HVAC Breaking News

April 29, 2003: IAQ Legislation Fever Is In Full Bloom

ATLANTA — The rise in childhood asthma cases and constituents' worries about toxic mold have fueled a new type of spring fever around state legislatures. This year indoor air quality (IAQ) legislative fever is in full bloom with some 60 proposed bills being considered by 27 state legislatures, according to Aerias, an online resource for IAQ information and education (www.aerias.org).

Nearly one-quarter of the proposed legislation deals with mold and mold remediation, another quarter on IAQ in schools, and the remainder on improving air quality in public buildings. Connecticut is the leader with 10 bills, nine of which target school IAQ. The Texas state legislature is considering seven bills, mostly focused on mold and mold remediation.

Seventeen states are working on mold-related legislation, covering a wide range of issues, including:

Licensing of mold investigators and remediators;

Studies of mold and associated health impacts;

Insurance and real estate;

Guidelines and building codes; and

Public education, regulatory oversight, and funding.

Eleven states are addressing school IAQ in this year's legislative sessions. As noted above, Connecticut has nine bills under consideration. Most of the proposed legislation centers on developing standards and guidelines for school IAQ and inspecting schools to ensure good IAQ for students, teachers, and staff. The specific issues addressed include:

Standards and guidelines;

IAQ management plans and inspections;

Training, increasing awareness, and IAQ tools for schools;

Funding and reimbursement incentives;

HVAC systems;

Property taxes; and

Sustainability.

Seven states have pending legislation targeted at improving IAQ in public buildings, with Massachusetts having the most bills in the works. The issues these bills focus on include:

Tax incentives;

Building ventilation rates;

Building codes;

Guidelines and standards;

Investigation of IAQ complaints; and

Funding and state resources.

Publication date: 04/28/2003

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Greg Mazurkiewicz is Web Editor. He can be contacted at 248-244-6459 or gregmazurkiewicz@achrnews.com. Greg handles the day-to-day operations of The NEWS' website, www.achrnews.com, including the Extra Edition page, which offers additional online-exclusive articles. He has 40 years of experience as a writer and editor. He holds a bachelor's degree in Journalism and a master's degree in Business Management.