Six organizations related to the built environment are collaborating to provide advanced indoor air quality (IAQ) design guidance for the facilities industry. The collaboration will develop a book and professional development course that will describe an integrated process for achieving improved IAQ in all elements of a building.
Participating organizations are:
* American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)
* American Institute of Architects
* Building Owners and Managers Association
* U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
* Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors‚ National Association
The groups recently formalized the collaboration through a memorandum of understanding.
"The book and course will give guidance to designers and builders so that buildings may be constructed, operated and maintained to improve IAQ without constraining the building function or the comfort and productivity of the occupants," says Andrew Persily, chair of the steering committee overseeing the project.
Last year, ASHRAE received a $510,000 three-year cooperative agreement with the EPA to develop the Advanced Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Design Guide for Non-Residential Buildings. The book will assist building professionals in implementing high-performance designs and improving building IAQ performance in a broad range of buildings. The book is expected to be published in April 2009 and followed later in the year by the course.
