6.03 INDOOR AIR QUALITY PROGRAM (IAQ)

This program outlines the University's Indoor Air Quality Program. The program's intent is to improve the air quality in the buildings at UNM and provide employees a method of reporting any building-related illness. It also allows for the consistent investigation of all indoor air quality problems.

A. SCOPE

This program is applicable to all University faculty and staff.

B. DEFINITIONS

Air Contaminants - Substances contained in the vapors from paint, cleaning chemicals, pesticides, solvents, particulates, outdoor air pollutants and other airborne substances which together may cause material impairment to employees working in a nonindustrial environment.

Building-related Illness - Specific medical conditions of known etiology which can be documented by physical signs and laboratory findings that are caused or exacerbated by building conditions. Such illnesses include sensory irritation when caused by known agents, respiratory allergies, asthma, nosocomial infections, humidifier fever, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, Legionnaires' disease, and the signs and symptoms characteristic of exposure to chemical or biological substances such as carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, pesticides, endotoxins or mycotoxins.

Building Systems - Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system, potable water system, energy management system and all other systems in a facility which may impact indoor air quality.

HVAC System - The collective components of the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system including, but not limited to, filters and frames, cooling coil condensate drip pans and drainage piping, outside air dampers and actuators, humidifiers, air distribution ductwork, automatic temperature controls and cooling towers.

Renovation and Remodeling - Building modifications involving activities that include, but are not limited to, removal or replacement of walls, ceilings, floors, carpet and components such as moldings, cabinets, doors and windows; painting, decorating, demolition, surface refinishing and removal or cleaning of ventilation ducts.

C. RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Safety, Health and Environmental Affairs (SHEA) is responsible for:

• developing and implementing a University-wide program;
• monitoring compliance with the program;
• investigating IAQ compliants when requested by Employee Occupational Health Services (EOHS);
• maintaining a record of employee complaints;
• conducting air quality monitoring including carbon dioxide, temperature, humidity and chemical and microbial contaminants, if necessary;
• working with contractors to develop a work plan designed to minimize entry of air contaminants to other areas of the building; and
• providing IAQ training to Physical Plant and Facility Planning Department personnel as appropriate.

2. Building Coordinators are responsible for:

• maintaining a general description of the building and its function including but not limited to, work activity, number of employees, hours of operation, weekend use, and known air contaminants released in the space
• directing employees with odor complaints to SHEA
• directing employees with signs or symptoms attributable to the indoor air quality to EOHS

3. Physical Plant (or Housing and Food Service Maintenance or SUB Maintenance, if applicable) responsibilities include:

• maintaining construction documents which locate major building system equipment and the areas they serve;
• maintaining and operating the HVAC system to ensure that it operates up to original design specifications and continues to provide at least the minimum outside air ventilation rate, based on actual occupancy, which is required by the building code, mechanical code or ventilation code applicable at the time the facility was constructed, renovated or remodeled;
• ensuring that the HVAC system is operating during all work shifts, except during emergency HVAC repairs and during scheduled HVAC maintenance;
• maintaining the relative humidity below 60% in buildings with controllable humidity systems;
• ensuring that mechanical equipment rooms and any non-ducted air plenums or chases that transport air are maintained in a clean condition, hazardous substances are properly stored to prevent spillage, and friable asbestos is encapsulated or removed so that it does not enter the air distribution system;
• promptly repairing water leaks that can promote microbial contamination;
• coordinating efforts, with the help of SHEA, to remove microbial contamination in ductwork, humidifiers, other HVAC and building system components or on building surfaces when found; and
• notifying building occupants at least 24 hours in advance, or promptly in emergency situations, of work to be performed on the building that may introduce air contaminants into the work environment. This includes the types of chemicals that will be used and the anticipated impacts on workplace conditions.

4. Employee Occupational Health Services (EOHS) is responsible for:

• notifying SHEA if they see employees with signs or symptoms that may be related to their work environment.

D. EMPLOYEE CONCERNS

Odors: Employees detecting unusual odors should inform their supervisor or building coordinator and contact SHEA at 277-2753.

Illness: Employees that have signs or symptoms that may be attributed to the air quality of the building or are work-related in any way, should be seen by EOHS.

SHEA will maintain a written record of employee complaints of signs and symptoms of building-related illnesses. This will include the nature of the illness reported, number of employees affected, date of employee concern and remedial action, if any, taken to correct the problem.

E. INVESTIGATIONS

Odor investigations: SHEA will investigate all odor complaints. Attempts will be made to locate the source of the odor and resolve the issue, with the help of the appropriate departments.

IAQ investigations: SHEA will conduct IAQ investigations at the request of EOHS. Recurrent odor complaints will be investigated as an IAQ problem. The investigations will consist of the following steps:

1. Employees will be provided with an IAQ questionnaire as appropriate.
2. A walkthrough of the area will be conducted to identify possible sources of chemical contamination, microbial growth, excessive dust accumulation and potential ventilation problems.

Initial monitoring will be conducted, including monitoring for carbon dioxide levels, temperature and humidity.

Desired Levels:

*ASHRAE is the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.

3. Additional chemical or microbial monitoring will be conducted as deemed necessary by the findings during the walkthrough.

F. RENOVATION/CONSTRUCTION WORK

When planning a renovation or construction project, the contractor and/or the Physical Plant Department should select materials with the lowest toxicity, the least potential for creating irritation and the highest odor detection threshold. This includes carpeting, furniture and partitions, paint, wallpaper, adhesives, sealers and solvents. SHEA will assist with choosing materials with low emissions. SHEA should be provided with any emissions testing results and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) for the materials to be used prior to the renovation or construction.

Before remodeling, renovation, or similar activities begin, the contractor or individuals performing the work must develop a work plan designed to minimize entry of air contaminants to other areas of the building. This includes:

• ensuring that HVAC systems continue to function effectively during the project, if possible;
• physical and mechanical isolation or containment of work areas utilizing appropriate containment as necessary;
• controls to prevent air contaminant entry into the HVAC system and redistribution to other areas of the building.

Employees in a building must be notified by the Facility Planning or Physical Plant Departments at least 24 hours in advance, or promptly in emergency situations, of work to be performed in the building that may introduce air contaminants (including dust) into their work area. For projects that are difficult to contain, work should be conducted after hours or during the weekend.

G. WATER DAMAGE REMEDIATION

Water damaged building materials and furnishings, if not appropriately handled, can become significant sources of microbiological contamination in buildings. This can lead to potential health problems for building occupants. Therefore, it is necessary to take care of these situations as soon as possible to prevent microbial growth.

Water damaged areas should be inventoried by the Physical Plant Department, or appropriate maintenance employees if outside of Physical Plant area of responsibility, and assessed by SHEA, as necessary, to identify building materials and furnishings that have become wet. Special attention should be given to identify carpet under cabinets, furnishings, etc. A moisture meter should be used to identify the extent of water damage to drywall. Once the water damaged inventory is completed, the type of water damage should be documented, i.e. clean water (potable sources), steam, unsanitary water (rain, ground water), or contaminated water (sewage).

Once the materials and/or the source of water have been identified by the Physical Plant Department, the materials will require disposal or treatment.

1. Ceiling Tile

Wet ceiling tiles should be removed and disposed of within several days of water damage. The only exception would be if ceiling tile has become wet due to a small steam or potable water leak and the shape of the tile has not been altered. In this situation, the ceiling tile can be air dried and reused. In situations where the tile has been impacted by unsanitary water or contaminated water, controlled methods should be utilized for removal and disposal. Controlled methods can range from personal protection to full abatement under negative air conditions dependent on the extent of the damage.

2. Drywall/Lathe Plaster

All water damaged drywall and insulation should be assessed by SHEA to determine the extent of the water damage. Based on the extent of the damage and the water source, the drywall may need to be removed and replaced. If previous water damage has caused microbial growth, or the sheetrock has been damaged by unsanitary or contaminated water, then extensive controls may be necessary for the removal process. Use a moisture meter and cut sheetrock at 12" to 48" above the moisture mark.

All hard surfaces such as block walls, etc. should be scrubbed with a mild detergent followed by a rinse of the surface using a solution of 1/4 cup bleach per gallon of water (read the Material Safety Data Sheet for bleach and follow all precautions during use). Follow this with a clean water rinse.

Wet lathe and plaster will leach the minerals from the wall and form a chalky-surface. The loose material on the surface may need to be removed under controlled conditions and the surface allowed to dry.

If the plaster/lathe wall develops a strong odor, with or without visible mold growth, eliminate the source of the water and replace the water damaged plaster. During replacement of the plaster/lathe, PPD or a contractor should implement the following controls to limit the spread of contamination during the above mentioned work:

• setup of air tight barriers,
• creation of a negative air flow,
• use of appropriate respiratory protection, gloves and coveralls for the workers.
• personal hygiene, including handwashing and showering after work

3. Furniture

Upholstered furniture that has become wet due to floods, roof leaks, sewage backup and groundwater infiltration should be disposed of. Upholstered furniture damaged by steam leaks or direct contact with potable water should be dried and assessed for fungal growth and odors.

Hardwood furniture or laminate furniture whose laminate is intact should be air dried and cleaned with a detergent solution and rinsed with clear water and dried. Laminate furniture experiencing delamination should be disposed of because the pressed wood under the laminate absorbs water readily and is hard to dry.

Furniture made of particle board or pressed wafer board should be discarded. The exception would be if the furniture has become wet due to a steam leak or direct contact with potable water. In this situation, the furniture can be dried and monitored closely for fungal growth/odor. If fungal growth occurs or the furniture develops an odor, the particle board/pressed wood furniture should be discarded.

4. Files/Paper

Nonessential wet files and paperwork should be disposed of. The exception again would be if the moisture was due to steam leaks; then these can be dried. Essential wet paper from water damaged areas should be moved to a location where it can be dried, photocopied and then discarded.

If a large amount of files and paperwork cannot be dried within 24-48 hours, essential files/paperwork may be rinsed with clean water and temporarily-frozen until proper drying can be completed. Discard any paper products that develop mold.

5. Carpet

Any carpet that has been contaminated over a large area with sewage backup should be discarded under controlled negative air conditions and the entire area disinfected with bleach and water (or hospital-grade detergent). Small areas of carpet contaminated with sewage backup may be cleaned using the procedure listed for other sources of water.

Carpet that has become wet from floods, roof leaks, steam leaks, potable water leaks and groundwater can be treated as follows:

• Remove all materials (e.g. furniture, file cabinets) from the carpet.
• Extract as much water as possible from the carpet using wet vacuums.
• Shampoo the carpet with a dilute surfactant.
• Soak with a 1/4 cup bleach to 1 gallon water solution. Maximum concentration: a solution of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water. It is preferable not to use a biocide. People may have a reaction to biocides.
• Rinse and extract the carpet with clean water to remove detergent/bleach residues.
• Commercial steam cleaning of carpet can be used in place of bleach.
• Dry the carpet within 12-24 hours of treatment. After work is completed, use floor fans or exhaust fans to aid in drying the carpet.

The carpet will be assessed by SHEA. If the carpet develops an odor or visible mold growth is apparent, the carpet should be removed under controlled conditions.

TESTING

Air and building material/furniture testing for microorganisms may be performed after the water problem and periodically thereafter by SHEA to ensure that there is no excessive human exposure to microbial growth. The decision to conduct testing and the extent of testing will be made on a case-by-case basis after all the variables have been considered.

H. TRAINING

SHEA will provide IAQ training to Physical Plant and Facility Planning Department personnel. This training will consist of:

• how to isolate the work area from any adjacent occupied areas to minimize the release of air contaminants to other areas of the building;
• recognition of possible IAQ problems and solutions.

I. SMOKING

As required by policy 2250 of the University Business Policies and Procedures Manual, smoking is prohibited in or at all enclosed buildings and facilities; corridors, elevators, and enclosed walkways; University-owned vehicles; and indoor and outdoor athletic or other University-sponsored or designated events.

Smoking is permitted outdoors on University property except during designated organized events. Individuals smoking outdoors must be a reasonable distance away from doorways, open windows, enclosed walkways, and ventilation systems to prevent smoke from entering buildings. Some faciltities may require larger outdoor areas be restricted as evidenced by signs, markings on pavement, or other written policies.