Indoor Air Quality – Best Practices

 Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a source of constant concern for property managers, for temperature, odours, CO2 levels, mould and dust can become a veritable nightmare with improperly functioning HVAC systems. However, even when all appears to be operating smoothly and building occupants are clearly satisfied, it is important to remain on the lookout and to monitor certain indicators that might suggest latent problems.

 The new BOMA BEST® program includes a "Best Practices" element outlining the basic requirements a certified building must meet. Best practice #7 now requires a monitoring plan for the building to keep track of indoor air quality. The plan, which can be specific to a building or a general plan for a large property portfolio, must cover preventive maintenance, IAQ monitoring and responses to occupants' concerns. It must also encompass training for staff that not only includes how to operate HVAC equipment, but also how to ensure that air quality targets are reached.

 Compliance with best practices helps to avoid the majority of problems involving air quality. Nonetheless, sometimes doubts persist even when all parameters have been respected. It might be prudent to consult a specialized hygienist to conduct an audit of the air quality in your building. Here are a few parameters that you should consider!

Written by  Jean-Michel Champagne,
member of the Integrated Technical Management committee