Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) in the workplace can decrease employee productivity and lead to health complaints and worker absenteeism. AirQuest’s Certified Indoor Environmental Consultants (CIECs) have extensive experience identifying the cause and developing a solution to address indoor air quality concerns.
When conducting an audit on air quality in buildings, our focus is to identify the root of the issue in efforts to prevent recurrences long-term, as well as provide immediate assistance to resolve current risks for occupants.
We will be looking for key attributes that lead to IAQ complaints which include: improperly operated and maintained HVAC systems, overcrowding, radon, moisture incursion, dampness, presence of outside air pollutants, and presence of internally generated contaminants. Our mission is to identify these concerns to help restore balance and improve air quality in your building.
Indoor Air Quality Investigations
Critical components of an IAQ investigation consist of a building investigation, inspection of the HVAC system, review of HVAC maintenance records, and interviews with knowledgeable and concerned site personnel. AirQuest uses the information gathered during the building investigation to identify concerns and to develop the most cost-effective and permanent solution to the IAQ problem. In addition to the visual inspection and interviews, the IAQ Investigation may include one or more of the following:
- Examination for signs of visible mold and water damage
- Moisture survey of building materials
- Temperature, relative humidity, dew point, and wet bulb temperature measurements
- Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide measurements
- Air sampling for constituents of concern, such as volatile organic compounds
- Photographic documentation of the visual observations
- Report preparation, including recommendations for additional investigation or remediation
Periodic Indoor Air Quality Monitoring
Some clients wish to establish a baseline IAQ survey or perform regular monitoring to document air quality. In these instances, AirQuest develops a site-specific periodic monitoring program suited to the client’s needs. The periodic sampling program typically consists of a building inspection and field analysis for key IAQ parameters.
Air Quality Monitoring solutions provided by AirQuest are put in place as a preventative measure and are shown to improve occupational health, which results in enhanced living, health, and comfort for the building occupants.
Operations & Maintenance
The written Operations and Maintenance (O&M) plan is a tool for building owners and property managers. The O&M plan details policies and procedures to document maintenance of HVAC equipment and immediately address any occupant IAQ concerns.
AirQuest provides education-based training, documentation, and maintenance services for your staff:
- Education-based training to staff on building maintenance and long-term health benefits for occupants in the building
- Education-based training to building owners, property managers, and other responsible parties on how to use provided O&M manuals if a new air quality problem develops
- Provide documentation to support staff in hiring qualified professionals/contractors to resolve specified air quality problems
- Provide a detailed maintenance plan to help the team in preventing air quality issues from developing, including unique maintenance check schedules to maintain accountability
- Conduct a thorough examination of outdoor air-supply dampers and room air-vents to ensure proper setup for appropriate maintenance follow-through and long-term use
The implementation of an O&M plan can extend the life of the HVAC system, reduce occupant complaints, and reduce remediation costs. AirQuest develops O&M plans based upon the specific needs of the client. O&M functions can be performed by AirQuest or facility personnel.