What can be done to address and prevent indoor air quality problems?
The following are some strategies: · Select low-emitting, non-toxic products and materials wherever possible when furnishing, renovating or constructing a school building. · Schedule cleaning and maintenance activities during off hours wherever possible. · Establish an indoor air quality operations and maintenance program to track and respond to complaints; to train appropriate staff in early detection of problems as well as prevention and corrective measures; and to establish good communications channels including staff, administration, faculty, and parents; and to document all of the above. Periodic inspections by staff or outside consultants are an important preventive step. · Monitor indoor air pollutants and their sources (or potential sources) periodically to assure they are under control. It is not realistic to think they can be eliminated entirely. Monitoring includes visual inspection as well as air and dust sampling and analysis to measure the levels of pollutants.
