Special Technical Committees
Indoor Air Quality
Breathing quality indoor air is critical for good health.
Clean air through a building's heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems can prevent many environmental health hazards such as asthma – a condition affecting one in nine Australians (around 2.7 million people), says Asthma Australia.
About this topic
Australians spend 90 per cent of their time indoors – either in the home, office, or other types of buildings.
Airborne particles, gases, chemicals, mould, and other pollutants can cause headaches, eye irritation, allergies, and fatigue. Serious pollutants can cause certain types of cancers and other long-term health complications.
Purpose and aims
The priority of AIRAH’s Indoor Air Quality STG is to provide its members with a platform for involvement in issues affecting their industry in relation to indoor air quality (IAQ). This includes policy advice; regulation development; plus the development of, and access to, industry-leading advice. This platform promotes a whole-of-supply-chain integrated view on issues related to the activities of the STG and AIRAH, along with best-practice delivery in Australia and internationally.
The Committee aims to:
- Identify and seek external funding for collaborative projects that support its objectives and aims of AIRAH and its members.
- Provide guidance to the HVAC&R industry to develop a considered, integrated, and technically objective approach to indoor air quality.
- Serve as a reference point for government in shaping relevant policy relating to the environmental, economic, and social impact of HVAC&R and related systems.
- Where needed, create special interest groups led by industry knowledge champions. These will help to further the interests of the Committee.
The Committee's deliverable and communication goals include:
- Input into AlRAH's formal responses to government and stakeholder policies and papers.
- A white paper analysing indoor air quality and its impact on the HVAC sector.
- An STG-specific workshop or conference (dependent upon level of interest generated by AIRAH members).
- A review and update to DA26 Indoor Air Quality and the HVAC Hygiene manual, with the aim of increasing their usefulness and impact.
- Support for the promotion and development of a relationship with NADCA in supporting the Air Systems Cleaning Specialist (ASCS) Certification Training Program.