Optimizing IAQ in Green Buildings

USGBC’s LEED green building rating system has been a significant driver for market transformation since its debut in 2000. Even with much accomplished, the urgency still exists to improve our built environment. LEED v4, the next version of LEED, was released in 2013 and redefines leadership in green building. It includes many new concepts and more rigorous requirements to continue the transformation of our construction industry. One credit where this increased stringency is evident is the Indoor Environmental Quality credit for Indoor Air Quality Assessment. The air testing option in this credit aims to verify better quality indoor air in newly constructed buildings. Earning this option involves air testing for several contaminants commonly found in indoor air. LEED requires testing for specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and total VOC (TVOCs) by utilizing standardized methods; namely EPA TO-1, TO-17, the EPA compendium method IP-1 or the ISO 16000-6 method for TVOCs and ASTM D5197, EPA TO-1, TO-11, TO-17, EPA compendium methods IP-1 and IP-6, ISO 16000-3 and ISO 16000-6 for specific VOCs (including formaldehyde and acetaldehyde). Here, we ask the questions: what are the comparative advantages and disadvantages of the various VOC and TVOC testing methods and what are the technical challenges that chemical testing laboratories may encounter while undertaking VOC and TVOC testing?