Health & Safety View

Indoor air quality (IAQ)

Indoor air quality (IAQ) refers to the quality of air within buildings or enclosed areas. The IAQ program focuses on indoor air contaminants that could affect the health and comfort of building occupants. WorkSafeBC Occupational Health and Safety Regulations Sections 4.70-4.80 outline the requirements for indoor air quality within BC workplaces.

Indoor air contaminants are substances that can adversely affect the air inside buildings impacting the comfort and health of occupants. There are three main types of indoor air contaminants.

Contaminant type	Examples
Biological pollutant	Mould and fungi, bacteria, dust mites, pollen
Chemical pollutant	Carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, ozone, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), dust
Radiological pollutant	Radon

At elevated concentrations, these contaminants lead to poor IAQ.

Causes of poor IAQ

The most common cause of poor IAQ is inadequate ventilation. Allowing fresh air to circulate in a space is often the best way to remove pollutants and improve air quality. UBC Facilities works to ensure HVAC system design and function supports good indoor air quality.

In general, indoor air quality issues result from the following causes:

Causes of poor IAQ	Sources
Microbial Contamination	Water leaks and pooling, elevated indoor humidity, humidifiers and contaminated ductwork
Inside Sources of Contamination	Laser printers, copy machines, painting, office products, personal belongings and chemicals
Outside Sources of Contamination	Automobile exhaust, nearby construction, wildfire smoke, pollen and smoking
Humidity & Temperature	Temperature and relative humidity outside the normal comfort range
New Building Materials	Carpets, drapery, furniture, paints, and floor tiles
Personal Factors	Perfumes, deodorants, and laundry detergents *more information on scents in the workplace can be found here

Health symptoms associated with poor IAQ

Health symptoms from poor indoor air quality will vary depending on personal susceptibility. Common symptoms experienced by individuals include:

Headaches
Sinus congestion
Itchy throat
Coughing
Shortness of breath
Sneezing
Watery eyes
Nausea
Fatigue

Poor IAQ can also exacerbate existing allergy or asthma symptoms.

Resolving an IAQ problem

If you are generally concerned about poor indoor air quality at your workplace, please go through the following steps with the area supervisor:

Step 1 – Investigate your area visually for equipment or gear that may be detrimental to air quality.
Step 2 – Determine if there are building related issues (e.g. water leaks, temperature extremes, ventilation deficiencies, relative humidity or lighting issues)
Step 3a – If the source is building related, please contact your zone Facility Manager
Step 3b – If the cause is not building related please fill-out the following IAQ Referral Form (PDF) and forward the completed form to the Occupational Hygiene Advisor.
Step 4 – The appropriate site visits and follow-up will take place

Steps for an IAQ assessment

If you are experiencing health symptoms at work that you believe are related to IAQ:

Step 1 – Talk to your supervisor.
Step 2 – Fill-out the following IAQ Referral Form (PDF) and forward the completed form to the Occupational Hygiene Advisor
Step 3a – Meet with the Occupational Hygiene Advisor.
Step 3b – Participate in site visits and, if warranted, sampling measures.
Step 4 – Carry out the recommendations provided in the report.

Tips for good IAQ

The following points will help ensure good indoor air quality in your space:

Open windows and doors to allow for air circulation
Use low-VOC markers
Clean and dust workplace regularly
Prevent mould growth by cleaning up any pooled water
Eat in designated areas
Avoid storing gear or field equipment in administrative spaces