Dave,

 

The fact that the question is being asked suggests that someone isn’t happy with the air quality. If that is the case, then a good faith effort should be made to improve the air quality. While testing the air for “quality” is a possibility (and often not very easy), it usually isn’t required. The process we used when I was at the University of Missouri (http://ehs.missouri.edu/work/indoor-air.html) works pretty well most of the time. Your University may be organized differently, but having a team deal with the issue, including someone from the building and someone from Facilities, is a good strategic approach.

 

Peter Ashbrook

 

 

CHAS folks,

 

To get the best set of answers, I am forwarding below a request for information I recently received from a colleague. 

 

“Do you know if there are generally accepted air quality standards for chemistry buildings, and if there are where would I find them?
Also, do you know where I could find information about generally accepted practices with regards to testing air quality, especially in academic buildings such as ours?

I'm asking these questions in part due to a lack of knowledge, and in part based on some concerns about air quality in our chemistry building following some work on our air handling related to energy conservation.”

 

Thanks for your help and advice.

 

Dave

 

 

David C. Finster
Professor, Department of Chemistry
University Chemical Hygiene Officer
Wittenberg University
937-327-6441
http://userpages.wittenberg.edu/dfinster/index.html