It was once a term used primarily by environmental scientists and government regulators, but “IEQ” (the acronym for “Indoor Environmental Quality”) is now frequently used in mainstream conversations. COVID forced us all to think more deeply about how the indoor environment promotes or detracts from the health of occupants.
In this article, we’ll discuss the fundamentals of IEQ: the factors affecting it, how IEQ concerns are triggered, and what you can do about the environmental health of your own public or commercial property.
First, though, let’s consider the term itself.
What Is the Difference Between IAQ and IEQ?
IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) was once the primary designator for indoor environmental concerns. As the discipline developed, however, it became evident that other factors contributed to indoor health. Lighting sources, water quality, noise, and other issues fall within the realm of indoor health. Those realizations led to the adoption of a broader descriptor — indoor environmental quality — to better describe the focus of the work.
The “healthy building” movement is a prime example of that transition. Regulatory agencies, property owners, building contractors, occupants of buildings, and others are rightfully concerned about the indoor health of the places we live and work. Those considerations are better identified as “environmental” issues rather than as “air quality” alone.
Practically speaking, an indoor air quality problem arises from any condition related to the indoor environment that causes occupant health concerns, discomfort, or dissatisfaction. Given the expansion of that definition, IAQ is now more accurately known as IEQ — though the terms are often used interchangeably.
When researching IEQ, you may also find references to building-related illness (BRI) and sick building syndrome (SBS). The important distinction here is that BRI refers to an event where an occupant experiences a diagnosable illness and a causative agent is identified in the building. SBS, on the other hand, comes into play when more than 20 percent of occupants experience non-specific symptoms associated with time in the building.
What Are the Factors Affecting IEQ?
Occupant complaints related to indoor environmental quality frequently arise from concerns over unusual odors, the visual presence of mold, or questions about the safety of the water supply. IEQ investigators and healthy building specialists cite a litany of other possible threats, including the following:
- Allergens from dogs, cats, dust mites, cockroaches, and such
- Disease clusters, including areas where cancer diagnoses are prevalent
- Dust and cleanliness issues
- Electromagnetic field (EMF) concerns
- Hazardous building materials (HBMs) present in the building
- Noise that is constant or too loud
- Lighting sources and their effect on human health
- Indoor temperature, whether too hot, too cold, or unstable
- Smoke, whether from wildfires or the personal use of tobacco and other smokable products
That is a representative list only. Indoor environmental quality is a complex issue that studies any and all factors affecting indoor health. Advances in both medical science and environmental science often shed light on yet undiscovered threats to building health and human health. Consider, for example, that asbestos was once widely used in many building products. We now know that when these materials begin to deteriorate or is disturbed, the fibers can become airborne and have the potential to cause severe illness in exposed occupants.
You may not hear about indoor environmental problems until an event (the discovery of Legionnaires’ disease, for instance) gains wide coverage by the media and garners public concern. Other times, regulators may publish new guidelines for building health, or attention is drawn when litigation occurs over an IEQ issue. There are a number of triggers that can push IEQ into public awareness. The most recent example is the COVID epidemic and the workplace health questions it generated.
Why Be Concerned about IEQ?
Discussions about internal environmental quality go beyond the primary concern about human health — although that topic is certainly a sufficient reason to seriously consider IEQ and its relation to the buildings you own or occupy.
Other factors give the topic even more urgency and importance:
- IEQ problems can cause or contribute to property damage that requires significant investment to repair
- IEQ problems can create negative publicity and affect a company’s ability to conduct or even remain in business
- IEQ problems can lead to a decrease in employee productivity and even result in litigation that is costly whether a company wins or loses the case
Those are but three of the risks posed by poor IEQ today. They are exacerbated by a lack of scientific consensus over what does and does not affect indoor environmental quality and regulatory guidance that is often insufficient, unclear, or late to take effect. Property owners who downplay concerns about IEQ and attempt to sidestep the issue can place themselves and their businesses in a precarious financial position that may severely impact the trustworthiness of their operations.
What Can Be Done About IEQ Concerns?
FACS suggests a proactive approach to IEQ for building owners. The sooner you take steps to protect those who occupy your properties, the stronger is your ability to take necessary action and the more you show to others that you are concerned about IEQ.
Ideally, you would begin by discussing your situation with FACS IEQ specialists to determine areas where hazards to human health and your property may exist. That information will provide a base to construct your IEQ strategy and create an action plan for mitigating any problems currently identified, or that could arise in the future.
One critical step often overlooked is communicating with all stakeholders frequently. Keep them informed about the steps you are taking to ensure that your property not only does not threaten human health … but promotes it.
A properly researched, written, and applied IEQ strategy can help build your business and your brand. Not addressing IEQ can quickly deliver undesired consequences to both. The healthy building movement is well underway, and the sooner you get on board, the more likely the outcome for your business will be favorable.
For more information call FACS at (888) 711-9998.