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The ABCs of IAQWhy Focus on Indoor Air Quality?

What Can We Do?

Deborah Moore

Green Schools Initiative

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Why Focus on Indoor Air Quality?

• Children spend most of their day indoors• Poor indoor air quality exposes students and staff to chemical, biological, and particulate contaminants and pollution.• Such exposures cause a wide range of disease and health problems, including asthma.• Asthma is single largest cause of school absences from chronic conditions.• Absenteeism costs schools lost revenue

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Asthma – A Common Disease

• Affects >30 million people in U.S.

• 1/3 are children

• #1 cause of child hospitalization

• #1 child chronic health condition

• #1 chronic illness causing school absences

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Asthma Rising

• 42% overall increase in the U.S. since 1980

• Among children, 58% increase since 1980

• Deaths increased by 78%

Changes are too rapid to be genetic

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Report to the California Report to the California Legislature: Environmental Legislature: Environmental Health Conditions in Health Conditions in California's Portable California's Portable

ClassroomsClassrooms Inadequate flow of fresh airInadequate flow of fresh air – inadequate 40% of the timeinadequate 40% of the time– seriously deficient 10% of the timeseriously deficient 10% of the time

Ventilation turned off for NOISE.Ventilation turned off for NOISE.– 60% of the teachers in portables60% of the teachers in portables– 23% in traditional classrooms 23% in traditional classrooms

Equipment in poor maintenanceEquipment in poor maintenance– Dirty filters, blocked outdoor air dampers, Dirty filters, blocked outdoor air dampers,

poor condensate drainagepoor condensate drainage

The http://www.arb.ca.gov/research/indoor/pcs/leg_rpt/pcs_r2l.pdf

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Studies confirm health benefitsof good IAQ

• Respiratory Illness• “…reduced ventilation rate was associated with increases in

confirmed respiratory illness.” Fisk (2000)• Dampness associated with asthma.

• Student Absenteeism• “…lower ventilation rates resulted in increased student

absence.” Shendell et al. (2004), Milton et al. (2000)

• Academic Performance• “…Performance in both math and reading tests increased with

ventilation rate. Test scores increased about 13% from classrooms with the lowest ventilation rates” Shaughnessy, R.J., et al. (2006)

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Building-Related Illness

• Teachers have been complaining of recurring headaches, nausea, eye irritation, itchy skin, difficulty concentrating, and frequent URI symptoms. They are also complaining of a musty odor, and black material that may be mold on the ceiling tiles.

• Building evaluation– Ventilation rate, condition of ventilation – Temperature, relative humidity– Water intrusion, mold measurements– Gases (including CO, CO2)– VOCs (formaldehyde)– Particulate matter (including fiberglass)

Sources of contamination

• Germs – human, animal vectors

• Particulates – dust, dirt, exhaust, furniture, computers

• Dampness – humidity, human respiration

• Mold

• Chemicals – off-gassing from paints, furniture, carpets, adhesives, equipment, flooring, pesticides, cleaners

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Control Airborne Control Airborne ContagionContagion

Pollutants may be viral, bacterial, Pollutants may be viral, bacterial, or fungal or … or fungal or …

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Control toxic emission Control toxic emission sources from cleaners. sources from cleaners.

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Control toxics from pesticides

Cancers – childhood and adult

Birth defects and Reproductive harm

Developmental disabilities

Neurologic toxicity Respiratory diseases

(e.g. asthma) Endocrine disruption• Immunotoxicity

Use Integrated Pest Management/IPM

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Control toxic emission Control toxic emission sources from interior sources from interior furnishings furnishings

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Key Toxicants in School Buildings

Formaldehyde, other VOCs, and SVOCs

Phthalates (softener used in polyvinyl chloride or vinyl)

Perfluorinated Chemicals (PFCs) Heavy metals

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Vinyl and its additives

Vinyl (PVC) - most widely used plastic + 14 billion pounds per year in No.

America* - 75% used in construction and buildings

Flooring, wall covering, fabric, wall and corner guards, window treatments, etc.

Health outcomes Creates dioxin (one of most potent

carcinogens known to humans) Phthalates – respiratory and other

potential health problems

* American Plastics Council, Resin Review 2002

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Alternatives Materials Without Phthalates

Alternatives w/o phthalates – non-PVC interior products Carpet backing Furniture Resilient flooring Upholstery Wall coverings Wall, door, and corner

guards Window treatments

Chartwell School, Monterey, CA

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Control pollutants brought Control pollutants brought in from the outdoors. in from the outdoors.

Optimize VentilationOptimize Ventilation

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#1 Minimum ventilation #1 Minimum ventilation rate in each occupied rate in each occupied space. space.

California Building Code Title 24 Section California Building Code Title 24 Section 121 121 – ““15 cfm per person times the expected 15 cfm per person times the expected

number of occupants.”number of occupants.” Cal-OSHA Title 8 CCR Section 5142Cal-OSHA Title 8 CCR Section 5142

– ““The HVAC system shall be maintained and The HVAC system shall be maintained and operated at least the quantity of outdoor air operated at least the quantity of outdoor air required by the State Building Standards required by the State Building Standards Code, Title 24, Part 2, California Administrative Code, Title 24, Part 2, California Administrative Code, in effect at the time the building permit Code, in effect at the time the building permit was issued.”was issued.”

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#2 Reduce cooling and #2 Reduce cooling and heating loads when heating loads when possible.possible. LightingLighting Envelope InsulationEnvelope Insulation Solar orientation, glazing and Solar orientation, glazing and

shadingshading RoofsRoofs Thermal massThermal mass ShadingShading Equipment-energy starEquipment-energy star

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#3 Specify 100% #3 Specify 100% outside air when outside air when possiblepossible Avoids recirculation of air Avoids recirculation of air

contaminants. contaminants. Include energy recovery device to Include energy recovery device to

avoid energy wasteavoid energy waste

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#4 Aim to use efficient #4 Aim to use efficient HVAC components.HVAC components.

Efficient to separate functionsEfficient to separate functions– VentilationVentilation– CoolingCooling– HeatingHeating

Filters – Merv 10 or higherFilters – Merv 10 or higher Ducts – keep clean, no biocidesDucts – keep clean, no biocides

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Energy Efficient Systems are Energy Efficient Systems are needed.needed.

“Report on metrics appropriate for small commercial customers” (PG&E service territory) , http://buildings.lbl.gov/hpcbs/Element_2/02_E2_P2_1_3.html

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#5 E#5 Efficient HVAC- fficient HVAC- FiltersFilters MERV 10+ ASHRAE MERV 10+ ASHRAE

Standard 52.2 or better.Standard 52.2 or better. Specify that Digital Specify that Digital

Control System and Control System and Energy Management Energy Management System monitor and System monitor and track filter pressure. track filter pressure.

Change filters regularly Change filters regularly

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#6 Occupancy sensors #6 Occupancy sensors and sequencing inputs and sequencing inputs Use occupancy sensors to turn off Use occupancy sensors to turn off

when there are no occupants. when there are no occupants. Offer occupant thermal comfort Offer occupant thermal comfort

adjustmentsadjustments Program in hours of operation, Program in hours of operation,

temperature and relative humidity temperature and relative humidity setpoints. setpoints.

Program in pre-occupancy flush out Program in pre-occupancy flush out and solar night cooling. and solar night cooling.

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#7 Acoustic limits#7 Acoustic limits

35 dBA max, 55dBC max ANSI 35 dBA max, 55dBC max ANSI Standard S12.60-2002 Standard S12.60-2002

See the CHPS relocatable HVAC See the CHPS relocatable HVAC systemsystem

If the system is too loud it gets If the system is too loud it gets turned off!turned off!

http://www.access-board.gov/acoustic/index.htm

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IAQ ResourcesIAQ Resources CHPS Guidelines, ASHRAECHPS Guidelines, ASHRAE CASH FIT Guidebook CASH FIT Guidebook State of CA EPP Task Force: Best Practices ManualState of CA EPP Task Force: Best Practices Manual State of California Procurement Contracts: discounts on State of California Procurement Contracts: discounts on

productsproducts School Emergency Repair Program: funding for School Emergency Repair Program: funding for

Williams eligible schoolsWilliams eligible schools Proposition 1D Bonds, $100 million incentives for High Proposition 1D Bonds, $100 million incentives for High

Performance SchoolsPerformance Schools State regulations and technical support from CADPH, State regulations and technical support from CADPH,

CARBCARB EPA Tools for Schools, H-SeatEPA Tools for Schools, H-Seat