ASHRAE Journal - January 2023 - 30
IEQ APPLICATIONS
Column
Ed Light
To Test or Not to Test
Does Air Sampling
Answer Your IAQ
Questions?
BY ED LIGHT, CIH, MEMBER ASHRAE
Acceptability of indoor air quality (IAQ) is often based on comparing results of air
sampling to concentration limits specified by " cognizant authorities. " This makes
sense to industrial hygienists and engineers looking for specific numbers with which
to evaluate occupant concerns and design HVAC systems. However, this interpretation
of airborne contaminant concentrations is often misleading. This column includes
two examples that illustrate how reliance on measured IAQ concentrations fails to
provide conclusive answers with respect to HVAC operation and complaint resolution.
In the course of my 40-year career as an industrial
hygienist specializing in IAQ, I evaluated buildings in
which IAQ had previously been determined to be either
" acceptable " or " unhealthy " based on air sampling. By
conducting a more detailed investigation, I frequently
found these conclusions to be either false-negative (e.g.,
conditions adversely impacting occupants were not
recognized) or false-positive (e.g., mitigation measures
were recommended despite conditions consistent with
normal background (i.e., they were not unusual, and
generally didn't justify changes to building design and
operation). Underlying assumptions explaining these
contradictions include:
1. Measured contaminant levels were not distinguished
from normal background. Airborne contaminants
of concern indoors are generally ubiquitous,
with concentrations in the absence of strong emission
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ASHRAE JOURNAL ashrae.o rg
J A N U A RY 2023
sources occurring over a wide range. These background
levels are poorly characterized, if at all, for most airborne
contaminants. Background concentrations have
not been considered in the development of criteria for
most airborne contaminants.
2. Sampling results did not reflect temporal and
spatial variability. The concentration of airborne contaminants
is determined by outdoor air quality, weather,
HVAC operation, occupant activity and materials
off-gassing, resulting in a moving target, with wide variance
over time and by location. Therefore, contaminant
measurements cannot be assumed to represent either
typical or worst-case exposure levels based on spot tests.
3. Health effects at low concentrations are generally
Ed Light, CIH, is president of Building Dynamics. He is a member of ASHRAE TCs
4.3, Ventilation Requirements and Infiltration, and 1.12, Moisture Management in
Buildings.
http://ashrae.org
ASHRAE Journal - January 2023
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ASHRAE Journal - January 2023
Contents
ASHRAE Journal - January 2023 - Cover1
ASHRAE Journal - January 2023 - Cover2
ASHRAE Journal - January 2023 - Cover2a
ASHRAE Journal - January 2023 - Cover2b
ASHRAE Journal - January 2023 - 1
ASHRAE Journal - January 2023 - Contents
ASHRAE Journal - January 2023 - 3
ASHRAE Journal - January 2023 - 4
ASHRAE Journal - January 2023 - 5
ASHRAE Journal - January 2023 - 6
ASHRAE Journal - January 2023 - 7
ASHRAE Journal - January 2023 - 8
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ASHRAE Journal - January 2023 - S1
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ASHRAE Journal - January 2023 - S32a
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ASHRAE Journal - January 2023 - Cover3
ASHRAE Journal - January 2023 - Cover4
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