The Indoor Air
Quality Procedure
IAQP revolutionizes ventilation design by
enabling energy efficiency and promoting
safer indoor environments.
What is the Indoor Air Quality Procedure?
The Indoor Air Quality Procedure is an alternative to the widely used Ventilation Rate Procedure (VRP) for determining the design rate of outdoor airflow necessary to maintain acceptable indoor air quality. The IAQP design ensures that concentrations of design compounds and PM2.5, such as formaldehyde and ozone, in the indoor environment are kept below their design limits, as specified in Table 6-5 of ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2022. This is achieved through a combination of indoor and outdoor source control, filtration and air cleaning, and outdoor air.
Key Benefits
Health and Safety
Identifying and eliminating harmful contaminants in the indoorair in a facility reduces the risk of health problems for buildingoccupants, thus creating a safer and healthier environment.
Energy Savings
Effectively reduce the intake and conditioning of polluted Outside Air (OA) by 60%-90%.
Lower Capital Costs
Reduced ventilation allows for a downsize in HVAC equipment needed and lower future operational costs.
Liability Mitigation
The reduction in pollutants and health risks minimizes potential legal financial liabilities.
Compliance
Maintain compliance with ASHRAE Standards 62.1-2022 and 241, as well as qualify for LEED credits.
ASHRAE Table 6-5
Design Compounds and their Design Limits
| Compound or PM2.5 | Cognizant Authority | Design Limit |
| Acetaldehyde | Cal EPA CREL (June 2016) | 140 µg/m3 |
| Acetone | AgBB LCI | 1200 µg/m3 |
| Benzene | Cal EPA CREL (June 2016) | 3 µg/m3 |
| Dichloromethane | Cal EPA CREL (June 2016) | 400 µg/m3 |
| Formaldehyde | Cal EPA 8-hour CREL (2004) | 33 µg/m3 |
| Naphthalene | Cal EPA CREL (June 2016) | 9 µg/m3 |
| Phenol | AgBB LCI | 10 µg/m3 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | Cal EPA CREL (June 2016) | 35 µg/m3 |
| Toluene | Cal EPA CREL (June 2016) | 300 µg/m3 |
| 1,1,1-Trichloroethane | Cal EPA CREL (June 2016) | 1000 µg/m3 |
| Xylene, total | AgBB LCI | 500 µg/m3 |
| Carbon monoxide | U.S. EPA NAAQS | 9 ppm |
| Particulate matter (PM2.5) | U.S. EPA NAAQS (annual mean) | 12 µg/m3 |
| Ozone | U.S. EPA NAAQS | 70 ppb |
| Ammonia | Cal EPA CREL (June 2016) | 200 µg/m3 |
Climate Zones in the IAQP
Using methods like VRP can make maintaining ample outdoor air circulation costly depending on your climate zone.
Air Cleaning in the IAQP
Adding air cleaners to ventilation design allows for energy reduction through the use of
recirculated and purified air, thus reducing the intake of outdoor air while maintaining all
design compounds within the building under their design limits.
The Indoor Air Quality Verification
Preliminary verification testing of occupant satisfaction and indoor design compound concentration measurements need to be performed to verify that design limits are met. For each design compound and PM2.5, the emission rates from outdoor and indoor sources such as, occupants, building materials, furnishings, equipment, and other sources shall be determined. An additional verification test, and annually thereafter, must be conducted to verify that design compounds remain under their design limits after the IAQP has been deployed.
ASHRAE Table 7-1
Allowed Laboratory Test Methods
| Compound | Allowed Test Methods |
| VOCs except formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acetone | ISO 16000-6; EPA TO-17; ISO 16017-1; ISO 16017-2; ASTM D6345-10 |
| Formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acetone | ISO 16000-3; EPA IP-6; ASTM D5197 |
| Carbon monoxide | ISO 4224; EPA IP-3 |
ASHRAE Table 7-2
Direct Reading Instruments Minimum Specifications
| Ozone | PM2.5 | Carbon Monoxide | |
| Accuracy (±) | 5 ppb | Greater of 5 µg/m³ or 20% of reading | Greater of 3 ppm or 20% of reading |
| Resolution (±) | 1 ppb | 5 µg/m³ | 1 ppm |
ASHRAE Table 7-3
Number of Measurement Points
| Total Occupied Floor Area, ft² (m²) | Number of Measurements |
| ≤25,000 (2500) | 1 |
| >25,000 (2500) and ≤50,000 (5000) | 2 |
| >50,000 (5000) and ≤100,000 (10,000) | 4 |
| >100,000 (10,000) | 6 |
The Indoor Air Quality Procedure Calculator
The ASHRAE IAQP calculator is a comprehensive tool developed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). Designed to be user-friendly, the calculator allows architects, engineers, and building owners to:
Assess the potential IAQ impact of various building design features, including factors like occupancy, ventilation rates, filtration and air cleaning and material emissions.
Optimize IAQ solutions through the use of data-driven insights to guide the selection of efficient and effective air filtration, ventilation, and other IAQ strategies.
Identify and quantify sources of IAQ contamination enabling targeted interventions to improve air quality.
Predict IAQ performance by forecasting how IAQ will change over time based on different scenarios.
Achieve ASHRAE Standard 62.1 and 241
Compliance With AirBox Air Cleaners
AirBox air cleaners are specifically engineered to abide by the strict indoor air quality requirements set forth by both ASHRAE Standard 241 for heightened infectious risk and ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2022 Indoor Air Quality Procedure for standard operation.
By harnessing advanced air purification technologies, AirBox systems effectively capture over 99.99% of tested airborne contaminants,
including infectious aerosols that can pose significant health risks. Tests are available on request.
AirBox air cleaners apply to a wide range of building types, including corporate offices, construction sites, schools, and healthcare facilities.
AirBox Maintains Compliance
Professional Analysis
Our data-driven Air Quality Assessment
takes the guesswork out of what’s going
on with your air. It tells you exactly what
contaminants are in your indoor air and
how much. These steps will lead you
from guessing to knowing – and from
dirty, unhealthy air to clean.
Asset Protection
By ensuring good indoor air quality, the
HVAC system can operate more
efficiently, reducing energy costs and
extending its lifespan. This, in turn, can
also lower the maintenance costs for
your building.
Risk and Liability Mitigation
Building owners and managers have a
legal responsibility to provide a safe
and healthy environment for their
occupants. Failure to maintain proper
IAQ can result in serious liability risks,
including lawsuits, fines, and damage to
the reputation of the building.
Ready to convert to the IAQP and save energy?
Partnering with a trusted name like AirBox ensures that you’re not only compliant with
ASHRAE Standards, but also providing the best environment for your occupants.
