Indoor chemical and pollutant source control

Intent

Minimize exposure of building occupants to potentially hazardous particulates and chemical pollutants.

Requirements

Design to minimize and control pollutant entry into buildings and later cross-contamination of regularly occupied areas:

• Employ permanent entryway systems at least six feet long in the primary direction of travel to capture dirt and particulates from entering the building at entryways that are directly connected to the outdoors and that serve as regular entry points for building users. Acceptable entryway systems include permanently installed grates, grilles, or slotted systems that allow for cleaning underneath. Roll-out mats are only acceptable when maintained on a weekly basis by a contracted service organization.

• Where hazardous gases or chemicals may be present or used (including garages, housekeeping/laundry areas and copying/printing rooms), exhaust each space sufficiently to create negative pressure with respect to adjacent spaces with the doors to the room closed. For each of these spaces, provide self-closing doors and deck to deck partitions or a hard lid ceiling. The exhaust rate shall be at least 0.50 cfm/sq.ft., with no air recirculation. The pressure differential with the surrounding spaces shall be at least 5 Pa (0.02 inches of water gauge) on average and 1 Pa (0.004 inches of water) at a minimum when the doors to the rooms are closed.
• In mechanically ventilated buildings, provide regularly occupied areas of the building with air filtration media prior to occupancy that provides a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) of 13 or better. Filtration should be applied to process both return and outside air that is to be delivered as supply air.