Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Program
Written IAQ program covering HVAC inspection and maintenance, complaint response, contaminant control (VOCs, mold, CO2, radon), and post-COVID ventilation enhancements. Aligned to ASHRAE 62.1 and EPA Building Air Quality guidance.
When this template is required
OSHA enforces IAQ under the General Duty Clause when conditions present serious hazards. Building codes (typically referencing ASHRAE 62.1) require minimum ventilation. EPA's IAQ Tools for Schools and Building Air Quality guidance set the framework most facilities follow. Post-COVID, IAQ programs are common in commercial buildings, schools, and healthcare.
Why this template
Post-COVID ventilation guidance built in
Post-COVID, IAQ expectations include MERV-13+ filters, increased outdoor air, optional UV-C/HEPA, CO2 monitoring as an occupancy/ventilation proxy. The program includes the enhanced ventilation framework.
ASHRAE 62.1 alignment
ASHRAE 62.1 is the industry standard for ventilation in commercial buildings, referenced by most building codes. The program aligns to 62.1 ventilation rates and design.
Complaint intake and response procedure
IAQ complaints are common but often poorly documented. The intake procedure captures the complaint with diagnostic detail (location, time, symptoms, suspected source); the response procedure walks through investigation, sampling decisions, and resolution.
Construction/renovation IAQ control
Renovations are a major IAQ disruption — VOC emissions from materials, dust generation, ventilation interruption. The program includes the IAQ control procedure during renovation.
What you receive
- IAQ Program (Word .docx)
- HVAC inspection and maintenance schedule
- IAQ complaint intake and response procedure
- CO2 monitoring procedure (occupant-driven ventilation)
- Mold inspection and remediation reference
- Construction/renovation IAQ control procedure
- Post-COVID ventilation enhancement guide (MERV-13 filters, increased outdoor air, UV-C, portable HEPA)
- Radon testing recommendation (for at-risk geographies)
How you get it
This document is written and reviewed against the standard it cites, and it is ready now. The download link is emailed as soon as your payment clears.
Revisions included — if something about your operation changes what the document should say, reply to the delivery email and we will amend it.
Who buys this
- Commercial office buildings (tenant complaints, HVAC management)
- Schools (EPA IAQ Tools for Schools)
- Healthcare facilities
- Manufacturing with potential indoor contaminant generation
- Renovation projects (managing IAQ during construction)
- Building owners and facility managers
Frequently asked
Does OSHA require an IAQ program?
OSHA doesn't have a specific IAQ standard — a proposed standard in the 1990s was withdrawn. Enforcement is via the General Duty Clause when significant hazards exist (high CO2 from inadequate ventilation, mold growth, chemical contamination). Many state OSHA programs have indoor air guidance. Building codes (typically referencing ASHRAE 62.1) require minimum ventilation. Most large facilities adopt a written IAQ program as best practice.
What's ASHRAE 62.1?
ASHRAE Standard 62.1 — 'Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality' — is the consensus standard for commercial building ventilation. It specifies minimum outdoor air ventilation rates by space type, exhaust requirements, filtration, and ventilation system design. Most commercial building codes adopt 62.1 by reference. The program aligns to 62.1 ventilation expectations.
How should we handle IAQ complaints?
Systematic intake: location, time, symptoms, suspected cause, building conditions at the time. Initial investigation: CO2 measurement (proxy for ventilation adequacy), visual inspection for obvious issues (mold, leaks, chemical odors), HVAC system check. Escalation to professional industrial hygiene if initial investigation doesn't resolve. The procedure includes the intake form and decision tree.
What CO2 level indicates a problem?
CO2 itself isn't toxic at typical indoor levels but serves as a proxy for occupancy-driven ventilation adequacy. Outdoor air ~420 ppm. Indoor CO2 below 800 ppm typically indicates adequate ventilation. 800-1000 ppm: marginal; investigation appropriate. Above 1000 ppm: ventilation likely inadequate. ASHRAE 62.1 doesn't set a strict limit but uses 700 ppm above outdoor (so ~1100 ppm indoor) as a design target.
Does this cover mold remediation?
The program addresses mold inspection and provides remediation references (EPA Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings, IICRC S520). Detailed mold remediation procedures for large contamination events are typically handled by specialised remediation contractors — the program defines the trigger threshold and escalation.