014523 - TESTING FOR INDOOR AIR QUALITY_rev1.pdf

KENT MEMORIAL LIBRARY

01 45 23 – TESTING FOR INDOOR AIR QUALITY

October 15, 2025 revision 1

PART 1 - GENERAL

1.1 RELATED DOCUMENTS

A. Coordinate with requirement for Blower Door Testing – see SECTION 00 02 00 – GENERAL INFORMATION and Quality Assurance below.

1.2 SUMMARY

A. This Section includes, and the General Contractor is responsible for the following:

1. Requirements of baseline Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) testing for maximum indoor pollutant concentrations for acceptance of the facility.

B. Related Sections: The following Sections contain requirements that relate to this Section:

1. Division 23 Section 23 05 93 "Testing, Adjusting and Balancing for HVAC".

1.3 REFERENCES

A. American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE):

1. ASHRAE 52.2-1999, Method of Testing General Ventilation Air-Cleaning Devices for Removal Efficiency by Particle Size.

B. ASTM International, Inc. (ASTM):

1. ASTM D5116-2006, Standard Guide for Small-Scale Environmental Chamber Determinations of Organic Emissions From Indoor Materials/Products.

C. United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):

1. Compendium of Methods for the Determination of Air Pollutants in Indoor Air.

1.4 SUBMITTALS

A. Baseline IAQ Testing: Submit a report for each test site specified for IAQ baseline testing as prescribed in the MEP Specifications: Section on "Testing, Adjusting and Balancing for HVAC". Report on air concentrations of targeted pollutants as identified in Table 3.1 below.

B. Product Emissions Test Reports: Submit a report for each material emissions test performed. Report test results in terms of emission factors that will be used by the Owner to model indoor air concentrations.

These reports and the modeling data prepared by the Owner shall be included in the closeout documentation specified in Section "Closeout Procedures".

1.5 QUALITY ASSURANCE

A. Perform material tests and report results in accordance with ASTM D5116.

B. The thermal performance of this building requires that blower door testing achieve a maximum of 1.0 air changes per hour at 50 Pascal. Air barriers (and taping) are to create an airtight enclosure achieving this air-change per hour rating. This standard must be met. If the standard is not met, the source of air leaks are to be found and sealed and retested until the standard is met.

a. The first blower door test is to be performed following the installation of the exterior foam insulation and installation air barriers.

b. The second blower door test is to be performed while the insulation is complete, but the insulation has not been covered.

c. The third blower door test will be at substantial completion, before the certificate of occupancy.

d. If any of the tests fail, the source of the problem(s) must be found and repaired and retested until the required ACH is attained.

PART 2 - PRODUCTS (Not Applicable)

PART 3 - EXECUTION

3.1 BASELINE lAQ TESTING

A. HVAC System Verification: To assure compliance with recognized standards for indoor air quality including ASHRAE 62-2004, the Contractor's independent testing and balancing agency shall verify the performance of each HVAC system including space temperature and space humidity uniformity, outside air quantity, filter installation, drain pan operation, and any obvious contamination sources.

B. Indoor Air Quality Testing: Upon verification of HVAC system operation, the Contractor shall hire an independent contractor, subject to approval by the Architect, with a minimum of five (5) years’ experience in performing the types of testing specified herein, to test levels of indoor air contaminants for compliance with specified requirements.

1. Submit a test plan for the approval of the Architect. The plan shall specify procedures, times, instrumentation, and sampling methods that will be employed.

2. Perform testing in 4 different locations. Contaminant levels are to be measured in each area agreed upon by the Architect. Areas with very high outside air ventilation rates such as laboratories are excluded from these testing requirements. The Architect is the sole judge of areas exempt from testing.

3. Collect air samples on three (3) consecutive days during normal business hours (between the hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM) with building operating at normal HVAC rates. Average the results of each three-day test cycle to determine compliance or non-compliance of indoor air quality for each air handling zone tested.

4. Sample and record outside air levels of formaldehyde and TVOC contaminants at outside air intake of each respective air handling unit simultaneously with indoor tests to establish basis of comparison for these contaminant levels. Indoor testing will be done in the breathing zone; between four (4) and seven (7) feet from the floor.

5. Acceptance of respective portions of the building by the Architect is subject to compliance with specified limits of indoor air quality contaminant levels.

C. Compliance indoor air quality shall conform to the following standards and limits:

1. Carbon Monoxide: Not to exceed nine (9) ppm.

2. Carbon Dioxide: Not to exceed 800 ppm.

3. Airborne Mold and Mildew: Simultaneous indoor and outdoor readings.

4. Maximum Air Concentration Standards: Indoor room air concentration levels, emission rates, and qualities of the listed contaminants shall not exceed the following limits specified in Table 3.1 below.

D. Test Reports: Prepare test reports showing the results and location of each test, a summary of the HVAC operating conditions, a listing of any discrepancies and recommendations for corrective actions, if required.

1. Include certification of test equipment calibration with each test report.

E. If any test fails the standard, the Contractor is responsible to ventilate the building with 100 percent outside air until the building passes both air quality tests and duct inspections. Retesting shall be performed at no additional expense to the Owner.

Table 3.1 MAXIMUM INDOOR AIR CONCENTRATION STANDARDS

INDOOR CONTAMINANTS MAXIMUM AIR CONCENTRATION LEVELS*

Formaldehyde 50 parts per billion Particulates (PM10) 50 micrograms per cubic meter Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOC) 500 micrograms per cubic meter 4-Phenylcyclohexene (4-PCH)** 6.5 micrograms per cubic meter

Carbon Monoxide (CO) 9 parts per million and no greater than 2 parts per million above outdoor levels

* All levels must be achieved prior to acceptance of the building. The levels do not account for contributions from office furniture, occupants, and occupant activities.

** This test is only required if carpet and fabrics with styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) latex backing material are installed in the building.

END OF SECTION 01 45 23