Texas Administrative Code › Title 25 - HEALTH SERVICES › Part 1 - DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES › Chapter 297 - INDOOR AIR QUALITY › Subchapter A - GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS › Section 297.7 - Assessing and Resolving IAQ Problems

Current through Reg. 49, No. 28; July 12, 2024
(a) A written plan should be developed as part of
											  the building indoor air quality plan to include specific steps for investigating and resolving IAQ problems.
											  Each facility or governmental entity should decide when and if investigations will be handled by in-house
											  staff or if outside assistance is needed.
(b) Complaint response.
											  All IAQ complaints should be acknowledged and investigated as quickly as possible. A written record should be
											  kept of the complaint, investigation findings and resolution.
(c)
											  Information gathering. The person(s) complaining or reporting an IAQ situation should be interviewed by a
											  trained IAQ coordinator or qualified individual to gather as much information as possible. This information
											  should include the nature of the complaint, the timing, complainant's symptoms, health effects, observed
											  conditions at time of symptoms, such as odors, weather, occupant activities, and specific location(s) of
											  problem(s). If several people and locations are involved, an occupant questionnaire can be used to help
											  determine if the problem covers a specific location or is throughout most of an area or building, and if
											  there are one or more problems. Results of the questionnaire may also be used to compare with building
											  drawings to locate causes of the problem(s) and sources.
(d)
											  On-site inspection. The complaint area should be inspected to locate any problem conditions or materials.
											  Measuring temperature and humidity is recommended. Any visible microbial, chemical or material contamination
											  sources, including the presence of odors, should be noted. During the inspection, the information gathered
											  from the interviews should be compared with possible health effects of various contaminants and their
											  sources, such as listed in Table 1, in §297.8(b), to aid in determining possible sources and
											  contaminants to look for in the problem and related areas.
(e)
											  HVAC system. The operation and condition of the HVAC system should be verified to ensure that adequate
											  acceptable outside air provisions are being met. Check for drafts or stagnant areas. Check whether the layout
											  of air supplies, returns, and exhausts promotes efficient air distribution to all occupants and isolates or
											  dilutes contaminants. Check for short circuiting, airflow patterns and air velocity in occupied zone.
											  Possible exterior contamination sources, such as vehicle exhausts, maintenance and construction operations
											  and levels of natural exterior allergens should be noted.
(f)
											  Resolution. Resolution of problem conditions determined as a result of occupant interviews and on-site
											  inspections are often the only actions needed to resolve the complaint.
(g) Testing. Performing tests for contaminants of concern and factors
											  affecting IAQ, unless conducted at the time of exposure, are unlikely to locate or measure a transient
											  condition, and are not recommended for most investigations. If specific conditions are suspected and a need
											  for verification testing is required, based on the visual inspection, health symptoms, clinical data and
											  contents, and practices of the facility, then appropriate test methods should be performed by qualified
											  personnel. Laboratory analysis of samples, where required, should be performed by a laboratory recognized or,
											  preferably, certified in performing the analyses requested. Equipment utilized in the evaluation procedures
											  should be calibrated according to manufacturers' recommendations and the sampling methods utilized. Outdoor
											  samples may be needed for comparison with indoor samples for some conditions, such as temperature and
											  relative humidity, and some contaminants, such as carbon dioxide and air-borne mold.
(h) Evaluating data and exposures.
(1)
											  Before any sample collection, a standard of comparison and/or recognized acceptable standards should be
											  selected. (i.e., carbon dioxide 700 ppm above outside level).
(2)
											  Compare samples collected to standards established by the same testing methods.
(3) Compare indoor and outdoor sample results if appropriate.
(4) Compare sample results to the symptoms and complaints using standard
											  toxicological procedures.