corr

espo

ndin

g in

crea

se in

the

freq

uenc

yof

rep

orte

d ‘s

ick

build

ing’

com

plai

nts

of s

ympt

oms;

and

2. M

ulti-

stor

ey b

uild

ings

usu

ally

hav

eR

adon

con

cent

ratio

ns m

uch

low

er th

anw

orld

wid

e av

erag

e va

lues

for

sin

gle

stor

ey d

wel

ling

s.

Appendix A - IAQ MP

PO

LL

UT

AN

T

SOU

RC

ES

K

NO

WN

HE

AL

TH

EF

FE

CT

S &

C

OM

ME

NT

SSY

MP

TO

MS


Asb

esto

s

- A

nosi

te-

Chr

ysot

ile

- C

roci

dolit

e-

Oth

er F

orm

s

Asb

esto

s is

a te

rm fo

r a

grou

p of

nat

ural

lyoc

curr

ing

sili

cate

roc

k fi

bres

that

hav

ebe

en u

sed

in o

ver

3000

dif

fere

nt p

rodu

cts.

Asb

esto

s ha

s m

ainl

y be

en u

sed

inpr

oduc

ts f

or fi

re a

nd h

eat r

esis

tanc

e, s

uch

as:

- he

at r

esis

tant

tex

tiles

(clo

th/p

addi

ng);

- ce

men

t pro

duct

s (s

heet

s an

d pi

pes)

;-

spec

ial i

ndus

tria

l che

mic

al fi

lter

s;-

ther

mal

insu

lati

on p

rodu

cts

(pip

e an

dbo

iler

insu

latio

n);

- fl

oor

and

ceili

ng ti

les;

and

- ro

ofin

g m

ater

ial.

It c

an b

e m

ixed

with

man

y m

ater

ials

, and

in b

uild

ings

it h

as m

ainl

y be

en u

sed

ince

men

t mix

ture

s, s

pray

ed o

nto

ceili

ngs

and

stru

ctur

al c

ompo

nent

s fo

r fir

epr

otec

tion

and

insu

lati

on.

The

inha

latio

n of

lo

ose

asbe

stos

fib

res

that

are

‘re

spir

able

’ (l

ess

than

abo

ut 3

mic

rom

etre

s) p

oses

ser

ious

hea

lth

risk

s.A

sbes

tosi

s is

the

prog

ress

ive

scar

ring

of

the

lung

tiss

ue, w

hich

may

dev

elop

furt

her

afte

r ex

posu

re (

pulm

onar

yfi

bros

is).

Can

cer

can

be c

ause

d by

the

inha

lati

on o

ffi

bres

<3∝

m in

dia

met

er a

nd l

onge

r th

an8∝

m in

leng

th.

The

ris

k in

crea

ses

with

incr

easi

ng d

iam

eter

and

exp

osur

e le

vels

.T

here

are

two

type

s of

can

cer.

1.

Lun

g C

ance

r –

ther

e is

con

side

rabl

ym

ore

risk

for

smok

ers;

and

2.

Mes

othe

liom

a –

canc

er o

f th

e li

ning

of th

e ch

est c

avit

y (p

leur

a) o

r th

eab

dom

inal

cav

ity

(per

iton

eum

).C

hanc

es a

re n

ot in

crea

sed

bysm

okin

g, b

ut c

orre

late

with

exp

osur

e.

Asb

esto

s is

not

dan

gero

us u

nles

s fi

bres

are

airb

orne

and

are

sm

all

enou

gh to

ent

erth

e lu

ng.

Exp

osur

e re

sult

s fr

om a

ctiv

ities

inbu

ildin

gs w

hich

are

dus

t for

min

g su

ch a

sdr

illin

g, s

awin

g, g

rind

ing,

mai

nten

ance

and

reno

vati

on, c

eili

ng w

ork

etc.

The

am

ount

of f

ibre

rel

ease

d de

pen

ds o

nth

e co

hesi

vene

ss o

f th

e m

ater

ial a

nd t

hesi

ze o

f th

e di

stur

bing

for

ce.

Can

cers

hav

e a

10-5

0 ye

ar la

tenc

y pe

riod

.

Oth

er F

ibre

s

- G

lass

Fib

re

- R

ock

/Min

eral

Woo

l

- O

ther

-Gla

ss F

ibre

Fibr

egla

ss h

as c

omm

only

bee

n us

ed in

the

lini

ng o

f ve

ntil

atio

n du

ctw

ork.

-Roc

k/M

iner

al W

ool

Roc

k w

ool i

s a

fibr

e th

at h

as m

ainl

y be

enus

ed in

bui

ldin

gs a

s a

fire

pro

ofin

gm

ater

ial.

-Oth

erSo

me

othe

r sy

nthe

tic f

ibre

s ar

e fo

und

ince

iling

tile

s.

Such

fib

res

can

be

the

caus

e of

itc

hing

and

othe

r ir

rita

tion

to e

xpos

ed s

kin

area

sw

hen

airb

orne

.

In g

ener

al, s

uch

syn

thet

ic f

ibre

s ar

e to

olo

ng a

nd w

ide

to b

e in

hale

d an

d ca

use

the

kind

of

dam

age

asso

ciat

ed w

ith

asbe

stos

.Fi

breg

lass

can

be

intr

oduc

ed in

to th

e ai

rst

ream

due

to w

eake

ning

fro

m th

e bu

ild-

up o

f m

oist

ure

and

mic

robi

al g

row

th.

Fibr

es m

ay a

lso

beco

me

loos

ened

wit

hag

e.

Roc

k W

ool m

ay b

ecom

e lo

osen

ed b

y th

esa

me

sort

s of

dus

t for

min

g ac

tivi

ties

men

tione

d fo

r as

best

os.

Appendix A - IAQ MP

PO

LL

UT

AN

T

SOU

RC

ES

K

NO

WN

HE

AL

TH

EF

FE

CT

S &

C

OM

ME

NT

SSY

MP

TO

MS

Tabl

e 2:

PA

RT

ICU

LA

TE

PO

LL

UT

AN

TS

- So

urce

s an

d K

now

n H

ealt

h E

ffec

ts


Com

bust

ion

Par

ticl

esIn

the

indo

or o

ffic

e en

viro

nmen

t,co

mbu

stio

n pa

rtic

les

are

gene

rate

dpr

inci

pall

y by

toba

cco

smok

ing,

but

als

oby

som

e co

mbu

stio

n ap

plia

nces

suc

h as

gas

stov

es.

Tob

acco

sm

oke

part

icle

s ar

e sm

all e

noug

hto

be

inha

led,

and

are

ther

efor

e a

sour

ceof

res

pira

tory

irri

tati

on (

part

icul

arly

for

asth

mat

ics

and

part

icul

arly

in th

e pr

esen

ceof

CO

2).

The

y ca

n ca

use

nasa

l and

eye

irri

tatio

n, a

nd t

hese

eff

ects

may

be

exac

erba

ted

by o

ther

che

mic

als

in th

esm

oke.

Com

bust

ion

part

icle

s ca

n be

aca

use

of c

ance

r an

d m

ay a

lso

be t

he c

ause

of a

ller

gic

reac

tions

in s

ome

peop

le.

Oth

er P

arti

cula

tes

The

re a

re n

umer

ous

sour

ces

of o

ther

part

icul

es t

hat

may

cau

se ir

rita

tion,

suc

has

pap

er, c

loth

ing,

and

var

ious

bio

logi

cal

sour

ces.

Upp

er r

espi

rato

ry a

nd e

ye i

rrit

atio

n an

dpo

ssib

ly a

llerg

ic r

espo

nses

in

som

epe

ople

.

Bio

logi

cal s

ourc

es a

re c

onsi

dere

dse

para

tely

in T

able

3, A

ppen

dix

D.

Appendix A - IAQ MP

PO

LL

UT

AN

T

SOU

RC

ES

K

NO

WN

HE

AL

TH

EF

FE

CT

S &

C

OM

ME

NT

SSY

MP

TO

MS


PO

LL

UT

AN

TSO

UR

CE

SK

NO

WN

HE

AL

TH

EF

FE

CT

SA

ND

SY

MP

TO

MS

CO

MM

EN

TS

Bac

teri

a

The

fol

low

ing

bact

eria

are

fou

nd

com

mon

ly in

indo

or e

nvir

onm

ents

:

- L

egio

nell

a pn

eum

ophi

la;

- Ps

eudo

mon

as s

peci

es;

- Fl

avob

acte

rium

spe

cies

;

- St

aphy

loco

ccus

pyg

enes

; and

- Se

rrat

ia m

arce

scen

s.

Bac

teri

a ca

n b

e fo

und

thro

ugho

utbu

ildin

gs, b

ut a

re p

artic

ular

ly p

reva

lent

inpa

rt s

of H

VA

C s

yste

ms

whe

re m

oist

ure,

dust

and

dir

t exi

sts.

The

y te

nd to

bec

ome

esta

blis

hed

and

pro

lifer

ate

on m

oist

surf

aces

and

in

hum

id c

ondi

tions

gene

rall

y. T

hey

can

also

be

foun

d in

bath

room

s/to

ilets

. M

uch

of th

e ba

cter

iafo

und

in th

e in

door

env

iron

men

t is

intr

oduc

ed b

y hu

man

s.L

egio

nell

a ba

cter

ia i

s co

mm

only

foun

d in

the

wat

er o

f ai

r co

ndit

ioni

ng c

ooli

ngto

wer

s, c

onde

nsat

e dr

ip tr

ays

und

erco

olin

g co

ils,

and

in

the

wat

er u

sed

inva

riou

s hu

mid

ifie

rs.

Bac

teri

a ca

n ca

use

a va

riet

y of

infe

ctio

nsde

pend

ing

on th

e sp

ecie

s. T

he m

ost

seri

ous

of th

e bu

ildin

g-re

late

d ba

cter

ial

infe

ctio

ns a

re L

egio

nnai

res

Dis

ease

and

Pon

tiac

Fev

er.

Leg

ione

llos

is c

an o

ccur

onl

y th

roug

h th

ein

hala

tion

of

aero

sol s

ized

wat

er d

ropl

ets

cont

aini

ng th

e ba

cter

ia L

egio

nell

apn

eum

phil

a. M

any

of th

e ba

cter

ia f

ound

in b

uild

ings

are

har

mle

ss.

Fun

gi (M

ould

s)

The

fol

low

ing

gene

ra o

f fu

ngi a

re

com

mon

ly fo

und

in in

door

env

iron

men

ts:

- A

sper

gill

us;

- C

lado

spor

ium

;

- A

lter

nari

a;

- Pe

nici

llium

;

- M

icro

poly

spor

a; a

nd

- T

herm

oact

inom

yces

Fung

al s

pore

s us

uall

y en

ter

build

ings

from

out

side

thr

ough

fre

sh a

ir in

take

s.C

olon

isat

ion

and

prol

ifer

atio

n oc

curs

in

moi

st e

nvir

onm

ents

suc

h as

wat

erda

mag

ed c

arpe

ts o

r ar

eas

in H

VA

Csy

stem

s. M

ould

s m

ay a

lso

form

inba

thro

oms/

toile

ts a

nd k

itch

ens

etc.

The

spe

cies

Asp

ergi

llus

fum

igat

us,

whi

chca

n ca

use

infe

ctio

n as

wel

l as

alle

rgic

reac

tion

s, h

as s

omet

imes

bee

n tr

aced

topi

geon

dro

ppin

gs a

ccum

ulat

ed a

t air

inta

kes

whe

n pr

otec

tive

mes

h is

dam

aged

or n

on-e

xist

ent.

Tw

o sp

ecie

s fr

om th

e ge

nus

Asp

ergi

llus

can

be t

he c

ause

of

both

ser

ious

lun

gin

fect

ion

and

alle

rgic

rea

ctio

ns s

uch

asas

thm

a an

d hy

pers

ensi

tivit

y pn

eum

onit

is.

Spe

cies

fro

m th

e M

icro

poly

spor

a an

dT

herm

oact

inom

yces

gen

era

are

mos

tfr

eque

ntly

the

caus

e of

hyp

erse

nsit

ivity

pneu

mon

itis

whe

n th

eir

spor

es a

rein

hale

d.M

inor

ski

n ir

rita

tion

s m

ay b

e ca

used

by

som

e fu

ngal

spe

cies

, and

toxi

colo

gica

lef

fect

s ha

ve a

lso

been

rep

orte

d in

asso

ciat

ion

with

par

ticu

lar

fung

i, m

ainl

yth

roug

h in

gest

ion,

but

als

o th

roug

hin

hala

tion

.

Infe

ctio

ns c

ause

d by

fun

gi in

the

offi

ceen

viro

nmen

t are

rar

e.L

ittle

is

know

n ab

out

the

toxi

colo

gica

lef

fect

s of

fun

gi.

Num

bers

and

type

s of

fun

gal s

pore

sch

ange

with

the

tim

e of

day

, sea

son

and

geog

raph

ical

loca

tion

s.F

ungi

are

mos

t lik

ely

to b

uild

up

in m

oist

part

s of

HV

AC

sys

tem

s in

the

abse

nce

ofre

gula

r in

spec

tion

and

clea

ning

.

Appendix A - IAQ MP

Tabl

e 3:

BIO

LO

GIC

AL

PO

LL

UT

AN

TS

- So

urce

s an

d K

now

n H

ealt

h E

ffec

ts


Pro

tozo

ans

The

pro

tozo

an o

f m

ost

heal

th c

once

rn i

sth

e am

oeb

a, N

aeg

leri

a gr

uber

i.W

ater

is r

eadi

ly c

olon

ised

by

prot

ozoa

ns,

prov

ided

a n

utri

tiona

l (ba

cter

ial)

sup

ply

exis

ts (

ie. s

tagn

ant w

ater

). F

or e

xam

ple,

wat

er in

dri

p tr

ays

unde

r co

olin

g co

ils

inH

VA

C s

yste

ms

may

bec

ome

a so

urce

of

prot

ozoa

ns.

N. g

rube

ri c

an c

ause

all

the

maj

or a

ller

gic

cond

itio

ns w

hen

airb

orne

; suc

hco

ndit

ions

incl

ude

hype

rsen

sitiv

ity

pneu

mon

itis,

hum

idif

ier

feve

r, a

sthm

aan

d al

lerg

ic r

hini

tis.

Pro

tozo

ans

beco

me

airb

orne

all

erge

nsei

ther

by

dire

ctly

atta

chin

g to

aer

osol

sfr

om th

e w

ater

they

inha

bit,

or, i

f th

ew

ater

dri

es u

p, t

he d

ried

rem

ains

can

ente

r th

e ai

rstr

eam

like

oth

er r

espi

rabl

epa

rtic

ulat

es.

Pro

tozo

ans

are

know

n to

feed

upo

nba

cter

ia.

In s

ome

case

s su

ch b

acte

ria

surv

ive

with

in th

e pr

otoz

oan

cells

and

are

prot

ecte

d fr

om u

nfav

oura

ble

cond

itio

ns(e

g. f

rom

bac

teri

al b

ioci

des

som

etim

esus

ed i

n H

VA

C s

yste

ms)

. T

he b

acte

ria

can

mul

tiply

wit

hin

thei

r ho

st, a

nd r

e-em

erge

und

er m

ore

favo

urab

leci

rcum

stan

ces.

Dus

t M

ites

Dus

t mit

es a

re v

ery

com

mon

in

man

yen

viro

nmen

ts.

The

y ex

ist i

n as

soci

atio

nw

ith d

ust a

nd c

an b

e fo

und

in c

arpe

ts a

ndot

her f

abri

cs, f

urni

ture

stu

ffin

g et

c.So

me

spec

ies

are

part

icul

arly

lik

ely

to b

efo

und

in s

ymbi

otic

rel

atio

nshi

p w

ith

fung

igr

owin

g in

dam

p pl

aces

, suc

h as

inco

mpo

nent

s of

HV

AC

sys

tem

s.

Dus

t m

ites

are

usu

ally

onl

y pr

obl

emat

icfo

r su

scep

tibl

e pe

ople

. W

hen

airb

orne

and

in la

rge

enou

gh n

umbe

rs, d

ust m

ites

(par

ticu

larl

y th

eir

faec

al p

elle

ts)

are

am

ajor

cau

se o

f br

onch

ial a

sthm

a.

Pop

ulat

ion

size

s ar

e in

flue

nced

by

moi

stur

e co

nten

t and

the

rela

tive

hum

idit

y of

the

air

.

Appendix A - IAQ MP

PO

LL

UT

AN

T

SOU

RC

ES

K

NO

WN

HE

AL

TH

EF

FE

CT

S &

C

OM

ME

NT

SSY

MP

TO

MS


Appendix A - IAQ MP

PO

LL

UT

AN

T

SOU

RC

ES

K

NO

WN

HE

AL

TH

EF

FE

CT

S &

C

OM

ME

NT

SSY

MP

TO

MS

‘Dus

t’

As

wel

l as

the

abov

e ‘l

ivin

g’ b

iolo

gica

lpo

lluta

nts,

ther

e ar

e a

num

ber

of ‘

non-

livin

g’ p

ollu

tant

s of

bio

logi

cal o

rigi

n.

Bio

logi

cal ‘

dust

’ in

clud

es:

- po

llen;

- fu

ngal

spo

res;

- du

st m

ites

and

thei

r fa

ecal

pel

lets

;

- ot

her a

rthr

opod

exc

reta

and

dea

d ce

ll

frag

men

ts; a

nd

- ce

lls/p

arti

cles

she

d by

oth

er a

nim

als

and

plan

ts, i

nclu

ding

hai

r, s

kin,

scal

es (

hum

ans

shed

abo

ut 7

mill

ion

dead

cel

ls p

er m

inut

e), e

tc.

Bio

logi

cal ‘

dust

’ co

mpo

nent

s m

ay e

nter

abu

ildin

g th

roug

h fr

esh

air

inta

kes,

part

icul

arly

whe

n in

adeq

uate

ly f

ilter

ed, o

rm

ay b

e ge

nera

ted

wit

hin

the

buil

ding

.W

here

ext

erna

l pro

tect

ive

mes

h is

dam

aged

or n

on-e

xist

ent,

anim

al a

ndve

geta

ble

mat

eria

l of

vari

ous

kind

s ca

nac

cum

ulat

e ar

ound

air

inle

ts.

Suc

hde

posi

ts a

re b

oth

an im

med

iate

sou

rce

ofbi

olog

ical

‘du

st’,

and

pos

sibl

y a

site

for

furt

her

cont

amin

atio

n th

roug

h ba

cter

ial

and

fung

al g

row

th.

Res

pira

ble,

non

-liv

ing

biol

ogic

alpo

llut

ants

are

a c

ause

of

alle

rgic

rea

ctio

nssu

ch a

s as

thm

a an

d rh

init

is in

som

epe

opl

e.

Bio

logi

cal ‘

dust

’ fr

om o

utsi

de b

uild

ings

is n

orm

ally

in a

com

plex

mix

ture

with

oth

er a

irbo

rne

‘dus

ts’

from

vol

cano

es,

fire

s, e

rosi

on p

roce

sses

, min

ing

activ

ity,

indu

stri

al s

ites,

pow

er p

lant

s, v

ehic

les,

agri

cult

ure

etc.

The

re a

re a

lso

num

erou

s no

n-bi

olog

ical

‘dus

t’ s

ourc

es w

ithin

bui

ldin

gs, i

nclu

ding

cons

truct

ion

acti

vity

, tob

acco

sm

oke,

pape

r pr

oduc

ts, c

loth

es e

tc.


Appendix A - IAQ MP

Env

iron

men

tal T

obac

co S

mok

e (E

TS)

Cig

aret

tes,

cig

ars,

pip

esE

TS

is a

cau

se o

f lu

ng c

ance

r. O

ther

poss

ible

eff

ects

are

not

wel

l un

ders

tood

.E

TS

is c

onsi

dere

d se

para

tely

bec

ause

it

cons

ists

of

a co

mpl

ex m

ixtu

re o

f gas

esan

d pa

rtic

les

(ove

r 3,

800

subs

tanc

es):

- th

e ef

fect

s of

eac

h in

divi

dual

subs

tanc

e ar

e po

orly

und

erst

ood;

and

- th

ey o

ccur

sim

ulta

neou

sly.

The

con

cent

rati

on o

f E

TS

in a

bui

ldin

gde

pend

s up

on:

- w

heth

er s

mo

king

is

allo

wed

thro

ugho

ut o

r is

con

fine

d to

a‘s

mok

ing

room

’ wit

h o

r w

itho

utex

haus

t cap

acit

y;-

the

prop

orti

on o

f ‘f

resh

’ to

‘re

cycl

ed’

air b

eing

cir

cula

ted;

and

- th

e ef

fect

iven

ess

of th

e fi

lters

use

d to

clea

n th

e re

cycl

ed a

ir.

Pes

ticid

esT

he s

ourc

e of

pes

tici

des

wil

l de

pend

on

the

type

of

trea

tmen

t and

the

met

hod

ofap

plic

atio

n.

Any

eff

ects

on

hum

ans

will

be

dep

ende

ntup

on th

e ty

pe o

f pes

tici

de, i

ts m

etho

d o

fap

plic

atio

n, i

ts c

once

ntra

tion

, and

per

haps

prox

imit

y to

the

sour

ce a

nd h

ost

susc

eptib

ilit

y.

Ano

ther

fac

tor

that

will

det

erm

ine

the

natu

re a

nd e

xten

t of

any

effe

cts

from

pest

icid

es w

ill b

e fr

eque

ncy

of th

eap

plic

atio

n.

Stat

ic E

lect

rici

ty C

harg

esS

mal

l ele

ctri

cal c

harg

es a

re c

ause

d by

elec

tros

tati

c bu

ildu

p th

roug

h fr

ictio

n.So

me

floo

r co

veri

ngs

may

con

trib

ute

toth

e fr

eque

ncy

of ‘

shoc

ks’

, and

they

are

mor

e li

kely

to o

ccur

in

cond

ition

s of

low

rela

tive

hum

idity

(le

ss th

an a

bout

35%

).

Sm

all e

lect

rica

l spa

rks

mov

e be

twee

n th

ebo

dy a

nd m

etal

obj

ects

su

ch a

s do

orha

ndl

es, c

ausi

ng m

inor

stin

ging

pai

n an

dir

rita

tion.

PO

LL

UT

AN

T

SOU

RC

ES

K

NO

WN

HE

AL

TH

EF

FE

CT

S &

C

OM

ME

NT

SSY

MP

TO

MS

Tabl

e 4:

OT

HE

R P

OL

LU

TA

NT

S A

ND

FA

CT

OR

S C

ON

CE

RN

ING

IN

DO

OR

EN

VIR

ON

ME

NT

QU

AL

ITY

- S

ourc

es a

nd k

now

n he

alth

eff

ects


Odo

urs

Odo

urs

may

ari

se a

s a

resu

lt o

f hu

man

activ

ities

and

per

sona

l hab

its (

eg.

cosm

etic

s), o

r acc

ompa

ny m

any

of th

epo

lluta

nts

men

tione

d (e

g. m

ould

s,V

OC

s).

The

y m

ay a

lso

be p

rodu

ced

by a

num

ber

of m

achi

nes

(eg.

pho

toco

pier

s) o

rpr

oces

ses

(eg.

cle

anin

g, c

ooki

ng).

Sen

sory

irri

tati

on a

nd g

ener

al d

isco

mfo

rt.

Wha

t con

stitu

tes

an ir

rita

ting

of

unpl

easa

nt o

dour

is

subj

ecti

ve.

How

ever

,a

com

fort

able

env

iron

men

t wit

h re

spec

tto

odo

ur is

one

in w

hich

peo

ple

are

not

dist

ract

ed f

rom

the

ir w

ork

by p

arti

cula

rsm

ells

.

Low

Lev

els

of N

egat

ive

Ions

In c

ompa

riso

n w

ith in

door

cit

y ai

r, m

uch

high

er c

once

ntra

tions

of

ioni

sed

air

mol

ecul

es, p

arti

cula

rly

nega

tive

ions

, are

foun

d in

are

as d

escr

ibed

as

‘inv

igor

atin

g’,

such

as

near

the

ocea

n an

d in

the

mou

ntai

ns.

The

re a

re a

num

ber

of a

ccep

ted

reas

ons

for

the

low

num

bers

of n

egat

ive

ions

inci

ty a

ir:

- m

oder

n st

eel f

ram

ed b

uild

ings

and

met

al v

entil

atio

n du

cts

prov

ide

anel

ectr

ical

pat

hway

to

eart

h; a

nd-

nega

tive

ions

are

att

ract

ed to

VD

Usc

reen

s an

d th

eref

ore

are

take

n o

ut o

fth

e ai

r, p

arti

cula

rly

from

the

imm

edia

te e

nvir

onm

ent o

f th

ew

orke

r.

The

re is

dis

agre

emen

t ove

r th

e ex

iste

nce

of a

ny b

enef

icia

l he

alth

eff

ects

from

expo

sure

to in

crea

sed

conc

entr

atio

ns o

fne

gati

ve i

ons.

Som

e st

udie

s su

gges

t the

sym

ptom

s ex

peri

ence

d by

mig

rain

esu

ffer

ers

are

alle

viat

ed in

the

pre

senc

e of

high

con

cent

ratio

ns o

f ar

tific

iall

yge

nera

ted

nega

tive

ion

s, a

nd o

ther

s ha

veal

lege

dly

indi

cate

d th

at th

e ef

fect

is

a‘g

reat

er s

ense

of

wel

l bei

ng’.

How

ever

,di

ffer

ent s

tudi

es h

ave

foun

d no

suc

hco

rrel

atio

ns.

Apa

rt fr

om d

isag

reem

ent o

ver t

heex

iste

nce

of b

enef

icia

l hea

lth e

ffec

ts f

rom

nega

tive

ion

s an

d th

e va

lue

of in

stal

ling

ioni

sers

in b

uild

ings

, th

ere

is a

lso

cont

rove

rsy

over

the

poss

ible

phys

iolo

gica

l bas

is f

or a

ny h

ealt

h ef

fect

s.

Ele

ctro

mag

net

ic R

adia

tion

Ext

rem

ely

low

freq

uenc

y ra

diat

ion

ispr

oduc

ed b

y nu

mer

ous

elec

tric

alap

plia

nces

as

wel

l as

over

head

pow

ertr

ansm

issi

on l

ines

.

Hea

lth p

robl

ems

aris

ing

from

elec

trom

agne

tic

radi

atio

n so

urce

s in

non

-in

dust

rial

bui

ldin

gs a

re u

nlik

ely

to o

ccur

.W

hile

res

earc

h in

to th

e ef

fect

s of

low

leve

l ele

ctro

mag

netic

rad

iatio

n is

at a

nea

rly

stag

e, th

e ef

fect

s of

hig

h le

vels

of

such

rad

iati

on a

re w

ell k

now

n.

It w

ould

be

prud

ent f

or o

wne

rs t

o lo

cate

thei

r bu

ildin

gs a

way

fro

m h

igh

pow

erel

ectr

ical

sou

rces

.

Appendix A - IAQ MP

PO

LL

UT

AN

T

SOU

RC

ES

K

NO

WN

HE

AL

TH

EF

FE

CT

S &

C

OM

ME

NT

SSY

MP

TO

MS


Appendix B

HVAC Checklist

HAVAC CHECKLIST – SHORT FORM

Building Name: ………………………………….. Address: ………………………………………….

Completed by: ……………………………….Date: ……………………….File No.: …………………..

PLANTROOM

� Clean and dry? ………………………………………Stored refuse or chemicals? ……………………………….

� Describe items in need of attention …………………………………………………………………………………

MAJOR MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT

� Preventive maintenance (PM) plan in use? ………………………………………………………………………..

Control System

� Type ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

� System operation …………………………………………………………………………………………………..

� Date of last calibration ………………………………………………………………………………………………

Boiler

� Rated Btu input …………………….. Condition …………………………………………………………………..

� Combustion air: is there at least one square inch free area per 2,000 Btu input? ………………………………..

� Fuel or combustion odours………………………………………………………………………………………

Cooling Tower

� Clean? No leaks or overflow? ………………………..Slime of algae growth? …………………………………….

� Eliminator performance …………………………………………………………………………………………..

� Biocide treatment working? (list type of biocide) ……………………………………………………………………...

� Spill containment plan implemented? ……………… Dirt separator working? ……………………………………

Chillers

� Refrigerant leaks? ………………………………………………………………………………………………….

� Evidence of condensation problems? ………………………………………………………………………………

� Waste oil and refrigerant properly stored and disposed of?…………………………………………………………….


Building Name: ………………………………………Address: ……………………………………………………….

Completed by: ………………………………… Date: ……………………….File No.:…………………..

AIR HANDLING UNIT

� Unit identification ………………………………… Area served …………………………………………………..

Outdoor Air Intake, Mixing Plenum, and Dampers

� Outdoor air intake location ………………………………………………………………………………………..

� Nearby contaminant sources? (describe) …………………………………………………………………………..

� Bird screen in place and unobstructed? ……………………………………………………………………………..

� Design total cfm ………………. outdoor air (O.A) cfm ……………. date last tested and balanced ……………...

� Minimum % O.A (damper setting) ………Minimum cfm O.A (total cfm x minimum % O.A) = ………..

� Current O.A damper setting (date, time, and HVAC operating mode) ………………………………………………

� Damper control sequence (describe) ……………………………………………………………………………….

� Condition of dampers and controls (note date) ……………………………………………………………………..

Fans

� Control sequence …………………………………………………………………………………………………….

� Condition (note date) ………………………………………………………………………………………………..

� Indicated temperatures Supply air ……….. Mixed air ……….. Return air ……….. Outdoor air ……..

� Actual temperatures Supply air ……….. Mixed air ……….. Return air ……….. Outdoor air ……..

Coils

� Heating fluid discharge temperature ……….……… °C cooling fluid discharge temperature …...….. °C

� Controls (describe) …………………………………………………………………………………………………..

� Condition (note date) ………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Humidifier

� Type ………………………………………….. If biocide is used, note type ………………………………

� condition (no overflow, drains trapped, all nozzles working?) ………………………………………………………..

� No slime, visible growth, or mineral deposits? ……………………………………………………………………..

100


Building Name: ……………………………………….. Address: ……………………………………………….

Completed by: ……………………………………….Date: ……………………….File No.: …………………..

DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

Condition of distribution system and terminal equipment (note locations of problems)

� Adequate access for maintenance? ………………………………………………………………………………….

� Ducts and coils clean and obstructed? ……………………………………………………………………………..

� Air paths unobstructed? supply ……….. return ………. transfer ……..…. exhaust ……..…. make-up ……….

� Note locations of blocked air paths, diffusers, or grilles ……………………………………………………………….

� Any unintentional openings into plenums? ………………………………………………………………………….

� Controls operating properly? ………………………………………………………………………………………

� Air volume correct? ………………………………………………………………………………………………….

� Darin pans clean? Any visible growth or odours? ………………………………………………………………….

Filters

/enoZmooR

metsySepyT

riAylppuS riAnruteR tsuahxErewoP

-/detcuDdetcudnu

mfc/detcuDdetcudnu

mfc mfc lortnoCsevreS

)teliotge(

noitacoL gnitaR/epyT eziStsaletaD

degnahcnoitidnoC)etadevig(


mooR/enoZtatsomrehT

noitacoL

seodtahWtatsomrehT

?lortnoc,rotaidar.g.e

3-UHA

stniopteS

retniWREMMUS

derusaeMerutarepmeT

emiT/yaD

Building Name: ………………………………………..Address: ……………………………………………………….

Completed by: …………………………………………Date: ……………………….File No.: …………………..

OCCUPIED SPACE

Thermostat types…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...

Humidistat/Dehumidistat types…………………………………………………………………………..

mooR/enoZ/tatsdimuH

tasidimuheDnoitacoL

tiseodtahW?lortnoc

stniopteS)HR%(

derusaeMerutarepmeT

emiT/yaD

� Potential problems (note location)…………………………………………………………………………………..

� Thermal comfort of air circulation problems (drafts, obstructed airflow, stagnant air overcrowding, poor

thermostat location) ………………………………………………………………………………………………...

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

� Malfunctioning equipment …………………………………………………………………………………………

� Major sources of odours or contaminants (eg. poor sanitation, incompatible uses of space) ………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………..


boJ drazaHlaitnetoP gnihtolcdnarotaripseR

noitcepsnI losoreAro1PssalC,eceipecafflaH

,retlifetalucitrap2PssalCgnihtolckrowyranidro

gniyarpserusserphgiH losoreA,evobasarotaripseR

,sevolg,sllarevofoorpretawdleihsecafroselggog,stoob

htiwtnemtaertlacimehCnoitulosetirolcopyhmuidos,)enirolhcelbaliava%5.21(

ecapsnoitalitnev

wolyrevdnatsimyarpSenirolhcnoitartnecnoc

dnasagdica,eceipecaflluFselggog,rotaripseretalucitrap

,sllarevo,dleihsecafrostoobdnasevolg

tontubriallits,evobasAecapsdenifnoc

enirolhcnoitartnecnocwoLhtiwrotaripsereceipecaflluF

,retlif1BroSUABepyTstoobdna,sevolg,sllarevo

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enilriaeceipecaflluFrorosserpmochtiwrotaripser

,selttobriadesserpmocstoobdna,sevolg,sllarevo

Appendix C

(Appendix A of Australian Standard 3666.2, 1995)

GUIDELINES FOR THE USE OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT DURINGINSPECTIONAND MAINTENANCE OF AIR-HANDLING AND WATER SYSTEMS

(Informative)

A1 GENERAL This Appendix gives guidance on the selection of appropriate personal protectiveequipment for use by personnel during regular maintenance of air-handling and water systems. Table A1lists the recommended minimum equipment needed. Respirators should ocmply with AS/NZS 1716, andshould be used in accordance with AS/NZS 1715.

TABLE A1

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)

Where there is no risk of inhalation of spray mists or no chemicals are being applied, respirators need notbe worn. See AS 2865 for guidance to precautions that should be observed when working in a confinedspace, eg. inside a cooling tower or water storage tank.

A2 ISSUE AND CARE OF PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT Where respirators are issued,personnel should be clean shaven, individually fitted with their own masks, and taught correct fittingprocedures prior to respirator use (See AS/NZS 1715). Where disposable masks are issued, new masksshould be used after each break.

Non-disposable respirator masks should be thoroughly scrubbed with detergent and hot water, and driedafter use. The filters should be discarded after completion of each day’s work.

indoor air quality management plan

Documents