Air Quality
During recent years, several international programs have been developed including ASHRAE Standards, and LEED®, WELL Building and FITWELL programs that define air quality programs including ventilation levels and filtration requirements. These programs require on-site testing of contaminants along with ventilation levels and environmental conditions.
Facility Performance Associates specializes in providing the program knowledge, system design facilitation, testing experience, and calibrated testing equipment to maximize the occupancy conditions and thus the occupant’s performance and well as meet IAQ program requirements. The testing for the LEED® program includes the following:
LEED®, Indoor Air Quality Base Level Testing
The purpose of this service is to meet the indoor air quality testing requirements of base level testing for a new building finish out.
– Scope requirements
To determine the base level air quality in the buildings at the time of occupancy, a series of tests shall be conducted on the specified chemical and other listed airborne contaminants. This testing is intended to comply with the requirements of the project specifications and LEED ® Environmental Quality Credit Construction IAQ – After Construction/ Before Occupancy baseline IAQ procedure. Two LEED ® points are available in LEED ® V4.1; one for Path 1 instrument-based testing, and an additional point for Path 2 lab-based testing analysis.
Note: The cost for Path One testing can be separated from the proposed cost if only one point is required.
Testing
Conduct baseline IAQ testing using testing protocols consistent with requirements and details in the LEED ® Reference Guide for Green Building Interior Design and Construction, V4.1 Edition.
– Test Sets Path 1 – Particulate Matter and Inorganic Gases – 1 LEED Point
| Ambient Condition/ Contaminant | Method – | Target or Allowable Levels |
| Temperature | Electronic Temp. Sensor | 73 +/- 3 Deg. -target |
| Humidity | Electronic RH Sensor | 30-60 % – target |
| Carbon Dioxide | Electronic CO2 Sensor | <900 ppm – target |
| Carbon Monoxide | Electronic CO Sensor | <9 ppm |
| Ozone | Electronic O3 Sensor | <.070 ppm |
| Total Particulates- PM 2.5 | Particle Counter | < 12 PM10 µg/m3 |
| Total Particulates- PM 10 | Particle Counter | < 50 PM10 µg/m3 |
– Test Sets Path 2 – Volatile Organic Compounds – 1 LEED Added Point
| Ambient Condition/ Contaminant | Method – | Target or Allowable Levels |
| Formaldehyde | Passive sampler | < 20 µg/m3 |
| Acetaldehyde | Passive sampler | <120 µg/m3 |
| Total Volatile Organic Compounds | PID Electronic Sensor
and Sorbent Tube with Laboratory Analysis |
TVOC < 500 µg/m3 |
| Target Ten VOC Chemicals in LEED
V4.1 instruction |
Sorbent Tube with
Laboratory Analysis |
< Table 2 Listing on LEED
V4.1 IAQ Assessment Point |
– Test Locations
The number of sampling locations depends on the size of the building and the number of ventilation areas. For each portion of the building the number of sampling points (or test sets) must not be less than 1 per 25,000 square feet or for each contiguous floor area.
– Procedure
The samples will be collected by qualified technicians according to NIIOSH standard procedures for analysis and report. Air samples must be collected between 3 and 6 feet from the floor to represent the breathing zone of occupants. Sample locations are required to be chosen by the testing technician at random. All interior finishes must be installed, including but not limited to millwork, doors, paint, carpet, and acoustic tiles. Movable furnishings such as workstations and partitions must be in place for the testing in the LEED® Commercial Interiors Rating System.
– Analysis
The test results will be analyzed by a NREP certified Indoor Air Quality Manager and
Path 2 by an ISO 17025 certified laboratory.
– Reports
A comprehensive report shall be provided detailing the testing procedures, results and laboratory reports. Facility Performance Associates (FPA) meets the required qualifications and have all the necessary equipment. If FPA is invited to the LEED documentation access, FPA will complete all documentation for LEED Online EQ credit.
Contact Us
We’re committed to providing quality solutions for your facilities. Get in touch with our team for more information