by Shane Henson — July 17, 2013—Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a common concern for facilities managers, as well as those involved in the design and construction of buildings. A new guide released by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) this month will provide facilities professionals and others who are looking to improve the IAQ of their buildings with the knowledge they need to do so.
Available as a free download, The Indoor Air Quality Guide: Best Practices for Design, Construction and Commissioning provides strategies to achieve good IAQ using proven technologies and without significantly increasing costs.
The book describes 40 strategies for achieving critical IAQ objectives related to moisture management, ventilation, filtration and air cleaning and source control. It also highlights how design and construction teams can work together to ensure good IAQ strategies are incorporated from initial design through project completion.
The book also contains:
- Hundreds of internal and external links to resources for the design, construction, and commissioning of buildings with excellent indoor air quality;
- Access to an incredible variety of in-depth information by topic to help you design, construct and operate buildings using best practices for indoor air quality;
- Best practices for all aspects of IAQ building design, commissioning and construction, including designing for maintainability; and
- Tools and material for demonstrating the value of IAQ to clients.
The download is being offered in support of the presidential theme of 2013-14 ASHRAE President William P. Bahnfleth. His theme, “Shaping the Next,” focuses, in part, on making buildings safe, healthy, productive, comfortable environments in harmony with nature.
“As we move forward in shaping the next generation of buildings and systems, good indoor air quality must be a central focus of our efforts,” Bahnfleth said. “The health and comfort of buildings occupants is too important to leave IAQ as an after-thought in design, construction and operation. By making this publication available to the industry, we are providing guidance to help ensure the use of best practices for good IAQ, allowing all of us to enjoy the benefits of a better indoor environment cost-effectively.”
