Audit Indoor Environment New
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Provides a profile of the building’s indoor environment and identifies existing and potential IEQ problems |
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One week to one month, depending on the expertise and availability of engineering staff |
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HVAC contractor, as needed |
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FAC, SGT |
An indoor environment audit is the first step to ensuring that site facilities are designed, maintained, and operated in ways that support occupant activities, health, and comfort. An indoor environment audit evaluates system and space conditions; identify critical design, operational, and maintenance deficiencies; and identify no- and low-cost measures and procedures to support improved IEQ, occupant comfort, and equipment operation. Audits do not require special expertise, but they can benefit from inclusion of a team member with knowledge of mechanical systems and equipment, since IEQ improvements often relate to a building’s HVAC system.
Preventive maintenance sustains IEQ and saves money in the long run. Maintenance tasks as simple as changing filters and checking belts and cleaning pans regularly can ensure a clean and functional system.9
Plan to undertake the following typical indoor environment audit activities:
- Review record drawings, control system setpoints and sequences of operation, operations and maintenance (O&M) manual, maintenance and complaint logs, and material safety data sheets (MSDS) for cleaning products to identify potential problem areas prior to walk-through.
- Survey occupants about acoustics; lighting; thermal comfort conditions during heating, cooling, and swing seasons; ergonomics; and perceived IEQ of open office, conference, and gathering spaces. Identify opportunities to include biophilic design (see Indoor Environment: Biophilia).
- Record observations and measurements during the walk-through (see Resources: I-BEAM Forms and Building Air Quality: A Guide for Building Owners and Facility Managers).
- Look for problem indicators, such as glare, noise, odors, excessive dust, mold or mildew, moisture, or discoloration of building materials.
- Note signs of occupant discomfort, such as covered air vents, individual desk fans or heaters, and makeshift monitor glare screens.
- Use handheld meters to spot-measure temperature, humidity, air speed, daylight levels, noise levels, and carbon dioxide (CO2) .
- Inspect HVAC equipment and identify components that need to be cleaned, repaired, or replaced.
- Use building automated system (BAS) records to determine the volume of outside air supplied. If the BAS does not monitor outside airflow, use CO2 measurements to calculate the proportion of outside air in the supply air. EPA’s Baseline IAQ Audit Form for Indoor Spaces includes guidance on how to perform this calculation.
- Compare total supply air volume to exhaust air volume to determine whether the building is positively or negatively pressurized.
- Identify the location of contaminant sources, such as building entries, janitor closets, and copy rooms, and note whether exhaust fans are present and operational in these spaces and vented directly to the exterior.