ATLANTA - Six organizations are joining forces to provide advanced IAQ design guidance for the industry. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA), and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) recently formalized the collaboration through a memorandum of understanding.

The alliance plans to develop a book and professional development course that will describe an integrated process for improving IAQ in all elements of a building. “The book and course will give guidance to designers and builders so that buildings may be constructed, operated, and maintained to improve IAQ without constraining the building function or the comfort and productivity of the occupants,” said Andrew Persily, chair of the steering committee overseeing the project.

Last year, ASHRAE was awarded a $510,000 three-year cooperative agreement with the EPA to develop the “Advanced IAQ Design Guide for Non-Residential Buildings.” The book will assist building professionals in implementing high-performance designs and improving building IAQ performance in a broad range of buildings. It is expected to be published in April 2009, followed later in the year by the course.

Publication date: 06/11/2007