School Indoor Air Quality Best Management Practices Manual
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School Indoor Air Quality Best Management Practices Manual November 2003 Office of Environmental Health and Safety Indoor Air Quality Program DOH 333-044 November 2003 School Indoor Air Quality Best Management Practices Manual November 2003 To obtain copies of this document or for more information, please contact the Indoor Air Quality Program at www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/ts/iaq/contact.htm. Mary Selecky Secretary of Health Acknowledgements The 1995 Edition of this manual was prepared by: Richard Hall Tim Hardin Richard Ellis Special acknowledgments for the 1995 Edition to: The Washington State Department of Health School Indoor Air Quality Advisory Committee. The following individuals served on the technical subcommittee: Donald Beach, Halvorson, Beach & Bower, Inc. Jefferey Burgess, Washington Poison Center Janice Camp, Department of Environmental Health, University of Washington John Peard, Washington State Department of Labor & Industries Rich Prill, Washington State Energy Office Mia Sazon, OMS Laboratories, Inc. Greg Stack, Northwest Architectural Company The following individuals served on the policy subcommittee: Ann Bisgard, Washington State PTA Robert Fisher, Washington Education Association Michael F. LaScuola, Spokane County Health District Vaughn Lein, Lein, Stanek & Willson John McGee, Washington State School Directors’ Association Roy Pedersen, Washington Association of School Administrators Mary Schwerdtfeger, State Board of Education Christopher Spitters, Snohomish Health District Office of the Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction: Terry Michalson, Facilities and Organization Supervisor Alberta Mehring, Facilities and Organization Director Washington State Department of Health. This Manual was prepared under the direction of: Gary Plews, Supervisor, Consolidated Environmental Health Programs Karen VanDusen, Office Director, Community Environmental Health Programs Eric Slagle, Assistant Secretary, Environmental Health Programs Other Reviewers/Contributors: Nancy Bernard, Kathleen Dudley, Gary Jefferis, Jim Kerns, Scott LeBar, Colin MacRae, Maria Mason, Karen McDonell, Jim W. White, Jim VanDerslice, and Bob Thompson The 2003 Edition was updated and edited by Tim Hardin and Steve Tilley. i Preface The School Indoor Air Quality Best Management Practices Manual was prepared by the Washington State Department of Health in response to requirements of the Washington State Legislature. Financial assistance was provided by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The Manual was prepared between July 1994 and January 1995, and updated in 2003. During the initial preparation, the Department of Health formed and consulted with a School Indoor Air Quality Advisory Committee, which provided valuable technical guidance and policy support. The Department of Health encourages all users of the Manual to examine the concepts, recommendations, and procedures outlined in the Manual; evaluate their usefulness and effectiveness; identify any costs and obstacles to implementation; and document any benefits received. Users of the Manual are invited to report their findings to the Department of Health, Office of Environmental Health and Safety (refer to the address and phone number on the title page). Such information may be used to update and improve the Manual, and may assist in identifying training and technical assistance needs related to school indoor air quality. This Manual includes some practices that are required by law, as well as practices that are not legally required but are recommended to promote good quality air in schools. School districts and others using this Manual should evaluate the discretionary recommendations and adopt or promote those that are relevant applicable and feasible to implement. In the event that any recommendations offered in this Manual conflict with codes or laws, the codes or laws take precedence. ii Contents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS............................................................................................................ I PREFACE ................................................................................................................................ II ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ....................................................................................... VII 1. INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................... 1 A. PURPOSE ........................................................................................................................... 1 B. WHO WILL USE THE MANUAL? ........................................................................................ 1 C. ORGANIZATION OF THE MANUAL ...................................................................................... 2 TABLE 1-1. SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDED PRACTICES TO ATTAIN AND MAINTAIN GOOD SCHOOL INDOOR AIR QUALITY.............................................................................................. 3 2. WHY MANAGE SCHOOL INDOOR AIR QUALITY?................................................ 5 A. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 5 B. HEALTH SYMPTOMS AND PROBLEMS ................................................................................ 5 C. INCREASED SPREAD OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES.................................................................. 6 D. SENSITIVITY OF CHILDREN TO INDOOR CONTAMINANTS................................................... 6 E. MULTIPLE CHEMICAL SENSITIVITY SYNDROME ................................................................ 6 F. REDUCED PRODUCTIVITY IN STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND STAFF ...................................... 7 G. STRAINED RELATIONSHIPS................................................................................................ 7 H. POTENTIAL FOR ROOM OR BUILDING CLOSURES AND OCCUPANT RELOCATION............... 7 I. DETERIORATION OF BUILDINGS AND EQUIPMENT............................................................... 7 J. INCREASED LIABILITY AND RISK........................................................................................ 7 K. SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS IN SCHOOLS............................................................................ 8 L. INDOOR AIR QUALITY IN WASHINGTON STATE SCHOOLS ................................................. 8 M. PREVENTING AND MANAGING SCHOOL IAQ PROBLEMS.................................................. 8 3. FACTORS INFLUENCING INDOOR AIR QUALITY................................................. 9 A. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 9 B. OUTSIDE SOURCES OF CONTAMINATION ........................................................................... 9 C. BUILDING COMPONENTS AND FURNISHINGS ..................................................................... 9 D. BUILDING EQUIPMENT .................................................................................................... 10 E. HUMAN ACTIVITIES......................................................................................................... 10 F. OTHER SOURCES.............................................................................................................. 10 G. POLLUTANT PATHWAYS.................................................................................................. 20 H. TEMPERATURE VARIATIONS AND COMFORT ................................................................... 20 I. THE EFFECTS OF HUMIDITY ON COMFORT LEVELS........................................................... 21 J. VENTILATION TO MEET OCCUPANT NEEDS...................................................................... 21 K. AIR FLOW PATTERNS IN BUILDINGS................................................................................ 22 L. OCCUPANTS PARTICULARLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO INDOOR AIR CONTAMINANTS ................. 22 M. SICK BUILDING SYNDROME............................................................................................ 23 N. BUILDING-RELATED ILLNESS.......................................................................................... 23 4. BASIC STRATEGIES FOR GOOD INDOOR AIR QUALITY.................................. 24 A. RECOMMENDED STRATEGIES FOR GOOD INDOOR AIR QUALITY..................................... 24 B. MANAGE CONTAMINANTS AT THE SOURCE..................................................................... 24 C. USE LOCAL EXHAUST FOR PROBLEM AREAS .................................................................. 24 iii D. USE OUTDOOR AIR TO DILUTE AND REPLACE CONTAMINATED AIR............................... 24 E. CONTROL EXPOSURE - TIME, AMOUNT, AND PRODUCTS ................................................ 25 F. FILTER THE AIR............................................................................................................... 25 G. EDUCATE EVERYONE ON IAQ......................................................................................... 25 H. DESIGNATE AN INDOOR AIR QUALITY COORDINATOR.................................................... 26 5. SITING SCHOOLS FOR GOOD INDOOR AIR QUALITY ...................................... 27 A. RECOMMENDED PRACTICES FOR SCHOOL SITING ........................................................... 27 B. CONDUCT AN ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENT ........................................................ 27 C. ANALYZE THE LOCAL CLIMATE .....................................................................................