Updated advice on indoor air quality

The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) with support from AIRAH has released an updated handbook on indoor air quality. The handbook, last updated in 2021, has been revised to align with NCC 2022 and assist in understanding the indoor air quality (IAQ) verification methods in NCC Volume One and Volume Two.

“The handbook contains explanations and signposts to a variety of IAQ design tools relevant to the NCC indoor air quality verification methods,” says Vince Aherne, F.AIRAH, who led the revision of the guide. “References have been updated and new tools included such as CO₂ monitoring and ventilation analysis.”

Although the methods in the handbook do not include specific criteria for biological contaminants – which would include viruses and COVID-19 infectious aerosols – similar principles are applicable when it comes to preventing the spread of airborne pathogens.

“Many of the normal IAQ tools and strategies are relevant to microbial control,” says Aherne, “including, dilution, pressurisation, extraction, and air cleaning.”

The handbook has also been updated to align with the new clause numbering and structure of NCC.

The Indoor Air Quality Verification Methods handbook is available from the resource library at the ABCB website.

Photo by Alesia Kazantceva on Unsplash