SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS

Asset Classes

Focus Area

Indoor Air Quality and Hazards

Topic

Baseline Practices

Question #

I1.0b – Owner or landlord informs, tenant manages IAQ

Question

Does the owner or landlord conduct visual IAQ inspections of tenant-managed spaces each year?

Applicability

Applicable to Light Industrial and Open-Air Retail

Answer

Select one of the following:

    • Yes
    • No

Description

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is achieved through the selection of appropriate and achievable air quality goals, regular surveillance and testing to verify HVAC performance and hygiene, efficient and effective procedures for addressing occupant IAQ concerns and adequate training for the building management team. 

The owner or landlord can play an important role in supporting tenants in determining appropriate and achievable air quality goals, conducting regular surveillance and testing to verify HVAC performance and hygiene, advise on efficient and effective procedures for addressing occupant IAQ concerns and encourage adequate training for the tenant space management team.

Requirements

a. Conduct a visual inspection of the tenant-managed HVAC systems that serve tenant leased spaces, covering the following as applicable:

    • Air handling units (dampers, plenum, filters, coils, humidifiers, fans, motors)
    • Air distribution and terminal systems (ductwork, plenum, diffusers, grilles, CAV/VAV boxes, fan-coils, heat pumps, exhaust)
    • Central systems (boiler, chiller, cooling tower, air compressor, pneumatics, pumps) and pipes, generators, controls)
    • Potential mould growth or water damage to base building components
    • Tenant operations that may negatively impact other tenants’ air quality (for example, proper exhaust if paint booth is used)
    • No damage to asbestos-containing or other hazardous base building materials

b. Cover a group of tenants who lease at least half of the total building area
c. Share visual inspection forms with tenants

OR

d. Submit excerpt from lease which details restrictions to landlord access of tenant spaces

Documentation

    • Most recent visual inspection forms of tenant spaces
    • Communication where the results of the visual inspection were shared with tenants
    • Demonstrate that the inspections cover at least half of the area of the building
    • I1.0b – Visual IAQ Inspections Template

OR Excerpt from lease

Adapted BB3 Question

New in BOMA BEST 4.0

Suggested Lead

In house: Facility Maintenance, Building Manager/Policy Makers

References

Crosswalk

TBD

Other Notes

None

Scoring

Baseline

Verification