HOW CAN I TELL IF I NEED
AN IAQ INVESTIGATION?
You are about to undertake a renovation. Making sure the air quality is improved is a very good idea.
You suspect a problem but you don't know what to do. There may be history of flooding, roof leak or previous fire.
You can see mold, but it keeps coming back after cleaning.
There may be an odour in the house that cannot be explained or removed.
You suspect symptoms linked to the house. You may feel better when you are away from your house. Or, you associate the onset of
symptoms with a specific event, such as moving to the house or a renovation. Friends or family may also experience symptoms while
visiting.
Someone in the family may be sick or have allergies and you want to ensure the house is not contributing to health problems.
What Is It ?
An Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Investigation brings to bear the years of research that have evolved since the "sick building syndrome"
of the 1980's. From the effects of
formaldehyde off-gassing to the air-exchange issues of airtight buildings to the growing awareness of air-borne pollutants such as
asbestos and mold, methodologies have emerged - formally and informally - to address the health issues known or suspected to arise
from indoor air quality.
Before examining those methodologies or protocols, it's important to note the following:
- an IAQ investigation is based on building-related training and is not a health inspection
- an effective investigation delves into the source of IAQ problems (eg. testing) only to the extent that effective solutions are quickly found
- an effective Investigator must maintain an arms-length relationship with testing / remediation firms
Three key protocols have emerged in addressing indoor air quality issues:
1. NYC
2. EPA
3. CMHC
Hugh Poole and CanInspect have selected the CMHC Residential Investigation Procedure as the most current and relevant. Please select
the "CMHC Procedure" button to the Left for details about procedures used by CanInspect.
NOTE: the "IAQ Investigator" & "How To Proceed" pages that follow
on this website offer
information and solutions based on the protocol and training provided by CMHC's program.