• About Us
• Environmental Studies Curriculum
  • Environmental Studies Major - 53 credits
  • Environmental Studies Minor - 24 credits
  • ES Course Requirements - Classes of 2012 & 2013
  • ENVR 395: Senior Research Seminar
  • Environmental Studies Course Descriptions
• Student Resources
• Environmental Studies Graduate Information
• FAQ

Indoor Environmental Air Quality: Goals

Goal 1. Provide an indoor setting that is healthy for the occupants, and enhances well-being, performance and productivity.

1.1 Ban smoking in or near proximity of structure.

1.1.1 No smoking within any building or dorm or within 30 ft of any door, window or fresh air intake.

1.1.2 Verify non-smoking areas by using tracer gas testing methods as described in the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE ) standard 129 1997. Non-smoking areas should have less than one percent tracer gas concentration.[i]

1.2 Minimize occupant exposure to products of combustion.

1.2.1 All fireplaces, gas stoves, space heaters, furnaces, etc. should be properly maintained and vented.

1.2.2 Levels of carbon monoxide should be kept as low as possible, not exceeding 6 parts per million (ppm).

1.2.3 Nitrogen dioxide should be no higher than 0.03 ppm.

1.3 Minimize occupant exposure to radon.

1.3.1 Incorporate radon -resistant construction features into the structure.

1.3.2 Radon levels should not exceed 2 picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L).

1.4 Ban odor emitting products.

1.4.1 Ban all artificial air fresheners.

1.4.2 Ban odorous personal care products, including perfume, cologne, perfumed soaps, etc.

1.4.3 Use non-toxic or low toxic cleaners and pesticides. Use of these chemicals should only be done during periods of low building occupancy.

1.5 Control moisture in the indoor air, thereby discouraging microbial growth.

1.5.1 Keep relative humidity between 30 to 50 percent.

1.5.2 Address moisture control on the site , within the building envelope , and inside the building. Where moisture precautions are needed, specify materials to discourage microbial growth.[ii]

1.6 Establish and meet the minimum Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) performance standards for a structure to prevent indoor air quality problems and ensure a healthy interior.

1.6.1 Meet the minimum requirements of voluntary consensus ASHRAE 62 1999 Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality.[iii]

1.7 Design and allow for proper air exchange and circulation within a structure.

1.7.1 Follow the ASHRAE ventilation recommendations appropriate for the function of the space.[iv]

1.7.2 “For mechanically ventilated buildings, design ventilation systems that results in an air change effectiveness (E) greater or equal to 0.9 as determined by ASHRAE standard 129-1997. For naturally ventilated spaces demonstrate a distribution and laminar flow pattern that involves not less than 90 percent of the room or zone area in the direction of airflow for at least 95 percent of hours occupancy.”[v]

Goal 2. Minimize the amount off-gassing allowed during the construction or remodeling of a building.

2.1 For the long-term health of the installer and occupant, prevent air quality problems resulting from construction debris.

2.1.1 Have a management plan for monitoring the air quality in the building during the construction phase.

2.1.2 During construction meet or exceed minimum requirements of the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning National Contactor Association (SMACNA) IAQ Guideline for Occupied Buildings under Construction , 1995.[vi]

2.1.3 Protect all absorptive construction and building materials from moisture damage. And replace all filtration media before occupancy. Filtration media shall have a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) of 13 as determined by ASHRAE 52.2 1999.[vii]

2.1.4 Allow the newly constructed buildings to air out. Conduct a two week building flush-out with 100 percent outside air. Or conduct a baseline indoor air quality test.

Goal 3. Minimize the amount off gassing that is allowed during the usage phase of a building.

3.1 To reduce indoor air pollution, use low emitting materials wherever possible.

3.1.1 Meet or exceed VOC limits for adhesives , sealants , paints, composite wood products, and systems as follows:[viii]

3.1.2 Formaldehyde levels should not exceed 0.05 ppm.

Goal 4. Provide occupants with an indoor environment that is pleasing to his/her senses.

4.1 Appropriate insulation and a properly designed building envelop should optimize thermal performance.

4.1.1 Install a permanent temperature and humidity monitoring system to verify that the indoor environment is within the appropriate thermal comfort ranges.

4.2 Indoor air temperature should be within the seasonally appropriate range and should be comfortable for the occupants.

4.2.1 Acceptable Ranges of Temperature and Relative Humidity Relative Humidity Winter Temp (F) Summer Temp (F) 30% 68.5 - 76 74 – 80 40% 68.5 – 75.5 73.5 – 79.5 50% 68.5 – 74.5 73 – 79 60% 68 – 74 72.5 - 78 [adapted from ASHRAE Standard 55-1981].[ix]

4.3 Provide appropriate lighting and visual setting. Lighting fixtures will fit the space, be versatile enough to change as the occupants need them to, and do all of this efficiently.

4.3.1 Design strategies and features should provide appropriate illumance levels for various users and tasks. To determine the correct illumance level for certain users and tasks, follow the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA ) Recommended Illumance Categories and Weighting Levels.[x]

4.3.2 Color schemes and modeling of light should enhance visual performance and minimize glare.

4.4 Achieve optimal usage of day lighting within a space. 4.4.1 “Achieve a minimum daylight factor 2 percent (excluding all direct sunlight penetration) in 75 percent all space occupied for critical visual tasks, not including copy rooms, storages areas, mechanical rooms, laundry, and other low occupancy support areas. Exceptions include those spaces where tasks would be hindered by the use of daylight or where accomplishing the specific task within a space would be enhanced by the direct penetration of sunlight.”[xi]

4.5 Provide occupants with a connection to the outdoor environment through the use of sunlight and views.

4.5.1 Occupants should have a sight of a view from 90 percent of occupied spaces.

4.6 Provide an indoor environment with acoustic and vibration qualities that are conducive to the activities within the building.

4.6.1 Design strategies and features should be used to minimize vibrations from both internal and external sources.

4.6.2 Noise from mechanical and electrical equipment and from exterior sources should be controlled by using appropriate design features. The site , building program and activities should be considered when selecting the appropriate Sound Transmission Class (STC) rating for wall assemblies.

4.6.3 Design an acoustical environment , ‘soundscape,’ suitable for the space and user activities.

Goal 5. Design spaces to allow occupants to have control of the mechanical and structural systems at work in the space.

5.1 Occupants in a room will have full control over active mechanical and operating systems, thus allowing for a customized space.

5.1.1 Provide a minimum of one operable window and one lighting control zone per 200 square feet for all occupied within 15 feet of the perimeter wall.[xii]

5.1.2 Install occupant controlled thermostats, humidistats, and lighting systems.

Goal 6. Implement proper scientific technology so that the space can be constantly monitored for health conditions.

6.1 To ensure occupant comfort and health, install a monitoring system that tracks the air quality within the building.

6.1.1 Have a monitoring system with room-by-room capabilities so that it can efficiently track the conditions throughout the structure.

6.1.2 “Install a permanent carbon dioxide (CO2) monitoring system that provides feedback on space ventilation performance in a form that affords operational adjustments, AND specify initial operation set point parameters that maintains indoor carbon dioxide levels no higher than outdoor levels by more than 530 parts per million at any point.”[xiii]

6.1.3 Establish and implement an indoor air management plan, and respond appropriately to data and feedback received from the monitoring system.

Goal 7. Design a mechanical system and an effective air ventilation system that prevents contaminants from spreading throughout the space.

7.1 Prevent air pollutants and strong odors from spreading throughout the structure.

7.1.1 Hazardous and odorous spaces (such as cleaning supply closets, copy rooms, kitchen areas, etc) will have separate ventilation systems and appropriate drainage systems that prevent cross contamination within a building.

7.1.2 Areas emitting chemical air pollutants or strong odors should be depressurized relative to the surrounding areas to reduce the diffusion of the air pollutants.

[i] Minnesota Sustainable Design Guide . Regents of the University of Minnesota , College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. (Twin Cities Campus. 1999-2002), 2-51.

[ii] ibid. 2-55.

[iii] ibid. 2-50.

[iv] U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Building Air Quality: A Guide for Building Owners and Facility Managers (Washington, D.C.: GPO 1991), 136.

[v] U.S. Green Building Council. LEED: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, Rating System Version 2.0 (Washington, D.C.: GPO, 2001), 33.

[vi] ibid. 34.

[vii] ibid. 34.

[viii] ibid. 35.

[ix] U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Building Air Quality: A Guide for Building Owners and Facility Managers (Washington, D.C.: GPO 1991), 57.

[x] Minnesota Sustainable Design Guide . Regents of the University of Minnesota , College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. (Twin Cities Campus. 1999-2002), 2-72.

[xi] ibid. 2-68

[xii] ibid. 2-64

[xiii] U.S. Green Building Council. LEED: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, Rating System Version 2.0 (Washington, D.C.: GPO, 2001), 32.