EPA/600/A-92/226
SURVEY OF PROTOCOLS FOR CONDUCTING INDOOR AIR QUALITY INVESTIGATIONS
IN LARGE BUILDINGS
Roy C. Fortmann, Ph.D
ABSTRACT
Numerous investigations are conducted in large buildings each year to
evaluate health and comfort complaints that building occupants perceive to be
related to poor indoor air quality. Some guidelines have been developed for
conducting indoor air quality investigations, but standardized building
diagnostics protocols have not been developed. The purpose of this work was
to compile information that might be used to develop standardized protocols.
A computerized literature search and a mail-out survey were conducted. A
number of reports describing indoor air quality investigation guidelines and
protocols were identified. The recently-published EPA/NIOSH Building Air
Quality document contained the most comprehensive guidance. A survey of other
documents identified many common elements, particularly for the collection of
information during the initial walk-through investigation phases. However,
there was not a common approach to the measurement of physical and chemical
parameters during an investigation. This paper describes common elements and
differences in the technical approach to building investigations.
KEYWORDS: Indoor, Indoor Air Quality, IAQ, Sick Building, SBS, Diagnostics,
Investigative Protocols
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SURVEY OF PROTOCOLS FOR CONDUCTING INDOOR AIR QUALITY INVESTIGATIONS
IN LARGE BUILDINGS
Roy C. Fortmann, Fh.D1
ABSTRACT
Numerous investigations are conducted in large buildings each year to
evaluate health and comfort complaints that building occupants perceive to be
related to poor indoor air quality. Some guidelines have been developed for
conducting indoor air quality investigations, but standardized building
diagnostics protocols have not been developed. The purpose of this work was
to compile information that might be used to develop standardized protocols.
A computerized literature search and a mail-out survey were conducted. A
number of reports describing indoor air quality investigation guidelines and
protocols were identified. The recently-published EPA/NIOSH Building Air
Quality document contained the most comprehensive guidance. A survey of other
documents identified many common elements, particularly for the collection of
information during the initial walk-through investigation phases. However,
there was not a common approach to the measurement of physical and chemical
parameters during an investigation. This paper describes common elements and
differences in the technical approach to building investigations.
INTRODUCTION
In recent years, there has been increased recognition of the importance
of air quality indoors for the health, comfort, and productivity of building
occupants. As a result of health and comfort complaints by building occupants
perceived to be related to poor indoor air
^r!C.Fortmann is a research analytical chemist in the Methods Development
and Applications Laboratory, Analytical and Chemical Research Sciences Unit,
Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, N.C.
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quality, numerous indoor air quality (IAQ) investigations have been performed
in recent years. The technical approaches used to investigate complaints
related to the indoor environment have been highly variable. Investigative
protocols have often been based on the investigator's background and
experience, availability of monitoring instrumentation, and past successes,
rather than on well-designed and validated diagnostic practices. This
situation has improved in recent years with the publication of a number of
documents providing guidelines for indoor air quality investigations in large
buildings. However, standardized protocols for building investigations have
not been developed.
The purpose of this work was to compile information on protocols that
have been used to investigate indoor air quality in large buildings. The
objective was to review the available protocol information to identify common
elements and differences in the technical approaches to building
investigations. Such information may be used in the development of
standardized protocols and to identify elements of diagnostic protocols that
require additional research and development. Results of this survey,
conducted for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), have been
summarized in a draft report (Fortmann, 1992). It should be noted that in
this project, we did not critically assess the effectiveness of the
investigative protocols for identifying the causes of indoor air quality
problems. Such an assessment was beyond the scope of the project, A critical
assessment of investigative protocols would require a substantially larger
effort because many reports published in the open literature do not contain
complete information on either protocols or test results.
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A computerized literature search covering the last ten years was
conducted to compile reports describing guidelines or protocols for conducting
indoor air quality investigations in large buildings, such as offices,
schools, public access buildings, and other non-industrial work places, A
mail-out survey was also conducted in an attempt to obtain unpublished
protocol information from investigators who had published case studies in the
open literature during the last five years.
This paper summarizes information obtained from the literature survey.
Elements of indoor air quality investigations are described and discussed with
respect to the types of information that is being collected and the methods of
collection. The similarity and the differences in the approaches to
information and data collection are described.
SURVEY RESULTS
Published Guidelines and Protocols
A number of reports, listed in Table 1, were identified that provide
guidelines or detailed methods for conducting indoor air quality
investigations in large buildings. The list should not be considered to be
all inclusive. A number of reports of indoor air quality investigations have
been published in journals and in the proceedings of the International
Conferences on Indoor Air Quality and Climate. Although many of these reports
contained useful information, detailed descriptions of the investigative
protocols are often not included in these reports because of the limited page
length. Exclusion of reports does not imply that they were not identified in
the survey or that they were not considered to be useful.
The most comprehensive guidance document for conducting problem-solving
building investigations is "Building Air Quality - A Guide for Building Owners
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and Facility Managers," recently prepared by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH) (U.S. EPA, 1991). It provides comprehensive guidance for all stages
of problem-solving IAQ investigations.
Relatively detailed guidance is also provided in other reports listed in
Table 1. Davidge et al. (1989), for example, provide general guidelines for
the preliminary assessment, simple and complex measurement stages and detailed
checklists for observations of pollutant sources. Goyer and Nguyen (1989)
provide comprehensive guidance for the identification, evaluation, and control
of indoor environment problems. Extensive information is provided for four
groups of parameters: ventilation system characteristics, comfort parameters,
contaminants, and the work environment.
General guidance for conducting building investigations is provided by a
number of investigators. Rafferty (1989) provides an overview of the most
important elements of a protocol for an initial investigation. The paper
includes a comprehensive listing of information that should be collected.
Hansen (1991) provides general guidance for conducting IAQ problems, and other
factors related IAQ in large buildings.
Lane et al. (1989) and Woods et al. (1989) provide extensive protocol
information for building diagnostics in papers published in recent years.
Turner et al. (1985) have also published a number of papers that provide
guidance on investigative methods and specific measurement methods. There are
also numerous case studies reported in the scientific literature that provide
information on investigative strategies and measurement methods. However,
most case study reports do not contain detailed information on investigative
protocols due to space limitations.
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Diagnostic, Strategies
Practically all problem-solving IAQ investigations are performed using a
multi-stage approach that involves information gathering, hypothesis
development, and hypothesis testing at each stage. Guidance provided in
recently-published documents stresses that many building problems can be
solved on the basis of information collected by observation during an initial
walk-through inspection. Measurements of physical and chemical parameters are
recommended by many investigators only to test hypotheses in later stages of
an investigation. The goal of this approach is to minimize the number of
stages, and therefore, resources required to identify the problem. Although
this is a general approach, investigators differ with respect to how each
stage is implemented. Some investigators perform simple, low-cost
measurements during the first stage, while others are strongly opposed to any
measurements during the initial stage of the investigation.
The solution-oriented, multi-stage investigation approach described by
Hansen (1991) that is summarized in Table 2 is typical of the approach used by
many investigators. Each phase of the investigation involves observations or
measurements of increasing complexity and requires an increasing level of
expertise about IAQ and building systems performance. Hansen's approach is
similar to that recommended by the U.S. EPA (1991). They recommend a multi-
stage approach to building investigations that begins with simple observations
by "in-house" personnel to develop hypotheses about the problem that can be
easily tested using resources available in-house. As the hypotheses become
increasing complex, the investigation may require contractors with specialized
knowledge and expertise. The EPA guide for building owners and facility
managers provides what they term a "toolbox" of diagnostic activities for
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collecting information on the basic factors influencing IAQ: the occupants,
the HVAC system, pollutant pathways, and contaminant sources.
The Honeywell Indoor Air Quality Diagnostics protocol (Rask, 1991) is a
two phase approach. The initial phase consists of on-site review of
documents, interviews with facility staff, and on-site inspection. Phase 2 is
a more extensive analytical approach.
Lane et al. (1989) and Woods et al. (1989) have described an approach
to building diagnostics In which the building is characterized in terms of
(1) the type and location of sources of contaminants, (2) the four elements
that comprise a building system [structure, envelope, interior spaces, and
services], and (3) the performance characteristics during the life of the
building. Their approach includes three phases. In the first phase, the
consultation phase, the objective is to focus diagnostic procedures on problem
areas. The building is characterized in terms of the structure, envelope,
occupied spaces and services using available plans and construction documents
and by professional observations. The output of this phase is to define the
scope and objectives of the investigation, develop a hypothesis, and make
recommendations to building management. Qualitative diagnostics are performed
in the second phase if required to test a hypothesis or validate a
recommendation. This is accomplished primarily through engineering analysis
techniques. Lane et al. (1989) emphasize that measured data may not be
required during this phase. The third phase is the quantitative diagnostics
phase. This phase is implemented only if required for further hypothesis
testing or validation of recommendations. Measurements to be performed depend
on the hypothesis to be tested. The reports by Lane et al. (1989) and
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Woods et al, (1989) provide general guidance, but de'tailed methods are not
included in the reports,
Many investigators (Baldwin et al.. 1991; Davidge et al.. 1989; Goyer
and Nguyen, 1989; U.S. EPA, 1991; and others) do not recommend any physical or
chemical measurements during the preliminary assessment and walk-through
inspection stage of an investigation. Rafferty (1989), however, recommended a
Phase 1 investigation approach that includes low-cost, semi-quantitative
analysis. In addition to collection of information on the structure, HVAC,
and sources, he recommends measurements of temperature and relative humidity,
C02, total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) and bioaerosols. He believes
these measurements are low-cost and can provide useful information on
potential contributors to the problem in terms of airborne contaminants,
effectiveness of the HVAC to remove those contaminants, and potential
mitigation strategies.
There does not appear to be a consensus on the usefulness of screening
measurements during the first visit to a building. Many investigators
probably measure temperature, relative humidity, and C02 during the first
visit because these measurements are low cost and simple to perform. Although
the emphasis during the first visit should be on collection of comprehensive
information by observation, there may be situations where simple measurements
will be useful to the investigator and building management, Gammage et al.
(1989) point out that many clients demand some type of immediate testing
during the first visit to a "problem" building.
Initial Walk-through Inspection and Collection of Information by Observation
The collection of appropriate background information prior to conducting
an IAQ investigation and the collection of information by observation during
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the initial walk-through investigation are critical to the investigator's
understanding of the problem, the building, its occupants, and the factors
affecting IAQ. In many cases, this information will be adequate for
identifying the problem and developing appropriate solutions. At a minimum,
this information will be critical to the development of hypotheses that may be
tested, This survey of the literature seems to indicate a general consensus
on the types of Information that should be collected during the initial stages
of an investigation.
The EPA Building Air Quality document (U.S. EPA, 1991) provides
extensive guidance on the collection on information during the initial walk-
through inspection. Information can be collected on the occupants, HVAC
system, pollutant pathways, and contaminant sources using forms provided in
the document,
Rafferty and Quinlan (1989) have published a comprehensive listing of
background information that should be collected on the building, the HVAC
system, contaminant sources, and the occupants. Goyer and Nguyen (1989) also
provide comprehensive guidance on the background information that should be
collected. They have developed a questionnaire for each of four groups of
parameters: the ventilation system, comfort, chemical contaminants and
bioaerosols, and the work environment. Another source of questions used to
obtain information during the initial walk-through investigation is provided
in Public Works Canada's Indoor Air Quality Test Kit: User Manual (Rajhans,
1989). Thirty seven multi-part questions are used to collect information on
the building, pollutant sources, the HVAC, and the affected workstation, A
strong emphasis in these guidelines is placed on identification of contaminant
sources, information which may be used to develop mitigation strategies or for
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development of hypotheses and protocols for more comprehensive measurements in
later stages of an investigation.
The importance of the condition and the performance of the HVAC system
is recognized by all investigators. Practically all investigators place a
major emphasis on performing a comprehensive evaluation of the HVAC system and
ventilation characteristics during the initial walk-through investigation.
Although most of the reports listed in Table 1 provide guidance for evaluating
HVAC systems, the EPA Building Air Quality document provides the most
comprehensive guidance and greatest level of detail for evaluation of HVAC
systems of any documents that were reviewed in this survey. Because every
building and its HVAC system are different, there is no "cookbook" method for
performing an investigation. However, the EPA document provides guidance and
details on investigative procedures that should prove to be applicable to most
HVAC systems. Both a short, four-page HVAC checklist and a long, 14-page HVAC
checklist have been developed by EPA. The guidance document also includes an
Appendix that provides introductory material and information on specific
systems for building owners and managers.
Employee Survey Questionnaires
Survey questionnaires have been used extensively in research studies
with the objective of relating environmental factors in buildings to health
and comfort complaints and symptoms. They are used to a varying degree in
problem-oriented building investigations. Some investigators use simple
questionnaires to collect information during the initial phases of an
investigation. Others find questionnaire data of little value during the
initial phases. Another group of investigators avoids using any
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questionnaires for fear of causing hysteria in the population of building
occupants,
Examples of questionnaires have been published in a number of reports
(Table 3). The list is not all inclusive. Dunteman et al. (1991) also listed
questionnaires from the University of California, Hal Levin, Peder Skov, and
Biospherics, Inc., in a recent report on questionnaire design.
The questionnaire used for the EPA Headquarters Building (U.S. EPA,
1989) was a comprehensive 20-page questionnaire containing questions relating
to the description of the workstation, the employee's health and well-being,
the employee's present work environment, characteristics of the job, and
demographics. The EPA questionnaire has been modified for use by other
investigators (Daisey et al.. 1990; GEOMET, 1990). The questionnaires
described by Rajhans (1989), Raw et al. (1991), and Quinlan et al. (1989) are
also quite comprehensive. Shorter questionnaires have been used by other
investigators. Wood et al. (1989) and Rask (1991) recommend use of a short
two-page questionnaire to collect information from occupants on the
acceptability of the indoor environment in terms of acoustics, air quality,
lighting, and thermal attributes,
There is a controversy over the use of a questionnaire during the
initial phase of an investigation of a "sick" building. Investigators at
Healthy Buildings International (HBI, 1991) for example, recognize that
questionnaires may help to identify "clusters" or complaint areas, but they do
not believe questionnaires will lead to solutions that cannot be identified by
an engineering study of the building. There is also concern that distribution
of questionnaires to building occupants may aggravate and heighten awareness
of IAQ complaints among occupants. As an alternative to formal
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questionnaires, informal interviews may be appropriate during the initial
assessment phase. In the Building Air Quality guide published by EPA (1991),
they suggest that formal questionnaires are useful for IAQ research,
epidemiological investigations, complex building investigations, and when
litigation is a possibility. EPA advises against development and
administration of questionnaires by in-house personnel. They recommend that
the questionnaires be designed and executed by consultants with expertise in
this area.
Measurement Parameters and Protocols
Although the guidelines for performing some components of a building
investigation, for example, inspection of the HVAC, are extensive and quite
detailed, the guidelines for performing physical and chemical measurements
during an IAQ investigation are much less extensive and usually not as
detailed. Some general guidelines have been developed to assist investigators
in determining what contaminants should be measured and how the measurements
should be performed, but this stage of IAQ investigations requires a higher
level of expertise and experience in IAQ than the early stages of an
investigation. This is not surprising due to the large number of sources of
contaminants in a building, the wide range of measurement methods available,
the size and complexity of buildings in which measurements must be performed,
and our current, limited, understanding of the relationship between
contaminant concentrations and occupant health and comfort
complaints/symptoms.
The most frequently used screening measurements for problem-solving IAQ
investigations are dry bulb temperature, relative humidity, carbon dioxide,
and carbon monoxide. Temperature and relative humidity are used as indicators
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of comfort. Carbon dioxide Is used extensively as an Indicator of the
adequacy of outdoor air supply. Carbon monoxide Is used to determine if
combustion pollutants are entering the building from outdoor areas such as
parking garages, loading docks, and bus stops. All four of these parameters
are easily measured with portable monitors.
Total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) and biological aerosols (fungi
and bacteria) have also been used as screening measurements (Gammage et al,.
1989; Rafferty and Quinlan, 1989), TVOC measurements with portable monitors
may be useful to identify "hot spots" of contaminant sources in a building,
but not for ambient air measurements In the work spaces. Measurements of
nonspecific airborne microorganisms during initial IAQ investigations are the
subject of controversy. Gammage et al. (1989) suggest that such measurements
are useful for identifying gross microbial contamination, but not to show a
causal relationship to health symptoms. Others believe that gross
contamination can be determined by observation and that non-specific
measurements may be misleading because the concentrations of specific
organisms of concern are not quantified.
According to the U.S. EPA (1991), a chemical sampling strategy should be
developed based on a comprehensive understanding of how the building operates,
the nature of the complaints, and a plan for Interpreting the results. In the
Building Air Quality document it is further stated that a program of chemical
sampling should begin only if symptoms or observations strongly suggest that a
specific pollutant or source may be the cause of the complaint and if sampling
results are important in determining appropriate corrective action. This is
excellent general guidance. But the Building Air Quality document does not
provide specific criteria to be used to determine if a pollutant or source may
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be Che cause of a complaint. To the extent possible, the document does
provide guidance on when to measure, and how to interpret results for carbon
monoxide, carbon dioxide, and formaldehyde, 1 For other contaminants, such as
volatile organic compounds (VOCs), biological contaminants, and particulate
matter, the guidance provided is not very specific.
Goyer and Nguyen (1989) provide relatively specific guidance for
contaminant measurements. They recommend the sampling duration, measurement
technique, and suggested sampling sites for the major categories of
contaminants. They also provide a detailed list of measurements to be
performed if specific sources are identified. For example, if there were
recent renovations, they recommend measurement of VOCs and formaldehyde in
office spaces. They do not attempt to relate measurement parameters to
complaints, which is more difficult than relating contaminants to sources.
Tables are also provided that give relevant standards/guidelines and "typical"
contaminant concentrations to assist the investigator in determining if the
concentration measured is "abnormally high."
Development of the sampling strategy based on contaminant sources
appears to be the most common approach (Baldwin et al, 1991; Davidge et al..
1989; Goyer and Nguyen, 1989; and others). Industrial hygienists have used
this approach successfully in industrial workplace environments and have
applied the same approach to the non-industrial workplace. This approach Is
much simpler than attempting to relate measurement parameters to occupant
complaints and symptoms. There have been no simple guidelines developed on
how to select the contaminants to be measured.
The guidelines for determining when and where to sample are also not
well-developed. The simplest, and most widely used guideline for selecting
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sampling locations is to sample in the affected (complaint) area, a non-
affected (control) area, and outdoors. Selection of both the affected and
control areas is probably most often based on subjective information.
However, more elaborate methods have been used for more complex
investigations. At the EPA Headquarters building, employee survey results
were used to calculate indexes used for selection of sampling sites. Knoppel
and DeBortoli (1989) used a similar "complaint index." Lane et al. (1990)
have described a procedure to identify the zones of maximum and minimum
potential exposure. Random selection of sampling sites has been used in
research studies, but is not typically used in problem-solving building
investigations. Turk et al. (1987) determined the minimum number of sampling
sites, based on square footage, required to characterize the interior space of
interest.
Like selection of sampling sites, there is only limited guidance on when
to sample and the frequency of sampling required. The U.S. EPA (1991)
suggests that measurements may be made under both "worst case" and "typical"
conditions in order to isolate a problem. This may be accomplished by
manipulating building conditions. The effect of the day of the week and the
time of day on measurement results is well-recognized. Quinlan et al. (1989),
Davidge et al. (1989), Rajhans (1989), and others provide recommendations on
when to sample for specific contaminants. Morey and Singh (1991) are two of
only a few investigators that stress the importance of relating measurements
to the operation of the HVAC and the supply of outdoor air which may change
from day to day and hour to hour.
The survey of the literature indicated that guidelines for selection of
measurement parameters, measurement methods, sampling sites, and sampling
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duration and frequency area available, but are usually quite general. No
simple "cookbook" protocols are available that can be applied to the wide
array of building stock, contaminant sources and health and comfort
complaints.
CONCLUSIONS
The literature survey identified a number of recently-published reports
that provide relatively comprehensive guidance for conducting IAQ
investigations in large, non-residential buildings. The guidance available
for conducting preliminary assessments and the Initial walk-through
inspections is most comprehensive. Although investigators may differ slightly
in their approach to conducting this phase of information collection, there
appears to be a general consensus on the type of Information that should be
collected on the building, its occupants, the ventilation system, and
contaminant sources. The multi-stage approach is recognized to be most cost
effective. Although some investigators in the past performed extensive
contaminant measurements even during the early stage of an investigation,
contaminant measurements are not generally recommended unless there is a well-
developed hypothesis. Guidelines for conducting measurements of physical and
chemical parameters during a building investigation are not well-developed.
For most contaminants, criteria have not been developed that will assist the
investigator in selection of the measurement parameters or development of the
monitoring/sampling strategy. Due to our current, limited, understanding of
the relationship between occupant complaints/symptoms and contaminant
concentrations, monitoring and sampling strategies are primarily based on
identification of potential sources in the work space. Additional research is
required to determine which measurement parameters are most useful for solving
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IAQ problems. Protocols for performing those measurements need to be
developed and tested.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND NOTICE
The research described In this article was funded through the Indoor Air
Research Program, Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment Laboratory,
Office of Research and Development of the United States Environmental
Protection Agency under contract number 68-02-4544. This document has been
reviewed in accordance with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency policy and
approved for publication. Mention of trade names or commercial products does
not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.
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TABLE 1
Reports Describing Diagnostic Protocols for IAQ Investigations
Title
Authors
Publication
Year
Hewlett Packard Indoor Air Quality Program
Indoor Air Quality Assessment Strategy
Indoor Air Quality Investigations: A
Practitioner's Approach
Strategy for Studying Air Quality in
Office Buildings
Investigating Indoor Air Problems
Indoor Air Quality Diagnostic Procedures
for Sick and Healthy Buildings
A Procedural Guide on Sick Building
Syndrome
Indoor Air Quality in Nonindustrial
Occupational Environments
Guidance for Indoor Air Quality
Investigations
Protocol for the Comprehensive Evaluation
of Building-Associated Illness
A Protocol for Initial Investigations of
Indoor Air Quality
The Practitioner's Guide to Indoor Air
Quality
Findings of the Ontario Inter-Ministerial
Committee on Indoor Air Quality
IAQD Protocols
HBI Protocols
Elements of a Standard Protocol for
Measurements in the Indoor Atmospheric
Environment
Building Assessment Techniques for Indoor
Air Quality Evaluations
Building Air Quality - A Guide for
Building Owners and Facility Managers
Indoor Air Quality Diagnostics:
Qualitative
and Quantitative Procedures to Improve
Environmental Conditions
Baldwin et al.
Davidge et al.
Gammage et al.
Goyer & Nguyen
Hansen
Lane et al.
Liebhaber
Morey & Singh
NIOSH
Quinlan et al.
Rafferty
Rafferty & Quinlan
Rajhans
Rask
Robertson & Turner
Thorsen & Molhave
Turner et al.
U.S. EPA/NIOSH
Woods et al.
1991
1989
1989
1989
1991
1989
1987
1991
1987
1989
1989
1989
1989
1991
1991
1987
1985
1991
1989
ao -
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TABLE 2
Stages of a Diagnostic IAQ Investigation®
Phase
1:
Preliminary Assessment
(a) Define nature and scope of the complaints.
(b) Conduct a preliminary audit of the facility
conditions, systems, maintenance, and operations.
Phase
2:
Walk Through Inspection
(a) Conduct more thorough assessment; validate
information of preliminary assessment
(b) Perform simple measurements
Temperature and relative humidity
Airflows with smoke tubes
Carbon dioxide
Phase
3:
Simple Diagnosis
(a) Engineering analysis of HVAC system and building
performance
(b) Pollutant measurements
(c) Ventilation measurements
Phase
4:
Complex Diagnostics
Phase
5;
Monitoring and Recurrence Prevention
Summarizes approach described Hansen, 1991.
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TABLE 3
Reports That Contain Copies of Questionnaires Used for Building Investigations
Questionnaire
Notes
Reference
Indoor Air Quality and Work
Environment Survey
For EPA Headquarters;
20 pages long
U.S. EPA, 1989
Indoor Air Quality and
Environment Follow-up Survey
For EFA Headquarters;
5 pages long
U.S. EPA, 1989
Occupant Interview
EFA Building Air
Quality; 2 pages
U.S. EPA, 1991
Comprehensive Indoor Air
Quality Questionnaire
6 pages
Ouinlan et al..
1989
Human Resource Questionnaire
2 pages
Woods et al.. 1989
Indoor Air Quality Survey
Ontario Ministry of
Labour; 8 pages
Rajhans, 1989
Occupant Questionnaire for
Monitoring
2 pages
GEOMET, 1990
Indoor Air Quality
Questionnaire
2 pages
NIOSH, 1987
Indoor Air Quality
Questionnaire
2 pages
Baldwin et al..
1991
Office Health Questionnaire
2 pages
Liebhaber, 1987
The Healthy Building Study
Que s t i onna ire
13 pages
Daisey et al.. 1990
Office Environment
Questionnaire
8 pages
Raw et al.. 1991
Work Environment Survey
5 pages
Hedee et al.. 1989
IAQ Questionnaire
1 page
Mader et al,. 1991
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TECHNICAL REPORT DATA
(ffeas* rtad fntuuttioni on iht rt*tru btfart complti
Cw~
1. REPORT NO.
EPA/600/A-92/226
a.
3.
4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE
Survey of Protocols for Conducting Indoor Air Quality-
s. REPORT OATS
June 1992
Investigations Jo Large Buildings
ft. PERFORMING OROANI2ATION COO«
*
7. AUTMORISt
Roy C. Fortmann
B. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NO.
9, PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAM* ANO AOORESS
Research Triangle Institute
<0. PROGRAM ELEMENT NO.
A101C/E90
RTP, NC 27709
n. contract/gAanT n6.
68-02-4544
U. SPONSORING AGENCY NAME ANO AOORESS
HERB/AREAL
13. TYPE OF REPORT ANO PERIOD COVERED
Symposium Proceedings
MD-56
RTP, NC 27711
t«, SPONSORING AGENCY COOK
1S» supplementary NOTES
For Presentation at the ASHRAE IAQ '92 Conference-Environment For People,
San Francisco, CA.» October 18-21,1992.
18, ABSTRACT
SURVEY OF PROTOCOLS FOR CONDUCTING INDOOR AIR QUALITY INVESTIGATIONS IN LARGE BUILDINGS
Roy C. Fortmann, Ph»D
ABSTRACT
Numerous investigations are conducted in large buildings each year to evaluate
health and comfort complaints that building occupants perceive to be related to poor
Indoor air quality. Some guidelines have been developed for conducting indoor air quality
investigations, but standardized building diagnostics protocols have not been developed.
The purpose of this work was to compile information that might be used to develop
standardized protocols. A computerized literature search and a mail-out survey were
conducted. A number of reports describing Indoor air quality investigation guidelines
and protocols were identified. The recently-published EPA/NIOSH Building Air Quality
document contained the most comprehensive guidance. A survey of other documents
identified many common elements, particularly for the collection of information during
the initial walk-through investigation phases. However, there was not a common approach
to the measurement of physical and chemical parameters during an Investigation. This
paper describes common elements and differences In the technical approach to building
lnvestizations.
17,
KEY WORDS ANO DOCUMENT ANALYSIS
i. DESCRIPTORS
b.iOENTlFIERS/OPEN ENDED TERMS
c. COSati Field/Group
Indoor Air Quality, Monitoring, Indoor
Investigations, Building Studies
Sick Building Syndrome
1®. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT
To The Public
19. SECURITY CLASS {TiuS ftrportf
Unclassified
21. NO, OF PACES
?t
20. SECURITY CLASS (Tim p*t*l
Unclassified
72. PRICE 1
IF* 9mm 1230-1 (Ha*. 4-77) pncviou* «Oition f eueiiri
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