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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)?

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) refers to the air quality within and around buildings and structures, especially concerning the health and comfort of building occupants. Understanding and controlling common pollutants indoors can help reduce your risk of indoor air quality-related health concerns. Relevant factors include air temperature, relative humidity levels, and airborne and surface contaminants. A building's indoor air quality is typically considered acceptable if occupants are not exposed to harmful contaminant concentrations and a large majority of the occupants are satisfied with IAQ conditions.

Occupants' perceptions of IAQ for a building or a space within a building can vary because of individual variations in temperature/humidity level preferences and sensitivities to chemical and biological contaminants. Perceptions can also be affected by issues not associated with indoor air conditions, such as unrelated health problems, and psychosocial factors, such as work-related or personal stress.

What affects IAQ in MCPS facilities?

A building's IAQ is a product of several factors, including ventilation system operation, contaminant sources, and occupant activities.

Ventilation Systems

Most classrooms and offices in MCPS facilities are served by mechanical heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems. HVAC systems for classrooms and offices are designed to control indoor temperatures by supplying heated or cooled air. These systems are also designed to dilute and remove airborne contaminants by providing a continuous supply of filtered outdoor air.

Contaminant Sources

IAQ can be affected by the presence of contaminants, substances that can adversely affect occupant health and comfort. Common indoor pollutants include dust, fungal particles, pollen, bacteria and viruses, radon, emissions from furnishings and building materials, office equipment emissions, vehicle exhaust, emissions from cleaning and maintenance products, sewer gas, mites, animal-derived substances (insect and rodent feces and carcasses), and emissions from educational chemical products (paints, adhesives, photographic chemicals, ceramic materials).

Indoor and outdoor sources can generate indoor contaminants. Common indoor sources include cleaning products, maintenance and repair products, building materials, furnishings, dirty ventilation equipment, faulty plumbing equipment, office equipment, art and science products, pesticides, animals, biological contamination, and air fresheners. Occupants can also act as indoor contaminant sources by introducing communicable diseases, irritants (such as personal fragrances), and allergens (animal dander, pollen, mold spores). Common outdoor sources include idling automobiles, plant life, decomposing organic matter, garbage dumpsters, soil and rocks, water, and building exhausts near outdoor air intakes for HVAC equipment.

Occupant Activities

Occupant activities can impact IAQ by affecting contaminant generation and HVAC system performance. Indoor air contaminants can be generated by various occupant activities, such as maintenance and repair work, construction operations, painting, housekeeping, art and science activities, and office work (copying, printing). HVAC system performance at MCPS facilities is primarily determined by how occupants maintain and operate ventilation equipment. Occupants can ensure adequate performance through routine preventive maintenance (cleaning and inspecting mechanical components, replacing dirty air filters) and proper operation (leaving ventilation units on, guaranteeing that grilles/diffusers are not obstructed, leaving windows and doors closed, maintaining appropriate thermostat settings, and ensuring that thermostats are adequately exposed to room air).

Why is IAQ important for MCPS?

IAQ has received increasing attention in the last 10–15 years as U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) air pollution studies have determined that indoor contaminant concentrations can be 2-5, and sometimes more than 100 times, higher than outdoor concentrations. Because children are believed to be more susceptible to air contaminants, IAQ is especially important for school buildings. The consequences of poor IAQ in schools, according to EPA, include:

  • Increased potential for long-term and short-term health problems for students and staff.
  • Less favorable student learning environment.
  • Reduced student and staff performance resulted from discomfort, sickness, or absenteeism.
  • Accelerated deterioration and reduced efficiency of the school's physical plant and equipment.
  • Increased potential that schools will have to be closed or occupants temporarily relocated.
  • Strained relationships among school administration, parents, and staff.
  • Negative publicity that can damage a school's or administration's image and effectiveness.
  • Potential liability problems.

Is there anything I can do to improve IAQ in my building?

Occupants play a significant role in ensuring acceptable IAQ in their buildings. Listed below are several action items MCPS personnel can complete to improve conditions in their buildings. MCPS personnel can also evaluate their buildings using detailed checklists provided by EPA.  More information can be found on the IAQ Tips for Teachers page. 

EDUCATIONAL, ADMINISTRATIVE, AND SUPPORT STAFF
Ventilation
  • Allow ventilation units to operate continuously, as designed.
  • Keep all ventilation grilles and diffusers clear of airflow obstructions (books, papers, posters, furniture, plants, boxes, etc.).
  • Keep thermostats clear of obstructions (such as papers, posters, and shelves) and heat-generating items (computers, televisions, coffee machines, aquariums, lamps).
  • Do not attempt to adjust wall-mounted pneumatic thermostats, which are easily damaged; report uncomfortable room temperatures to administrative or building service staff.
  • Do not bring portable space heaters to the building.
  • Maintain at least three feet of clearance in front of wall-mounted ventilation units to allow access for routine preventive maintenance by building service staff.
  • Promptly report ventilation-related problems (unusual noises or odors, temperature control problems, airflow problems) to administrative or building service staff.
Potential Contaminants
  • Do not bring chemical products (cleaning, maintenance, or office products; room deodorizers, art and science supplies, etc.) to the building unless they have been approved for use in MCPS facilities.
  • Do not bring pesticides to the building. Maryland law prohibits pesticide application on school grounds by personnel other than certified applicators.
  • Promptly report water leaks, unexpected moisture on room surfaces, mold growth, and pest activity to administrative or building service staff.
  • Report damaged paint (on walls, window frames, doors, etc.) to building service staff.
  • Comply with MCPS Regulation ECJ-RB if animals must be brought to the building for educational purposes.
  • Do not place potted plants in the building.
Cleanliness
  • Store loose items in containers that can be easily cleaned.
  • Remove items that readily collect and retain dust, such as upholstered furniture and pillows, stuffed animals, throw rugs, and wall decorations.
  • Ensure that spills (especially on carpets) are cleaned promptly.
BUILDING SERVICE STAFF
Ventilation
  • Ensure all ventilation equipment (supply ventilation units, exhaust fans, chillers, boilers, pumps, thermostats, energy management controls) operate as designed.
  • Conduct preventive maintenance activities for ventilation equipment, as directed by the Division of Maintenance and Operations (DMO) and the IAQ Team. 
  • Maintain records of preventive maintenance activities and ventilation-related work orders.
  • Promptly submit work orders via Asset Essentials or the OFM Call Center (240-740-2300) when ventilation equipment repairs are needed.
  • Set thermostats following MCPS's Resource Conservation Plan: 70°F (heating); 76°F (cooling); 75° (cooling – media centers, computer labs).
 
Potential Contaminants
  • Promptly report water leaks requiring repair via Asset Essentials or the Call Center. 
  • Clean minor mold growth (light growth covering less than ten square feet) as directed by DMO.
  • Promptly report significant mold growth (growth covering ten or more square feet, caused by polluted water, involving hazardous materials or equipment, or resulting from building-wide or persistent moisture problems) to Environmental Services/Indoor Air Quality.
  • Use and store cleaning and maintenance products as directed by DMO.
  • Take care to keep outdoor air intakes clear of debris; do not direct mower clippings toward intakes.
  • Ensure that bird/rodent screens for outdoor air intakes are intact. 
Cleanliness
  • Clean room surfaces and maintain grounds as directed by DMO. 
BUILDING ADMINISTRATORS
Ventilation
  • Work with building service personnel and the building service area supervisor to ensure appropriate scheduling of routine preventive maintenance for ventilation equipment.
  • Ensure Building Maintenance Plan compliance. 
Potential Contaminants
  • Discourage vehicle idling near the building (especially near outdoor air intakes for ventilation units).
  • Ensure compliance with MCPS Regulation JPD-RA, Health Care for Allergic Children.
  • Prohibit carpet shampooing during the summer because elevated humidity levels prevent rapid drying. 
Cleanliness
  • Ensure adequate cleaning of the building and maintenance of the grounds. 

How can I find out more about IAQ-related issues?

Additional IAQ-related information can be found at the websites listed on our main IAQ page. More information about MCPS's IAQ programs can be obtained by contacting Brian Mullikin by phone (240-740-2324) or email (Brian_A_Mullikin@mcpsmd.org).