IAQ Building Education and Assessment Model (I-BEAM)

Remember...“Painting is a major source of pollution indoors. Consider occupancy, drying time and ventilation.”

(Hot Spot: Large area over the painter and upper portion of the picture.)

• You should protect occupants from paint emissions using simple protocols. For example, paint during unoccupied hours using low toxic and fast drying paints where feasible.
• Ventilate the spaces being painted with significant quantities of outdoor air during and after painting and during the initial occupancy period. Use more than normal outdoor ventilation for some period after occupancy.

Remember...“Keep lids on paint cans when not in use, and store properly.”

(Hot Spot: Area over paint cans and lids and lower portion of the picture.)

• Lids should not be left off of paint containers that are not in use since they will contaminate the environment with paint fumes. Paints and similar materials should be stored with lids on tight.
• The storage area should be ventilated using direct exhaust to the outside, or located in an unoccupied facility outside of the building.

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Remember...“Pesticides should not be the central theme of your pest control program.”

(Hot Spot: Over the person, tank, and probe)

• Since pesticides contain toxic substances, pesticides should not be the principal method used to control pests. Rather, use an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach. Control dirt, moisture, clutter, foodstuff, and building penetrations to minimize pests, and, where possible, use baits and traps rather than pesticidal sprays.
• Use pesticides only when other methods have failed, and only where pests are located. Avoid routine pesticidal applications as a means for “prevention” of pests. Make sure the pesticide is formulated for the targeted pest. Seek out pest control companies that are well versed in IPM methods.
• Apply pesticides only during unoccupied hours, and ventilate the building with significant quantities of outdoor air during and just after applications. Use more than normal outdoor air ventilation for some period after occupancy.

Remember...“A smoking ban requires that if people smoke, they smoke outside the building.”

• Tobacco smoke can be a significant indoor pollution source. Many companies simply require individuals who desire to smoke to smoke outside of the building.
• Smokers should smoke away from entrances and vestibules and away from outdoor air intakes.

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Remember...“Not any room can be used as a smoking lounge.

• Accommodating smokers in the building may be accomplished by constructing a specifically designed smoking lounge.
• The smoking lounge should have direct exhaust to the outside at 60 cfm per smoker (at maximum capacity). Transfer air from surrounding areas may be used for make-up air.
• The lounge should be maintained under negative pressure relative to the surrounding areas.
• The return air plenum should be sealed off from the smoking lounge and doors should be kept closed.

Remember...“A good housekeeping program is more than just a cleaning program. IAQ methods and training are critical.”

Vacuum cleaners remove dirt but can also be a major source of dust.

• Vacuum cleaners remove dirt from carpets and floors. While most of the dirt is trapped and later discarded, some of the smaller particles escape back into the air and increase the concentration of particles in the air.
• Vacuum bags should be replaced when full as per the manufacturer’s recommendations.
• Using HEPA or other high efficiency vacuum systems may help reduce the quantity of particles that are released into the air.

Feather type dusters have relatively low capacity to trap dust.

• Periodic high dusting is essential for a clean indoor environment. However, in this case, housekeeping personnel use feather type dusters to reach into hard to access places. These dusters have a relatively low capacity to trap dust, and a relatively high capacity to re-release the dust back into the air.

(Hot Spot on person and portions of the desk and surround)

• To be effective, a housekeeping program should be well designed, meticulously carried out, and monitored for effectiveness.
• While housekeeping is a cleaning process, it also has the potential to add pollution to the environment because of the housekeeping methods. Sick building complaints sometimes result from chemical residues from cleaning agents or mold from wet areas left by untrained housekeeping personnel.
• Personnel should be trained in proper cleaning methods for improved IAQ. Training in proper storage, and disposal methods; use of proper cleaning materials (e.g. lint free dusting cloths); proper use of equipment; proper cleaning and drying techniques for wet areas or after spills; and proper mixing and dispensing of cleaning agents. This is important to protect the housekeeping personnel, the occupants, and the building.

Remember...“Cleaning agents are sources of pollution and should be handled and used properly.”

(Hot Spot covering the wagon)

• Cleaning agents can contain irritating and harmful chemicals that may adversely affect housekeeping personnel, occupants, and building materials or furnishings.
• All cleaning agents should be mixed accurately and safely, properly labeled, and used with strict adherence to manufacturers instructions and warnings.
• Containers should have lids on tight when not in use, and agents should be stored in an area physically isolated from occupants, that has adequate exhaust and is always maintained under negative pressure.

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Remember...“Stationary sources of pollution should be exhausted directly to the outdoors . The source of pollution should be located close to the exhaust and arranged so that occupants and the exhaust are on opposite sides of the source.”

(Hot Spot on area covering the pollution and the exhaust)

• Ideally, for significant sources, the exhaust should be directly connected to the source, or have an exhaust hood immediately above where the contaminants exit the source, as with a kitchen range hood.
• Copy machines produce both excess heat and air pollutants. Thus, an efficient exhaust system will draw both heat and contaminants out the exhaust and therefore save energy while improving indoor environmental conditions. Though seldom used, exhaust systems attached directly to the copier are available from manufacturers.
• Where the ideal is not practical, make sure that people are not be located in the path of the air as it moves from the source toward the exhaust, and the path should be as short as possible. In this picture, the exhaust is behind the copy machine and draws contaminants away from the user.

Remember...“Significant sources of contaminants such as a laboratory bench should be serviced by a hooded exhaust system.”

(Hotspot: Large area over top portion of the picture and covering the exhaust hoods that are visible.)

• The hood should be as close to the source as possible. The exhaust hood captures contaminants and draws them efficiently into the exhaust air stream. Workers may also be protected by a Plexiglas shield.