SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS

Asset Classes

Focus Area

Indoor Air Quality and Hazards

Topic

Assessment

Question #

I1.2 – Owner or landlord frequently assesses IAQ

Question

How frequently are IAQ assessments conducted at the building?

Applicability

Office, Healthcare, Enclosed Shopping Centre, Universal and Multi-Unit Residential Building, Light Industrial
Owner/landlord occupied building
Tenant occupied building – all systems managed by the owner/landlord

Answer & Scoring

  • Yes – Annually = 3 points
  • Yes – Alternating seasons = 5 points
  • No = 0 points
  • Not applicable – Tenant occupied building: Some or no systems managed by the owner/landlord = 0/0

Max of 5 points

Requirements

Provide copies of each IAQ Assessment Report completed within the past three years.

Testing in alternating seasons means an applicant may test in the winter in one year and in the summer in the next year, and again in the winter the following year. Meaning the time that went by between audits may vary, it could be six months or 18 months. The value of conducting audits in alternating seasons means the building operations and maintenance team may gain insights on differences in IAQ in different seasons.

Documentation

  • At least 3 past IAQ Assessment Reports

Suggested Lead

In-house, with third-party support

Value

  • Building off the Baseline Practice I1.0a – Owner or landlord manages whole-building IAQ, engage qualified professionals to perform more frequent IAQ assessment to confirm IAQ parameters are within recommended ranges
  • Performing annual assessments prevents IAQ issues from going unchecked for long periods of time. IAQ issues are resolved more quickly which prevents adverse effects on occupant health
  • Different HVAC systems are typically used for heating and cooling at the building. Performing IAQ tests on alternating seasons ensures that a healthy indoor environment is maintained in all seasons

Description

Annual IAQ testing can assist in confirming if HVAC systems are operating properly and if occupants are comfortable in the working environment.

Most IAQ complaints are received during either the heating or cooling seasons, so it is best to conduct the testing during these seasons. Provide the dates of the last IAQ assessments and that they have alternated between heating and cooling seasons to achieve additional points.

References

Adapted BB 3.0 Question

New in BOMA BEST 4.0