Indoor Air Quality Approved


"Indoor Environmental Quality," as the name implies, simply refers to the quality of the air in an office or other building environment. "Sick Building Syndrome" is a term many people use to convey a wide range of symptoms they believe can be attributed to the building itself. Workers typically implicate the workplace environment because their symptoms are alleviated when they leave the office.

Indoor environmental contaminants can originate within the building or be drawn in from outdoors. If contaminant concentrations are excessive, IEQ problems can arise, even if the HVAC system is properly designed and well-maintained. NIOSH investigators have found IEQ problems caused by ventilation system deficiencies, overcrowding, offgassing from materials in the office and mechanical equipment, tobacco smoke, microbiological contamination, and outside air pollutants.

Maintaining a healthy and comfortable indoor environment in any building requires integrating many components of a complex system. Indoor environment problems are preventable and solvable and practical guidance on how to manage your building for good indoor environmental quality is available.