IAQ Building Education and Assessment Model (I-BEAM)

(Hot Spot over the two windows.)

• Ask Yourself...“What issues are involved in splitting up this space?”
• Several large open rooms like this are to be split to increase the number of private offices. Each office shall have a window. Sound like a good plan? Take a look at the next section.

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Remember...“Room layout should be planned around existing ventilation supplies and returns, or they may need to be moved to accommodate the new room arrangement.”

(Hot Spot over partition.)

• The partition being constructed will split this large room in two, leaving each with a window. But what ventilation problems does that create?
• The supply on the right will be separated from the return on the left by the partition. Both thermal discomfort and pollution problems are likely to result should this plan proceed.
• Adding a supply on the left and a return on the right should be made part of this renovation plan.

Remember...“Poor location of thermostats can mean some people will be warm while others freeze”

(Hot Spot on large area covering both offices and, if possible, encompassing both occupants.)

• Some problems are inevitable when areas with different thermal requirements are placed on the same thermal ventilation zone. In this case, poor thermostat location is also a significant problem.
• The thermostat located in the left office is warmed by the afternoon sun and calls for cooling. As cooling takes place, the right office becomes too cold. Little can be done short of moving the thermostat.
• Thermostats are best located in thermally neutral locations, away from sources of heat and drought. And spaces with significantly different thermal loads should not be in the same thermal ventilation zone.

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Remember...“Keep ceiling tiles, carpet, and other porous materials away from the work area and install them after VOC and other construction emissions have dissipated.”

(Hot Spot over ceiling tiles leaning against the wall and leaning against the box on the floor.)

• Ceiling tiles, carpets, and other porous materials will adsorb pollutants during renovation and re-emit the pollutants into the occupied space at a later time (e.g. during warmer weather).
• In the picture, the kerosene heater and the painting emissions are being adsorbed by the ceiling tiles and wall panels. When the weather turns warm again, occupants may well experience indoor air quality problems as these pollutants are re-emitted into the occupied space.
• In addition to not storing porous materials in the construction area, it is a good idea to increase outdoor ventilation for a short time after construction, and again during the first spell of warm weather.

Remember...“Materials with low emissions and/or a fast emission decay rate are preferable.”

(Hot Spot over the carpet being rolled out.)

• The carpet was chosen using the Carpet and Rug Institutes label for low VOC emissions. In addition, the adhesive to be used was chosen because it has relatively low VOC content and it dries quickly with a fast emission decay rate.
• This means that while the emission rate is initially high, it does not last long. The space is being ventilated with 100% outdoor air for several days until the emissions from wet materials have significantly dissipated.

Remember...“Materials with high emissions which may last over long periods may be pre-ventilated in a storage area or during shipping.”

(Hot Spot over the holey box on the loading dock.)

• The packaging of these partitions are designed to facilitate off-gassing of the formaldehyde and other contaminants.
• By the time the partitions are to be installed, much of the pollutant emissions will have already taken place. The partitions will also be unpacked in a storage facility with high ventilation for several weeks prior to installation.