Indoor air quality

Indoor air quality: understand, investigate and document

Indoor air quality depends on the building, its uses, ventilation, contaminant sources and moisture conditions. A useful investigation starts with a clear question and a documented method.

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Start with the building

Symptoms or odours alone do not identify a cause. The investigation combines building history, observations, ventilation, moisture and targeted measurements when relevant.

Event and renovation history
Visual inspection and readings
Ventilation conditions
Indoor and outdoor sources
Justified sampling plan

Measure with a purpose

A measurement has value only when it answers a precise question, uses an appropriate method and can be interpreted in context.

Appropriate parameter and method
Verified instruments
Recorded measurement conditions
Explained interpretation limits
Results connected to observations

Prevention and follow-up

Source control, moisture management, maintenance and ventilation are often the main parts of a durable strategy.

Correct moisture sources
Maintain systems
Control emitting activities
Verify corrective-action effectiveness

RSBQ field guide · Air and ventilation

Questions a serious file should answer.

Context determines the method. These guideposts help distinguish a structured investigation from a simple collection of results.

What decision is required?

Complaint, maintenance, exposure, construction, re-occupancy or HVAC improvement.

Which sources are plausible?

Occupancy, materials, combustion, outdoors, moisture, processes and ventilation.

Will measurement help?

The parameter, duration and method must be capable of changing the decision.

How is the problem controlled?

Source reduction, ventilation, filtration, maintenance and targeted verification.

Minimum deliverables

Assignment and assessed areas
Method and conditions
Competence and instruments
Results and observations
Limitations and uncertainty
Decision, correction and follow-up

RSBQ · Québec · Canada

A clear scope. A verifiable status.

Explore the RSBQ accreditation process or verify a published record.

View the process