INDOOR AIR QUALITY

(IAQ)
YOUR NAME
 WHAT IS IAQ?
• Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) which refers to the
• Air quality within & around buildings and structures
• It relates to the health & comfort of building occupants.
• The quality of the air inside buildings
• Represented by concentrations of pollutants & thermal
conditions that affect the health & performance of occupants.
• Nature / quality of the conditioned (heat/cold) air that
circulates throughout closed space / area.
 AFFECTED
IAQ

Microbial
Gases Particulates
Contaminants

Carbon
Mold
Monoxide

Radon Bacteria

Volatile Organic
Compounds
 SOURCE OF IAQ
• Source control, filtration and the use of ventilation to dilute
contaminants are the primary methods for improving IAQ in
buildings.

• Residential units can further improve IAQ by routine cleaning

of carpets and area rugs.
 Second-hand Molds & Other Carbon
Radon Ozone
Smoke Allergens monoxide
• Is tobacco smoke • Invisible • The biological • One of the most • Produced by
which affects radioactive chemicals can acutely toxic ultraviolet light
other people atomic gas that arise from a host indoor air from Sun hitting
other than the results from the of means. contaminants is the Earth’s
active smoker. radioactive decay • 2 common CO. atmosphere,
• Includes both a of radium. classes: • Common sources lighting, certain
gaseous & a • Can be found in a) Moisture induced of CO are tobacco high voltage
particulate phase, rock formations growth of mold smoke, space electric devices &
with particular beneath colonies heaters using as a by-product of
hazards arising building / in b) Natural fossil fuels, other types of
from levels of certain building substances defective central pollution.
carbon monoxide materials. • Associated with heating furnaces • Ozone exists in
& very small moisture & its & automobile greater
particulates (at growth can be exhaust. concentrations at
PM 2.5 size) inhibited by altitudes
which get past keeping humidity commonly flown
the lung’s levels below 50%. by passenger jets.
defences.
 CAUSATIVE AGENT OF IAQ
Inadequate Variations in Indoor sources
ventilation & air temperature & including
tightness humidity levels combustion

Infiltration of Use of cleaning

outdoor air chemicals &
contaminants building products
 INDOOR
POLLUTANTS

Cleaning
Respirable Organic
Compounds / Combustion
Building Materials Paints Particulates, Ozone Carpets
Cosmetics / Sources
& VOCs
Deodorants

Heavy Metals
Heavy Metals Electronic VOCs Organics RSPM
Equipments

VOCs VOCs NOx

Radon SO2

Mineral Fibers CO
HEALTH EFFECTS OF
IAQ
HEALTH EFFECTS
Symptoms Related To Poor IAQ
• varied depending on the type of contaminant.
• They can easily be mistaken for symptoms of the other
illness such as allergies, stress, colds & influenza.
• Usual clue
• That people feel ill while inside the building
• Symptoms go away shortly after leaving the building
• When away from the building for a period of time.
 Sick Building Syndrome
(SBS)
• To describe situations in which building occupants
experience acute health and comfort effects that appear
to be linked to time spent in a building, but no specific
illness or cause can be identified.

• A 1984 WHO report suggested up to 30% of new and

remodeled buildings worldwide may be subject of
complaints related to poor IAQ.
• SBS causes
• Frequently pinned down to flaws in the heating, ventilation & air conditioning
(HVAC) systems.
• Other causes have been attributed to contaminants produced by
• outgassing of some types of building materials
• Volatile organic compounds (VOC)
• Molds
• Improper exhaust ventilation of ozone (by product of some office machinery)
• Light industrial chemicals used wthin
• Lack of adequate fresh-air intake / air filtration
 HEALTH EFFECTS
• Poor IAQ may be experienced soon after exposure or possibly years
later.
• Symptoms may include
Irritation of
the eyes, nose Headches Dizziness Rashes Muscle pain Fatigue
& throat

• Diseases linked to poor IAQ

• Asthma & hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
• Age & pre-existing medical conditions such as asthma & allergies may
also influence the severity of the effects.

• Long-term effects due to poor IAQ may include

• Respiratory diseases
• Heart diseases
• Cancer

• All of which can be severely debilitating or fatal.

SOURCES OF INDOOR AIR
POLLUTANTS
A) Building Site / Location
• The location of a building can have implications of indoor
pollutants.

• Highways / busy thoroughfares may be sources of

particulates & other pollutants in nearby buildings.

• Building sited on land where there was prior industrial use

or where there is a high water table may result in leaching of
water / chemical pollutants inti the building.
B) Building Design
• Design & construction flaws may contribute to indoor air pollution.

• Poor foundations, roofs, facades, window & door openings may allow
pollutants or water instrusion.

• Building with multiple tenants may need an evaluation

to ensure emissions from one tenant do not adversely
affect another tenant.
C) Building Systems Design

& Maintenance
• When the HVAC system is not functioning properly for any reason,
the buildings is often placed under negative pressure.

• In such cases, there may be infiltration of outdoor pollutants such as

particulates, vehicle exhaust, humid air, parking garage
contaminants.
D) Renovation Activites
• When painting & other renovations are being conducted,
dust or other by-products of the construction materials are
sources of pollutants that may circulate through a building.

• Isolation by barriers & increased ventilation

to dilute & remove the contaminants are
recommended.
E) Local Exhaust Ventilation
• Kitchen, laboratories, maintenance shops, parking garages,
trash rooms, soiled laundry rooms, lockr rooms, copy rooms
& other specialized areas may be a source of pollutants when
they lack adequate local exhaust ventilation.
F) Building Materials
• Disturbing thermal insulation / sprayed-on acoustical material, or
the presence of wet or damp structural surfaces.
• E.g. walls, Ceilings
• Non-structural surfaces may contribute to indoor air pollution.
• E.g. carpets, Shades
G) Building Maintenance
• Workers in area in which pesticides, cleaning products or personal-
care product are being applied may be exposed to pollutants.

• Allowing cleaned carpets to dry without active ventilation may

promote microbial growth.

• Occupant activities:
• Building occupants may be the source of indoor air pollutants.
CONTROL METHODS OF
IAQ
Industry Code Of Practice
On Indoor Air Quality 2010
• The purpose of this industry code of practice is to
• provide guidance on improving the IAQ and to set minimum standard for
selected parameters
• It will avoid discomfort and/or adverse health effect among employees and
other occupants of an indoor or enclosed environment served by a
mechanical ventilating and air conditioning (MVAC) system including air-
cooled split unit.
• It is one of the general duties as prescribed under the Occupational
Safety and Health Act 1994 [Act 514] for the employer and an
occupier (including building owner and building management) to
provide a safe workplace to their employees or other person than his
employees (occupant).
A) Duty To Control Exposure
• The building management shall maintain the working environment
conforming to the acceptable range as specified:
• Where the assessment report indicates that the indoor air
quality is unacceptable, building management shall initiate
to implement any of the following measures within one
month after receiving the report:
a) elimination or relocation of the source of the air contaminants,
and the appropriate location of the air supply or exhaust
openings of the mechanical ventilation system
b) control of exposure to environmental tobacco
c) preventing microbial growth by:
i. implement control of water leaks
ii. ensuring building material are not damp or wet, or
iii. other appropriate action
d) ensure cleaning or the removal of microbial contamination to
minimize the release of airborne hazardous substances into the
ventilation system or general work space
e) repair or replace the material where microbial growth has taken
place on a material
f) substitution of the building material or chemicals with those
that have a lower emission rate or emitting a less hazardous
contaminant
g) sealing the source or blocking the contaminant pathway
h) improving ventilation
i) installation of air purification devices except devices producing
or emitting ozone
 j) administrative controls including work scheduling, limiting the period
an individual can spend operating equipment that may produce
contaminants, relocating more susceptible individuals from the area
where they experience symptoms, provision of information, instruction
and training; establishment of healthy work practices, procedure or
policies; or
k) a combination of the above measures.
• For any air conditioning system including air-cooled split unit, the
building management or employer shall ensure the provision for
adequate fresh air ventilation such as the use of Demand Control
Ventilation (DCV), extractor or other suitable means.
B) Microbial Contamination
• The building management shall regularly inspect ductwork, dehumidifiers,
internal building surfaces, cooling coils, filters and any other MVAC system
components at least every 6 month where it is reasonably likely that standing
water will unintentionally accumulate and which could reasonably cause
microbial growth.

• Where the inspection required, uncovers an unintentional accumulation of

water in ductwork, dehumidifiers, internal building surfaces, cooling coils, filters
or any MVAC system components which could reasonably cause microbial
growth, building management shall:
a) promptly remove the water; and
b) make necessary repairs to prevent further accumulation.
C) Inspection And
Maintenance Of MVAC
• The schedule of maintenance for the MVAC system shall:
• accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations to ensure that the
equipment operate efficiently.
• If this is not specified for any component, the frequencies listed in
above shall constitute the minimum requirements.
• The building and its MVAC system shall:
• be inspected at least every 6 months with regard to functions which are
significant for the indoor air quality.
• Normal operation of the system shall be monitored so that it continues to
operate at maximum efficiency and breakdowns are avoided.
• The MVAC system and the air handling unit room shall:
• cleaned and maintained in such a way that the indoor air quality is not adversely affected by the
cleaning and maintenance.
• The components of air-handling units such as
• Fans and dampers;
• cleaned at least every 6 months, depending on the condition of the incoming air and use of the system.
• Filters;
• cleaned or replaced so that they are performing properly at all times and do not become clogged.

• Cooling coils, condensate pipes and water trays shall

• checked regularly for signs of sludge, algae or rust build-up, blockages and leaks where water could
enter the airstream.
• Coils and condensate pipes shall:
• cleaned at least every 6 months.
• The trays shall:
• Cleaned at least every 1 month
• To ensure that contaminants do not build up.
• Any ferrous metal surface shall be treated with an anti-corrosion coating.
• Re-circulating water shall also be treated to prevent rust but that treated water must not be allowed to enter the
airstream.
• Building management is recommended to use:
• non-chemical water treatment for the cooling tower.
• If biocides are used,
• the dosing shall be carried out as per manufacturer recommendation on cooling tower.
• The MVAC system shall:
• checked and adjusted to ensure correct air flow, temperature and humidity
after the first year of operation and at least every two years thereafter.
• checked and adjusted after any renovations or changes in floor layout that
might affect air distribution.
• Records shall be kept of all maintenance work - when and what was
done.
D) Control For Prescribed
Activities
• The building management or employer shall
• ensure that adequate work procedures and control are used during
prescribed activities which may includes but not limited to-
a) the use of approved personal protective equipment;
b) sealing of the area where prescribed activities is carried out;
c) displaying signage to warn about hazard associated with prescribed
activities;
d) safe work procedures;
e) using portable exhaust system; or
f) administrative control measures such as carry out prescribed activities not
during working hours.
E) Prevention And Control
For Renovation Work
• Where renovation work is carry out, the building management shall:
• Not use materials containing toxic substances which could pose a hazard to health when
used in the occupied building.
• Fittings, fixtures, furnishings and furniture shall be manufactured, selected, handled, stored
and used so that emission to the room air is the least possible.
• It is highly recommended to use low volatile organic compound emission materials.
• For occupied buildings undergoing partial renovation, spaces to be renovated shall
• Be effectively isolated from the occupied zones.
• Supply air shall be separated so that acceptable indoor air quality for the occupants is
maintained.
• Concentrations of formaldehyde, volatile organic compounds, suspended particulate matter
and other contaminants in room air shall be within the limits specified in the table below.
• After any major renovation to the building where the air-conditioning
system has been affected (e.g. by partitioning of office space),
rebalancing of the air distribution shall be required.
F) Pest Control
• The need to use pesticides in non-commercial buildings shall
• be minimised, as far as practicable, by caulking and plastering cracks and
crevices, improving sanitation and waste management, and physical
measures to keep pests at bay.
• Pesticide spraying shall
• be carried out by licensed pest control operator as stipulated under the
Pesticides (Pest Control Operator) Rules 2004.
• The spraying of pesticides shall
• be carried out outside normal working hours, and preferably during the
weekends.
• Occupants in areas to be sprayed shall
• be notified in advance to avoid any unnecessary exposure.
• Pesticides shall be applied in targeted locations, with minimum treatment of exposed surfaces.
• If hydrogen cyanide is used for pest control, the building owner or management shall comply
with the requirement of the Hydrogen Cyanide (Fumigation) Act 1953 (Revised-1981) [Act 260].
• General periodic spraying shall be kept to a minimum and may not be necessary.
• The building management or other person who organises the pest control activities
shall have information on the chemical identities and the potential health hazards of
all pesticide products used.
• This information is usually available from suppliers of pesticides in the form of Safety
Data Sheets (SDSs).
G) Housekeeping And
Cleaning
• important in preventing indoor air quality problems as it keeps dust
levels down and removes dirt which could otherwise become sources
of contamination.
• The cleaning schedule shall be arranged with reference to occupancy
patterns and activity levels.
• Daily cleaning of surfaces and steam vacuuming of floors is advisable
for areas with high traffic or which are in constant use during the day.
These include most office areas and public places.
• When chemical based cleaning agents are used, SDSs on the cleaning
agents shall be available to the building manager and other occupants.
H) Environmental Tobacco
Smoke (ETS)
• Prohibited in many public area as stipulated under Control of Tobacco
Product Regulations 2004 [P.U.(A)324/2004] as amended from time
to time.
• In all indoor areas which are not covered by the Tobacco Product
Regulations 2004, smoking shall also be prohibited in order to
achieve good IAQ standard.
 REFERENCES
Department of Occupational Safety & Health Ministry of Human
Resources, Malaysia. 2010. “Industry Code of Practice On Indoor Air
Quality 2010”.
“Indoor Air Quality.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 21 Feb. 2020,
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indoor_air_quality.
Wahab, Norazira Binti A. “Indoor Air Quality.” Free Statistics, 2019,
www.dosh.gov.my/index.php/osh-info-2/chemical-issues-sp-
265/343-indoor-air-quality.