Assessment Guideline

Social / Functional Quality - Indicator 2.4 Indoor Air Quality

2.4.1.d Indoor air contamination with the most relevant indoor air
pollutants: Styrene

Points

<2 g/m3

20

<2-20 g/m3

15

<20-30 g/m3

>30 g/m3

2.4.1.e Indoor air contamination with the most relevant indoor air
pollutants: Xylenes

Points

<5 g/m3

20

<5-30 g/m3

15

<30-80 g/m3

10

<80-150 g/m3

>150 g/m3

2.4.2 Contamination levels of non-specific allergenic, pathogenic or toxic fungal

spores
A common mould remediation clearance test plan specifies that the indoor mould level or spore counts
should be no more than 50% of the outdoor level during winter time (Wiejak et al., 2011). The American
Conference of Government Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) stated (Harriet Burge et. al) that indoor mould
levels are generally less than 1/3 the outdoor level and that when indoor mould is at more than this level
remedial action should be taken to find the source of the elevated counts and to clean it up. What indoor
mould spore level is considered "contaminated" then depends in part on what mould genera or genera and
species have been identified. But if the indoor mould spore count/m3 of air is high enough,
assessor/expert may decide that more investigation is needed. While there is no well-established
quantitative standard for fungal spores on surfaces or in air, mould contamination is considered present in
a building when the total mould spore concentration per cubic meter of air is above 10,000. (Baxter, ETS).
Acceptable levels for individual species vary since species toxicity varies widely as does spore size, weight,
and other features which affect risk to building occupants. E.g. Aspergillus/Penicillium in a clean
residential building study was at a mean of 230, in buildings known to have a moisture or flooding
problem it was at 2235 and in mould contaminated buildings the figure was 36,037. Mould sampling
procedures are standardized on national level. Analysis should be done by experienced laboratory.

2.4.2. Microbiological situation (currently not activated)

Points

Indoor mould spore counts of < 50/m

100

Indoor mould spore counts of < 200/m

50

No more than 50% of the outdoor level during winter time

10

Indoor mould spore counts of < 10000/m

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Assessment Guideline
Social / Functional Quality - Indicator 2.4 Indoor Air Quality

2.4.3 Occupancy-based ventilation rates

According to the standards EN 15251 the indoor air quality can be expressed as the required level of
ventilation. Ventilation in the building should be designed considering all sources of pollution present
including material emissions and adequate air for every person. Basis for the criteria for indoor air quality
and ventilation rates are in the Annex B of mentioned standard. 4 classes/categories of the recommended
IAQ are given (table 1) and for each category different values are established. The evaluation of the indoor
environment of a building is made by evaluating the indoor environment of typical rooms representing
different zones in the building. Evaluation can be based on design, measurements or calculations.
Table 1. Description of the applicability of the categories used.
Category
Explanation
I
High level of expectation and is recommended for spaces occupied by very sensitive and
fragile persons with special requirements like handicapped, sick, very young children and
elderly persons
II
Normal level of expectation and should be used for new buildings and
renovations
III
An acceptable, moderate level of expectation and may be used for existing buildings
IV
Values outside the criteria for the above categories. This category should only be
accepted for a limited part of the year
For non-residential buildings with mechanical ventilation, recommended ventilation rates are presented in
table 2a and 2b. The ventilation rate for non-residential buildings should be designed based on building
and occupancy components. The occupancy components take into account natural emissions of users as
well as CO2 pollution caused by breathing.
Table 2a Recommended ventilation rate for adequate air for each person : qP
Category

Recommended Ventilation Rate for one person

qP [l/s.pers]

I
II
III

10
7
4

Table 2b Recommended ventilation rate related to building emissions : qB

Recommended Building emission related
Ventilation rate
qB [l/s.m]
Very low
Low
Non-low
Category
polluted building polluted building polluted building
I
II
III

0,5
0,3
0,2

1,0
0,7
0,4

2,0
1,4
0,8

The qB varies with the level of pollution of the building. The different levels: very low, low and non-low
polluting buildings are defined in the Annex C of the EN 15251 and can be found in attachment
Appendix 1: Definition of polluting buildings.

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Assessment Guideline
Social / Functional Quality - Indicator 2.4 Indoor Air Quality

Calculation
qtot : total ventilation rate [l/s]
qB : recommended ventilation rate for building emissions [l/s.m]
1. The building level of pollution has to be determined: very low, low or non-low
2. For each room of area A [m] and each category (I,II or III), calculate:
qcatI, = qtot A*qBI,
qcatII,= qtot A*qBII
qcatIII = qtot A*qBIII
3. Compare with the recommended ventilation rate for adequate air for each person qP for the
corresponding category:
If qcatI,pers> qPI : Category I is achieved
If qcatII,pers> qPII : Category II is achieved
If qcatIII,pers> qPIII : Category III is achieved

2.4.3 Occupancy-based ventilation rates

Points

Category I

100

Category II

75

Category III or national regulations

10

Category IV

2.4.4 CO2 concentration above outdoor level

The levels are based on the recommended measured indoor CO2 concentrations above outdoor
concentration. (EN 15251)
2.4.4 CO2 concentration above outdoor level

Points

< 350 PPM above outdoor level

100

<400 PPM

90

<450 PPM

80

<500 PPM

70

<550 PPM

60

<600 PPM

50

<650 PPM

40

<700 PPM

30

<750 PPM

20

<800 PPM

10

>800 PPM above outdoor level

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Assessment Guideline
Social / Functional Quality - Indicator 2.4 Indoor Air Quality

4. Documentation Guidelines
The following documents will be needed to assess the building:
Quick & Basic Assessment:
Letter of commitment or easily and quickly accessible documentation for the required evidence (see
Complete Assessment), e.g. reasonable estimations for intended/expected values.
Complete Assessment:
2.4.1 Indoor air contamination with the most relevant indoor air pollutants
1. Laboratory report: indoor air contamination with the most relevant indoor air pollutants.
2. Determining the presence of indoor air pollutants in accordance with:
ISO 16000-3 Indoor air - Part 3. Determination of formaldehyde and other carbonyl compounds.
Active sampling method.
ISO 16017-1 Indoor, ambient and workplace air. Sampling and analysis of volatile organic
compounds by sorbent tube/thermal desorption/capillary gas chromatography. Part 1.
Pumped sampling
3. Check the test results with the levels from the tables in guidelines and present them in the appropriate
tabular form.
4. Accreditation of the measurement facility. Name, business address, legal form and accreditation
certificate (copy).
2.4.2 Contamination levels of non-specific allergenic, pathogenic or toxic fungal spores
1. Indoor and outdoor mould spore counts should be documented and reported by a microbiologic
laboratory with minimum 5 years experience.
2. Check the test results with the levels from the tables in guidelines and present them in the appropriate
tabular form.
3. Accreditation of the measurement facility. Name, business address, legal form and accreditation
certificate (copy).
2.4.3 Occupancy based ventilation rates
Determination of the occupancy based ventilation rate for building for categories I to III in accordance
with standard EN 15251. Documented report must be signed by building physic expert.
2.4.4 CO2 concentration above outdoor level
Measured or calculated CO2 concentration. Documented report must be signed by building physic expert.

5. Relation to other Indicators

None

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