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Indoor Air Quality

Doug Noble

Your EHS contact for Indoor Air Quality
[email protected]
814-865-6391

A wide range of contaminant sources and hazards may impact indoor air quality within Penn State's facilities, laboratories and occupied spaces, ultimately impacting employee occupant comfort, health, safety and productivity.   The indoor air quality program seeks to manage these hazards supporting consistent indoor air quality for all employees and Penn State facility occupants.

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Program Applicability

The Indoor Air Quality program applies to:

  • Penn State‑owned and operated buildings, including academic, administrative, residential, and support facilities.
  • Faculty, staff, students, and visitors who occupy or work in university indoor spaces.
  • Supervisors, managers, and building contacts responsible for identifying and reporting potential IAQ concerns.
  • Facilities, maintenance, and operations activities that may impact building air quality (e.g., renovations, repairs, HVAC operation).

This program addresses concerns related to comfort, odors, ventilation, and potential environmental conditions that may affect indoor air quality.

Program Requirements

Reporting and Evaluation

  • Indoor air quality concerns should be reported promptly through established Penn State channels.
  • EHS may conduct evaluations or assessments to determine potential contributing factors affecting indoor air quality.
  • Reported concerns are reviewed in coordination with appropriate departments, such as Facilities and building management.

Exposure Prevention and Control

  • IAQ issues are addressed using a preventive and corrective approach, which may include:
    • Improving ventilation or air distribution
    • Addressing moisture intrusion or water damage
    • Identifying and correcting building or operational conditions that may affect air quality
  • Recommendations may be provided to reduce or prevent conditions that could impact occupant comfort or health.

Communication and Follow‑Up

  • Occupants and supervisors may receive feedback or recommendations following an IAQ assessment.
  • Follow‑up actions may be identified based on findings, building conditions, or operational needs.

Documents and Forms

  • Indoor Air Quality Standard Procedures
  • EHS IAQ Complaint Information Form
  • Indoor Air Quality: A Few Questions and Answers
  • Appendix A: Indoor Air Quality Facility Inspection Checklist
  • Appendix B: Indoor Air Quality
  • Indoor Air Quality Standard Procedures (Template)

Mold Procedures and Guidelines

  • Penn State Mold Basics Training - Please contact your Unit Supervisor or EHS (5-6391) for a copy of the mold training course (ppt file), provided to support determination of proper levels of response clean-up.
    • Mold Considerations in Design and Construction
    • Mold Presentation – OPP Design and Construction
  • Water Incursion Response Plan and Standard Operating Procedures

Access the Documents on SharePoint

Additional Resources

Other Agency Links