Indoor Environment

Quality

SUMIT KUMAR JHABARCH/15006/14

What is Indoor Environment Quality

Indoor environmental quality (IEQ) refers to the quality of a building's environment in relation to the health and well being of those who occupy space within it. IEQ is determined by many factors, including

lighting, air quality damp conditions

Factors effecting IEQ

Importance of Indoor Air

Indoor Air Quality

IEQ encompasses indoor air quality (IAQ), which focuses on airborne contaminants, as well as other health, safety, and comfort issues such as aesthetics, potable water surveillance, ergonomics, acoustics, lighting, and electromagnetic frequency levels.

IEQ improvements to an existing building can occur at any point during the use of a building.

Importance of air quality Value aesthetic decisions, such as the importance of

views and the integration of natural and man-made elements;

Provide thermal comfort with a maximum degree of personal control over temperature and airflow;

Supply adequate levels and quality of ventilation and outside air for acceptable indoor air quality;

Prevent airborne bacteria, through building envelope design that properly manages moisture sources from outside and inside the building, and with heating, ventilating, air-conditioning (HVAC) system designs that are effective at controlling indoor humidity.

Assure acoustic privacy and comfort through the use of sound absorbing material and equipment isolation;

Control disturbing odors through contaminant isolation and removal.

Create a high-performance luminous environment through the careful integration of natural and artificial light sources.

# Smoking and unwanted habit control inside the habitable region..

Outdoor Air Delivery Monitoring

Outdoor air delivery monitoring ensures that the ventilation system, whether natural or mechanical, provides enough fresh air to occupants.

The credit  requires carbon dioxide (CO2) and outdoor airflow monitors that signal when fresh air is needed according to minimum set points defined by ASHRAE 62.1-2004.

Typical ventilation design (without monitors) tends to encourage increased ventilation that may result in increased energy use and added cost for conditioning increased amounts of outside air.

However, the addition of sensors and monitors allows ventilation to be delivered on demand only when required, potentially saving a lot of energy during unoccupied hours in spaces with varying occupancy.

For buildings with varying occupancy rates and centralized mechanical systems, like offices and schools, the added cost should be minimal, and the systems will probably reduce energy bills, offering good return on investment.

High-density areas like conference rooms, theaters, and congregation spaces are a particularly good match for this credit.

In multifamily or hotel projects, or any building with numerous isolated mechanical systems or natural ventilation, more sensors will be needed, making this credit relatively expensive to pursue.

Construction Indoor Air Quality Management Plans (during constr.)

What is a Construction Indoor Air Quality Management Plan? �

Plan to reduce indoor air quality (IAQ) problems resulting from construction Promotes the comfort and well being of building occupants and �

construction workers Document that defines construction scope! Included scope, Excluded � �

scope Construction IAQ Management Plan During

Construction Develop and Implement an IAQ Management Plan for the construction and �

preoccupancy phases of the building as follows: Meet or exceed the recommended control measures of the SMACNA IAQ �

Guidelines for Occupied Buildings Under Construction Protect stored on-site and installed absorptive materials from moisture �

damage If permanently installed air handlers are used during construction, filtration �

media with a MERV of 8 must be used at each return air grill.

� Meet or exceed the recommended control measures of the SMACNA IAQ Guidelines for Occupied Buildings Under Construction HVAC Protection � �Source Control Pathway Interruption Housekeeping Scheduling� � �

HVAC Protection Avoid using permanently installed HVAC systems during construction if �

possible Protect all HVAC equipment from both dust and odors and seal all duct

and equipment openings with plastic Source Control � Recover, isolate, and ventilate containers housing toxic materials. � Exhaust fumes from idling vehicles and gasoline and diesel fueled tools. Pathway Interruption � Isolate areas of work to prevent contamination of clean or occupied

spaces Provide temporary barriers � � Maintain negative pressure relative to other spaces Protect stored on-site and installed absorptive materials from moisture

damage If permanently installed air handlers are used during construction,

filtration media with a MERV of 8 must be used at each return air grill.

Construction IAQ Management Plan Before Occupancy

Option 1 - Flush-Out� Path 1 – Completed pre-occupancy �OR Path 2 – Completed post-occupancy � � Option 2 – Air Testing

Option 1 - Flush-Out Path 1 After construction ends, prior to occupancy and with all �

interior finishes installed, install new filtration media and perform a building flush-out by supplying a total air volume of 14,000 cubic feet of outdoor air per square foot of floor area while maintaining an internal temperature of at least 60°F and relative humidity no higher than 60%.

Option 1 - Flush-Out Path 2 � If occupancy is desired prior to completion of the flushout, the �

space may be occupied following delivery of a minimum of 3,500 cubic feet of outdoor air per square foot of floor area. Once the space is occupied, it must be ventilated at a minimum rate of 0.30 cubic feet per minute per square foot of outside air or the design minimum outside air rate, whichever is greater. During each day of the flush-out period ventilation must begin a minimum of 3 hours prior to occupancy and continue during occupancy. These conditions must be maintained until a total of 14,000 cubic feet of outdoor air per square foot of floor area has been delivered to the space.

Option 2 – Air Testing Conduct baseline IAQ testing after construction ends and prior �

to occupancy. Demonstrate that maximum allowable concentrations of contaminants are not exceeded.

Low emitting materials Intent To reduce concentrations of chemical contaminants that can damage

air quality, human health, productivity, and the environment Requirements - This credit includes requirements for product manufacturing as

well as project teams. It covers volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions into indoor air and the VOC content of materials, as well as the testing methods by which indoor VOC emissions are determined.

- Different materials must meet different requirements to be considered compliant for this credit.

The building interior and exterior are organized in seven categories, each with different thresholds of compliance.

- The building interior is defined as everything within the waterproofing membrane. - The building exterior is defined as everything outside and inclusive of the primary and secondary weatherproofing system, such as waterproofing membranes and air- and water-resistive barrier materials.

Paints & Coatings Our first priority should be to specify only  paints and

coatings that comply with the credit’s VOC limits, and enforce those specifications on the jobsite. Research low-VOC paints and coatings before construction begins and provide lists of acceptable materials to contractors to help ensure that the right products are used.

Major manufacturers offer paints and coatings that are just as durable and perform just as well as their higher-VOC counterparts. Performance of low-VOC products has sometimes been an issue in the past, but the market has largely moved beyond this point.

Low-VOC acrylic paint is readily available. While it may be more difficult, it is not impossible to find low-VOC oil-based and high-gloss paints.

Darker shades of paints also tend to have higher VOC levels. Rust proofing coatings also tend to have higher VOC content, but several name brand providers have low-VOC alternatives.

Flooring Systems

Use either inert or certified flooringResilient flooring, rubber flooring, and prefinished wood flooring all must be FloorScore or Greenguard Gold certified. Carpeting and carpet cushion need to be CRI Green Label Plus or Green Label certified (respectively)

Adhesives and sealants

Research low-VOC adhesives and sealants

before construction begins and provide lists of acceptable materials to contractors to help ensure that the right products are used. 

Making sure that VOC limits are observed demands proactive communication between the designer, contractor, and all subcontractors who do work inside the building.

Subcontractors have to be educated about the requirements, and their contracts should require that they document their compliance.

THANK

YOU

SUMIT KUMAR JHA