Getting Started with IAQ
and
How to Perform a Walkthrough
Prevention of IAQ Problems
Requires a Team Effort
IAQ Tools for Schools
Key Features

Low Cost / No Cost

Adaptable to Individual School Needs

No Specialized Training Required

Voluntary

Common Sense Approach
How to Get Started
EPA’s Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Kit
provides flexible guidance

IAQ Coordinator’s Guide

IAQ Backgrounder

Checklists for key staff

Videos (Intro, Ventilation Basics,
Walkthrough)

Problem solving wheel
Management Support

Important to have support before beginning
 May require briefing of school board or school officials

School facility support is important

The policy must assign duties and

responsibilities
Implementing an IAQ
Management Plan

Establish an IAQ Team/Identify an IAQ
Coordinator
 IAQ checklists distributed and returned (e.g.,
facilities staff, teacher, school nurse)
 Complete a walkthrough of the school
 Establish IAQ Management Plan that
identifies major issues and priorities and sets
repair schedule
Goals of the IAQ
Management Plan

Fix any existing IAQ problems.

Instill an IAQ awareness that leads to
preventive actions.

Resolve future IAQ complaints and
incidents as they occur.
Role of IAQ Coordinator

Disseminates IAQ information

Creates and coordinates IAQ Team

Implements IAQ management plan

Coordinates IAQ activities

Communicates to all constituents

Facilitates resolution of IAQ problems
Review Contents
• Review the contents
of the IAQ Tools for
Schools Kit
• Doing so will give
you an idea of what
role each person will
play
Watch the Videos
• Watch Walkthrough
Video
• Shows how to
implement the Kit and
the operation and
maintenance for a
school ventilation
system
• Familiarizes you with
the process
Skim and Review
• Skim the different
sections of the IAQ
Coordinator’s
Guide
• Review the IAQ
Coordinator’s
forms
Inform School Staff
• Raise school staff’s
awareness by inviting
them to attend IAQ
TfS meetings
• Request volunteers
for IAQ Team such as
the school nurse,
facility manager, and
business official
Form and Review
• Form your IAQ
Team and review
current IAQ
practices in your
school
• Use the Kit’s
Checklist Log to list
school staff and their
checklists
Copy and Distribute
• Copy and distribute the
IAQ Backgrounder and
an adequate number of
checklists to each
person on the Checklist
Log
• Draft a memo to
describe your IAQ
program’s goals and
distribute it with the
checklists
Collect and Inspect
• Collect checklists and
record data on
Checklist Log
• Complete a
walkthrough
inspection using the
Walkthrough
Inspection Checklist
Identify and Prioritize
• Use completed
checklists,
walkthrough notes,
and Problem Solving
Wheel to identify
problems and
prioritize
Policies and Improvements
• Develop school
policies for animals,
food, and pesticides
• Fix any small IAQ
problems
• Develop a plan to
proactively improve
IAQ for the long term
IAQ Success
• Communicate findings
with the school
community
• Apply for IAQ TfS
Excellence Award
• For more information:
www.epa.gov/iaq/schools
or Call 1-800-438-4318
School IAQ
Walkthrough
Things to Consider
The Why, Who, When, Where,
What and How of Walkthroughs






Why...Do a Walkthrough?
Who...Should be Involved?
When...Is the Best Time?
Where...Do You Go?
What...Do You Need?
How...Do You Perform a Walkthrough?
Why Perform a Walkthrough?

Assess the current school IAQ status

Evaluate occupant checklist concerns

Prioritize IAQ problems.
Who Performs a
Walkthrough?
 IAQ Coordinator and Team

Facility Personnel (e.g., HVAC, Custodian)

IAQ professionals

Others? (Health department, Parents)
When to Perform
a Walkthrough?
 What Season? Heating or Cooling
Season?

Should school be in session?
Where to do a Walkthrough
Exterior
 Grounds
 Roof
 Air Intakes
Where to do a Walkthrough?
 Interior
 Classrooms and Labs
 Bathrooms/Plumbing
 Maintenance and Mechanical Rooms
 Kitchens
 Storage of pesticides
 Problem Areas Identified on Checklists
What do you Need
for a Walkthrough?
 Copy of the School’s Floor Plan

Mechanical System Drawings, Specs and Reports

Completed IAQ TfS Checklist Summary
Simple IAQ Monitoring Equipment
(e.g., Temperature, Relative Humidity)


Safe Access to Roof and Other Areas
What do you Need
for a Walkthrough?
 Demonstrates how to conduct a
school walkthrough and use the
information found to prioritize IAQ
improvements.
 Helps identify most commonly found
IAQ problems in schools
 Gives non-technical approach for
evaluating potential IAQ problems.
To order, call the IAQ INFO Hotline
at 1-800-438-4318
How to Perform a Walkthrough
Agenda for Day of Walkthrough
 Pre-Walkthrough Meeting
 Explain purpose of Walkthrough to
principal, superintendent, and teachers
 Introduce Team
 Review summary checklists
 Conduct Walkthrough
 Conduct wrap-up meeting with group
How to Perform
a Walkthrough (cont’d)
On Day of Walkthrough

Monitor conditions in occupied classrooms

Review ventilation system and monitoring
equipment

Note indoor and outdoor conditions using
sensory and monitoring results

Target checklist "Concern Areas"
How to Perform
a Walkthrough (cont’d)
Transcribe data onto floor plan copy or table
 Suggestions for note taking include:
 Monitoring and sensory information
 Health interview information
 Time, size of area, age of location, and
number of occupants
Note Taking Suggestions
– Floor plan Format –
Bathroom
Exhaust Off
Odors
Rm 132 - (UVs) Supply 200 cfm
Return 100 cfm OA - XXX cfm
950 ppm CO2 49% RH - 74F
30 people @ 10:00 am
Lab Hood not functioning
5 ppm CO @ 11:00 am
KitchenExhaust Off
Pest Strips Evident
Note Taking Suggestions
– Table Format –
Room Time # People
T
RH
Potential
CO2 Sources Comments
Art
9:00
am
26
72
39
750
123
Bio.
9:30
am
15
68
49
1100
Lab hood
not
working
24
77
29
1400
Dusty
124 10:00
Eng. am
VOCs OdorVOC
The How's…cont’d
Rely on Your Team's Senses!

Observe school and mechanical system
conditions

Smell for anything "unusual"

Feel air conditions (i.e., dry, drafty,etc.)

Listen to mechanical systems and
occupants complaints
Common Walkthrough Findings

Insufficient outdoor air for proper ventilation

Cluttered classrooms

Inaccessible mechanical systems

Carpet spills and moisture problems not
addressed in timely manner

Garbage and idling buses too close to air
intakes
Common Walkthrough Findings

Inoperative bathroom exhausts

Spaces not meant for occupancy ( i.e., closets, vaults)

Failure to report IAQ problems

Inoperative controls for unit ventilators
 Artwork
covering thermostats

Plants and books on unit ventilators blocking airflow

Unlabeled cleaning supplies
ALWAYS BE
PROACTIVE
EPA Hosts 4th Annual
IAQ TfS Symposium
WHO: Over 400 School Board Officials, Administrators, School
Nurses, Teachers, Facility Managers, School and Health
Association Members, parents and others from around the U.S. and
abroad.
WHAT: Experts will discuss hot issues including new school
construction, asthma, mold remediation, student performance,
communications, financing, and networking.
WHY: EPA will build on its success with the 4th Annual Indoor Air
Quality Tools for Schools National Symposium and will present
Excellence awards to schools with exemplary indoor air quality
programs.
How to Register
 The Symposium will take place on October 26-28,
2003 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington, DC.
 Application and registration packets are currently
available on EPA’s Web site. You can register online..
The cost is $250 per attendee.
 Watch EPA’s Web site www.epa.gov/iaq/schools for
additional information on the Symposium and the
Awards Program.
IAQ TfS Awards Program
WHAT AWARDS ARE OFFERED?
 IAQ TfS Great Start Award –
Made a commitment the IAQ TfS Program and Kit.
 IAQ TfS Leadership Award –
Implemented the IAQ TfS Kit and developed an IAQ
management plan.
 IAQ TfS Excellence Award –
Demonstrated outstanding achievement in implementation
of the IAQ TfS Kit and in their communications and outreach
efforts.
HOW TO APPLY:
Contact Michele Guarneiri, U.S. EPA at (202) 564-9099 to obtain
criteria information, applications, and additional information.
IAQ TfS Mentor Network
WHAT IS THE IAQ TfS MENTOR NETWORK?
A new resource that pairs experienced users of the IAQ TfS Kit with
schools and school districts that are beginning to implement the Kit.
WHY CREATE A MENTOR NETWORK?
To give schools and school districts an opportunity to obtain
assistance with developing their IAQ program.
WHO IS INVOLVED IN THE MENTOR NETWORK?
Participants include: School superintendents, principals, teachers,
head custodians, engineers, maintenance and facilities
personnel, school nurses, and faculty members.
IAQ TfS Mentor Network, cont’d
Benefits as a:
Mentor
Participant
 EPA award recognition as
an IAQ TfS Mentor.
 Access to mentors to assist
with IAQ issues.
 A written case study on your
experiences.
 The Mentor Network Kit.
 The Mentor Network Kit.
 A written case study on your
experiences.
 Endless gratitude from schools
across the country.
 Shared experiences and
successes with IAQ.
 Shared experiences and
successes with IAQ.
How to Get Started
If you are:
 Just starting out with the IAQ TfS Kit and need assistance; or
 Have achieved some success and interested in helping others by
becoming an IAQ TfS Mentor
Contact Kara Miller, U.S. EPA at (202) 564-9775 or
miller.kara@epa.gov for more information on how to join.
IAQ TfS Mentor of the
Year Award
 The award will recognize an individual for assisting schools with their
IAQ TfS programs at the school or school district level.
 EPA will prepare a case study and press release on the award
recipient; prepare a press kit to highlight the award winner’s
accomplishments involving the IAQ TfS Program and Mentor
Network in their hometown; and be featured on EPA’s IAQ TfS Web
site.
HOW TO APPLY:
Contact Kara Miller, U.S. EPA at (202) 564-9775 or
miller.kara@epa.gov for more information on how to apply.
IAQ INFO Hotline (To Order A Kit):
1-800-438-4318
IAQ TfS Technical Hotline:
1-866-837-3721
EPA Headquarters:
Michele Guarneiri
Ariel Rios Building
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20460
(202) 564-9099
guarneiri.michele@epa.gov
IAQ Web Site:
www.epa.gov/iaq/schools