Indoor air quality connects design decisions with everyday operation. Outdoor conditions, materials, cleaning practices, occupants and ventilation systems all affect a space. Effective preparation considers these influences together to define appropriate measures and responsibilities. Odour or a feeling of stuffiness may provide useful feedback, but these observations alone cannot establish every characteristic of the air.
Understanding pollutant sources
Start by identifying how a space is used and which sources may affect its air. Construction materials, products used in operation and activities can influence conditions at different times. Areas within the same building should not be assumed to have identical uses and conditions.
Source control, ventilation and suitable filtration are considered together. EPA's general approach also identifies these as basic strategies for improving indoor air quality. The objective is to establish an arrangement suited to the building's use rather than focus on a single device. EPA — Improving indoor air quality.
Choosing ventilation around project conditions
Natural ventilation uses airflow through openings. Mechanical ventilation manages air movement through fans and associated systems. These approaches may also be considered together where conditions allow. Selection should account for climate, outdoor air quality, occupancy and building design.
Air circulating within a space does not by itself demonstrate that outdoor air needs are met. The project should therefore make clear how heating, cooling and ventilation are provided. The team should also discuss how design decisions will be managed in operation. Which openings occupants can use, and who controls system settings, are understandable parts of that plan.
Maintaining filters and equipment
Filter selection should suit the relevant system's design and intended use. A filter intended to capture particles should not be treated as a solution that controls every pollutant in the same way. Product information, maintenance requirements and project conditions are assessed together.
The maintenance plan should include filter checks and replacement, equipment condition and relevant operating records. Clear responsibility makes it easier to sustain the approach established in design. Reviewing the plan when use changes or a recurring issue appears also matters.
Reading measurements and occupant feedback together
A measurement plan should respond to the question being investigated. It defines which parameters will be assessed, where and under what operating conditions. A measurement provides information about those parameters and conditions; it does not alone represent every condition in the building at all times.
Occupant observations can help identify where an investigation should focus. Recording location and timing makes feedback easier to read alongside operating records. This supports examination of the relationship between a finding and system operation, and provides a consistent basis for tracking the measures taken.
How certification systems address the topic
LEED's indoor environmental quality approach includes subjects such as ventilation and low-emitting materials. WELL's Air concept focuses on air quality. YeS-Int (YeS-TR) building assessment includes the “İç Ortam Kalitesi” module, meaning Indoor Environmental Quality. Indoor environmental quality is broader than air quality; the relevant system's different topics should be read against their own requirements. USGBC — LEED design and construction guide, IWBI — WELL v2 certification, Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change — Public buildings guide, in Turkish.
For certification-related measurements, the method and assigned teams must also meet the relevant verification requirements. A general measurement report and compliance with a specific certification requirement should not be treated as the same outcome.
An initial discussion with AECO
Sharing the building's use, design or operational stage, system information and any previous measurement records provides a useful start. These help define the review scope and team responsibilities. Changes in intended use should also be reflected in the assessment.
Certification objectives can be discussed through AECO's WELL, LEED and YeS-Int consulting. See our testing and measurement services for relevant technical needs. The work scope is defined together around the project's needs and applicable assessment requirements.