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What is Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)?

What is Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)?. Chemical, biological pollutants in the air Temperature, humidity A good IAQ Management Plan controls indoor air pollutants, brings in adequate outside air and maintains comfortable temperature and humidity levels. So how does Tools for Schools fit in?.

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What is Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)?

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  1. What is Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)? • Chemical, biological pollutants in the air • Temperature, humidity • A good IAQ Management Plan controls indoor air pollutants, brings in adequate outside air and maintains comfortable temperature and humidity levels.

  2. So how does Tools for Schools fit in? • Tools for Schools is a VOLUNTARY program, a low cost-no cost tool to help schools improve their IAQ • Organizes cleaning, maintenance activities that a school is (or should be) already doing • TfS is not intended to be a crisis management tool • It’s free, effective (800) 438-4318

  3. History of Tools for Schools • Late 1980’s – extent of problem with IAQ in schools realized • 1995 – Tools for Schools kit developed • Currently – ~50% of schools use either Tools for Schools or an IAQ plan that meets EPA guidelines.

  4. Tools for Schools – 5 steps • Form IAQ team, appoint IAQ coordinator • Distribute checklists, questionnaires • Conduct walk through of school • Prioritize repairs – what gets fixed now, what can wait • Develop IAQ management plan

  5. Why is IAQ in Schools important? • We spend 80-90% of our lives indoors • 55 million Americans spend their days in schools • There are no laws, no indoor air standards that protect students, staff from poor IAQ • Indoor levels of air pollution can be 2-5 times (even up to 100 times) more polluted than outside air. The reasons……

  6. Radon • Occurs naturally • EPA Estimate – 23,000 lung cancer deaths per year • Test kits – (800) 557-2366, or for a few free kits, (702) 798-2430 • If over 4 pC/liter, consider remediation • Radon caves in Montana!

  7. Carbon Monoxide (CO) • 500 deaths each year CO poisoning • A byproduct from fuel combustion • What you can do: annual appliance checks, don’t use fuel burning things indoors (hibachis, gas powered generators, etc.) • Buy a CO detector

  8. Volatile Organic Compounds(VOC’s) • Can be built into a school (carpets, paints, cabinets etc.) • Can be intentionally introduced (air fresheners, scented candles, perfumes, after shaves) • VOC’s can trigger asthma attacks, aggravate respiratory problems • Formaldehyde – a probable carcinogen?

  9. Indoor Pollution Sources Copy machines, faxes give off ozone, particulates • Pesticides • Cleaning products • Perfumes, candles, room fresheners • Dirty, malfunctioning A/C, swamp coolers • Mold – 300% increase in lawsuits in past 5 years

  10. Add all these pollutants to a poorly ventilated, insulated box

  11. Why should schools be concerned about poor IAQ?

  12. The Asthma Epidemic • Asthma rates have doubled since 1980 • 1 in 13 school children has asthma • 10-13 million school days missed each year • Tools for Schools helps identify, remove common asthma triggers from classrooms

  13. More reasons that schools should be concerned about poor IAQ • Health, morale of staff • Poor IAQ, high CO2 = lower performance • Liability issues • Loss of funding when students are absent • You can’t teach kids that are medicated or absent

  14. What are challenges for schools? • Funding • Test scores, student safety, discipline, etc. • Why draw attention to an IAQ problem? (if we ignore the problem, no one will notice)

  15. How can Tools for Schools address these concerns? • Increased attendance = more funding • Improved IAQ, lower CO2 levels = better learning environment (www.epa.gov/iaq) • Don’t think of it as drawing attention to a problem, think of it as being proactive

  16. Prioritize your needs into…. • What can be done now to improve IAQ? Simple, quick fixes • What can we do soon? Low cost fixes that can be done with existing budget/staff • What can we do when we have more $? Have an inventory of what the IAQ needs of the school are

  17. For new school construction…. • IAQ Design Tools for Schools www.epa.gov/iaq/schooldesign For a comprehensive healthy schools approach: • Healthy Seat www.epa.gov/schools/healthyseat

  18. Who can help schools get started? • The EPA – Regional offices, symposiums (www.epa.gov/iaq) • Contractors working through the EPA • American Lung Association state offices • State Health Departments • State Energy offices or Energy Performance Contractors (www.escperform.org) • Ron Schiller (303) 312-6017

  19. To get more information or materials on indoor air in schools, contact • Ron Schiller (303) 312-6017 • EPA Publications Warehouse (800) 490-9198

  20. “I think it’s interesting that cologne rhymes with alone” Demetri Martin

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