Indiana University Indianapolis
OP-5: Indoor Air Quality

Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) is committed to providing a work environment that is free of recognized hazards and to investigate complaints that may be related to poor indoor air quality (IAQ). Acceptable indoor air quality is air in which there are no known contaminants at harmful concentrations as determined by the Department of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS). PROGRAM ELEMENTS OF INDOOR AIR QUALITY PROGRAM - Response to Concerns Indoor air quality concerns should be reported and reviewed according to the following procedures: 1) Immediate Issues Any IAQ concern that poses an immediate threat to personal health or safety should be reported to the IU Police Dispatch for the respective campus. 2) Physical Discomfort Contact Facilities Services or Physical Plant for the respective campus for the following concerns: Temperature or humidity issues; Air movement/drafts from diffusers; Stale air; Particulates or dirt coming from the air handling system diffusers; and Mold odor or visible mold. 3) Health Concerns and Symptoms Employees who have health related symptoms that they believe may be related to the work environment such as; headaches, nausea, dizziness, upper respiratory irritation, chest-tightness, dry/sore throat, fatigue, itching/irritated eyes, runny-nose, congestion, or shortness of breath are requested to complete the online Indoor Air Quality Questionnaire form. Upon receipt of the completed questionnaire, IUEHS will contact the employee to schedule an investigation of the work area. 4) Odor Complaints Contact the FS/PP for the respective campus for odors associated with rotten egg, sewer, fishy, or musty smells. Contact IUEHS for the respective campus when experiencing unusual or abnormal odors or for odors that cannot be identified by FS/PP. IUEHS will investigate odor concerns in accordance with the Odor Investigation Protocol and Work Stoppage Guidelines. If the source associated with the odor is potentially hazardous to persons in the area (e.g. natural gas), contact IU Police Dispatch for the respective campus. 5) Mold Contact IUEHS for your respective campus when there is a concern of mold or potential mold in the work area with no obvious mold source being apparent. If there is visible mold or mold odors associated with a recent moisture/flood/leakage concern or air conditioning system, contact facilities personnel. IUEHS will investigate and make recommendations for corrective actions for those instances where facilities personnel are unable to address the concern. - Air Quality Assessment Process When notified and if warranted, IUEHS will perform an initial indoor air quality assessment using the following steps: 1) Reviewing the Indoor Air Quality Questionnaire, if submitted; 2) Interviewing employees with concerns and other building occupants in the immediate area of concern; 3) Conducting a walk-through inspection of the building or area of concern; 4) Inspecting the building ventilation systems with the HVAC Technician from the respective campus; and 5) Conducting air monitoring for indoor air quality parameters as indicated including; temperature, relative humidity, carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds (VOC), and particulates. 6) Additional monitoring for bioaerosols and chemical contaminants may be warranted, at the discretion of the investigator, to provide more detailed information regarding the nature of the IAQ concern. - Medical Evaluations Employees who have health concerns they believe are related to indoor air quality in their work area should report the concerns to their supervisor and consider contacting the Medical Services provider for the respective campus for a medical evaluation. If the Medical Service provider deems that a medical accommodation for the employee’s position is necessary, the employee's supervisor should contact the Affirmative Action Office for the respective campus. Affirmative Action will work with the employee’s department in determining what accommodations are reasonable under the current essential job functions for that employee. - Reports IUEHS will prepare written findings of investigation results, including conclusions regarding possible causes of the IAQ concerns. Copies of the IAQ investigation findings will be forwarded to the complainant and his or her supervisor, and other associated units. - Remedial Measures When necessary, IUEHS will recommend remedial measures. For example, when visual observations find significant mold in water-damaged environments, controlling and eliminating mold growth will be recommended in accordance with the Indiana University Mold Investigation Guidelines (Appendix B). IUEHS will determine if other IAQ risks are actionable by evaluating four variables: 1) Probable source of a suspected contaminant, and its extent or magnitude, 2) Number of occupants with symptoms and the severity of their symptoms, 3) The availability of reasonable and effective measures to mitigate the suspected contaminant, and 4) When the source of an indoor air quality concern and appropriate remedial measures are difficult to discern or unknown, recommendations will rely on the judgment of FS/PP for the respective campus and IUEHS staff and will often involve interventions of some kind to ascertain a causative relationship with the symptoms. * Implementation of Occupant - Responsible Remedial Measures Remedial action that needs to be implemented by the supervisor should be completed within a time frame determined by IUEHS. This type of action could include general housekeeping, the purchase of a non-fabric chair or chair mats, or the relocation of printers or paper storage. * Implementation of Occupant - Responsible Remedial Measures Remedial action that needs to be implemented by the supervisor should be completed within a time frame determined by IUEHS. This type of action could include general housekeeping, the purchase of a non-fabric chair or chair mats, or the relocation of printers or paper storage. * Implementation of Other Remedial Measures If the remedial measures require building maintenance or repair, FS/PP or Student Housing (as appropriate) will work with IUEHS and the building occupant to implement them. - After Action IUEHS Review The complainant’s department and/or FS/PP for the respective campus will notify IUEHS for the respective campus when remedial actions have been completed. IUEHS will often inspect the work area after remedial measures have been completed to ensure that recommendations have been implemented and to evaluate their effectiveness. The building occupant and his or her department will be responsible for reporting any further problems to IUEHS after this follow-up. - Indoor Air Quality Collaboration The evaluation and remediation of indoor air quality concerns requires the collaboration of many departments on campus. The communication and resolution of IAQ issues will be addressed through ad-hoc committees for the respective campus. - Construction and Renovation Projects Construction and renovation projects present a variety of situations which may release contaminants and pollutants that can impact the IAQ of a building. Contaminants and pollutants may be transported to other areas via the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system and affect populations beyond the immediate project area. Advance planning by Project Managers, appropriate contract language, material review and selection, and effective control strategies combined with proactive communication can successfully control pollutant levels, allay concerns, and maintain occupant comfort during and after construction activities. Guidelines for indoor air quality control during non-UAO renovation and construction projects within occupied buildings can be found in Appendix C of this document. All UAO renovation and construction projects shall include and follow specifications identified in Section 15061 - Airborne Contaminants Control found within contract specifications.