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Evaluating Residential Indoor Air Quality Concerns1

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Evaluating Residential Indoor Air Quality Concerns1 Designation: D7297 – 06 Standard Practice for Evaluating Residential Indoor Air Quality Concerns1 This standard is issued under the fixed designation D7297; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval. 1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents 1.1 This standard practice describes procedures for evaluat- 2.1 ASTM Standards:2 ing indoor air quality (IAQ) concerns in residential buildings. D1356 Terminology Relating to Sampling and Analysis of 1.2 The practice primarily addresses IAQ concerns encoun- Atmospheres tered in single-family detached and attached (for example, D1357 Practice for Planning the Sampling of the Ambient townhouse or duplex design) residential buildings. Limited Atmosphere guidance is also included for low- and high-rise multifamily D4861 Practice for Sampling and Selection of Analytical dwellings. Techniques for Pesticides and Polychlorinated Biphenyls 1.3 The IAQ evaluation procedures are comprised of inter- in Air views with the homeowner or resident(s) (including telephone D4947 Test Method for Chlordane and Heptachlor Residues interviews and face-to-face meetings) and on-site investiga- in Indoor Air tions (including walk-through, assessment, and measure- D5197 Test Method for Determination of Formaldehyde ments). For practicality in application, these procedures are and Other Carbonyl Compounds in Air (Active Sampler dividing into three separate phases. Methodology) 1.4 The procedures described in this standard practice are D5438 Practice for Collection of Floor Dust for Chemical aimed at identifying potential causes contributing to the IAQ Analysis concern. Such findings should become a basis for recommend- D5466 Test Method for Determination of Volatile Organic ing corrective measures. This standard practice does not Chemicals in Atmospheres (Canister Sampling Methodol- describe problem resolution or corrective measures and the ogy) standard is not intended to evaluate the impact of corrective D5952 Guide for the Inspection of Water Systems for measures. Legionella and the Investigation of Possible Outbreaks of 1.5 Implementation of procedures given in this standard Legionellosis (Legionnaires’ Disease or Pontiac Fever) requires the investigator (or investigative team) to have ad- D5955 Test Methods for Estimating Contribution of Envi- equate background in several areas: general principles of IAQ; ronmental Tobacco Smoke to Respirable Suspended Par- interviewing techniques; building design and construction ticles Based on UVPM and FPM practices; basic understanding of heating and cooling systems D6196 Practice for Selection of Sorbents, Sampling, and and appliances; use of IAQ measurement equipment; interpre- Thermal Desorption Analysis Procedures for Volatile Or- tation of IAQ data; and technical report writing. ganic Compounds in Air 1.6 Although many elements described in this standard D6271 Test Method for Estimating Contribution of Envi- practice may be useful in training of IAQ investigators, it ronmental Tobacco Smoke to Respirable Suspended Par- should not be used as the sole basis for specifying or ticles Based on Solanesol conducting such training. D6333 Practice for Collection of Dislodgeable Pesticide 1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the Residues from Floors safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the D6345 Guide for Selection of Methods for Active, Integra- responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- tive Sampling of Volatile Organic Compounds in Air priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- E241 Guide for Limiting Water-Induced Damage to Build- bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For additional ings safety precautionary information, see Section 6. E609 Terminology Relating to Pesticides 1 This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D22 on Air Quality 2 For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D22.05 on Indoor Air. contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2006. Published January 2007. DOI: 10.1520/ Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on D7297-06. the ASTM website. Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States. 1 D7297 – 06 E620 Practice for Reporting Opinions of Scientific or Tech- phased investigations also allow informing the building owner nical Experts or the cognizant party of the progress and seeking approval for E741 Test Method for Determining Air Change in a Single ensuing work. Zone by Means of a Tracer Gas Dilution 4.4 Major steps recommended for IAQ investigations in- E779 Test Method for Determining Air Leakage Rate by clude an initial interview with the building owner or occupant, Fan Pressurization on-site meeting and walk-through, develop hypotheses on E943 Terminology Relating to Biological Effects and Envi- potential causes of complaints, determine measurement param- ronmental Fate eters and instrumentation, determine the need and feasibility of E1186 Practices for Air Leakage Site Detection in Building monitoring, if appropriate, conduct monitoring, analyze data Envelopes and Air Barrier Systems and evaluate hypotheses, and develop report on findings. E1554 Test Methods for Determining Air Leakage of Air Critical purposes underlying these steps and procedures in- Distribution Systems by Fan Pressurization volved are described. The relationships among the steps are E1827 Test Methods for Determining Airtightness of Build- illustrated through a flow diagram. ings Using an Orifice Blower Door 4.5 The success of an IAQ investigation often depends on E1998 Guide for Assessing Depressurization-Induced whether or not the investigator has taken the time to step back Backdrafting and Spillage from Vented Combustion Appli- to assess all field observations and data that have been ances collected at any given point to determine or postulate potential E2128 Guide for Evaluating Water Leakage of Building causes. These interim evaluation points are called pause points Walls and several such pause points are recommended during the 2.2 Other Documents: investigation process. ASHRAE 62.2-2004 Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air 3 Quality in Low-Rise Residential Buildings 5. Significance and Use ASHRAE 119 Air Leakage Performance for Detached Single-Family Residential Buildings3 5.1 IAQ-based complaints and problems including discomfort/health symptoms and unacceptable indoor environ- 3. Terminology mental conditions such as odors exist in residential buildings, 3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this prac- but the frequency of the occurrence of IAQ complaints and tice, refer to Terminologies D1356, E609, and E943. problems is not known. 3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard: 5.2 Characterization of IAQ concerns and identification of 3.2.1 hypothesis, n—a provisional theory set forth to ex- their underlying causes require systematic observations and plain certain indoor air quality problems or phenomena. measurements of the indoor environment, its occupants and 3.2.2 pause point, n—an interim step within a procedural contaminant sources. This practice provides background and sequence designed to allow subsequent actions to be based on procedures for the investigation of IAQ concerns. the analysis and evaluation of recently collected data. 5.3 Where the dwelling is not owner-occupied, formal 3.2.3 stack effect, n—buoyancy associated with the indoor- permission to access certain areas of the property and to collect outdoor temperature differences. information essential to the IAQ investigation is often deemed essential to be obtained from the owner and, where applicable, 4. Summary of Practice from other tenants. An investigator should seek appropriate 4.1 IAQ-based complaints and problems in residential legal advice in these matters. buildings include discomfort and health symptoms arising from 5.4 Certain stages of the IAQ investigation could benefit exposure to indoor air pollutants, as well as unacceptable from a review of existing medical records. This requires indoor environmental conditions such as mold growth or specific written permission from the patient. lingering odors. 5.5 The stepwise and phased approach described in this 4.2 This practice describes procedures for the systematic practice allows for an investigation that is commensurate with investigation of IAQ concerns using an iterative process that the nature of the problem and the level of resources available involves problem definition, information gathering, formula- for the investigation. tion of hypotheses, measurements (if necessary), and problem identification. It may include testing hypotheses by taking 6. Hazards and Precautions actions and evaluating their impact on the IAQ concern. 6.1 In the course of conducting on-site investigations, a 4.3 To enhance the effectiveness and management of an variety of situations may arise that could pose a hazard to the IAQ investigation, it is often conducted in three separate investigator and residents. Examples include the following: phases: (1) initial meeting with the building owner and 6.1.1 Improperly stored or uncharacterized household walk-through, (2)
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