This course examines indoor air quality (IAQ) issues for buildings, focusing on IAQ management in commercial buildings and facilities. It is divided into four sections.

The first section provides the fundamentals to understanding indoor air quality. It provides a rudimentary framework for understanding how indoor and outdoor sources of pollution, heat and humidity, together with the ventilation and air conditioning systems affect the indoor air quality in buildings. It also begins to address methods of controlling those factors in order that the quality of the air which occupants experience provides for their health, comfort and performance.

The second section identifies elements of the heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system that are important to IAQ, as well as information important to developing protocols for the operating set points and schedules consistent with good IAQ performance.

The third section helps dedicated building personnel to develop sufficient expertise to solve many IAQ complaints. There are two different approaches to the indoor air quality diagnostic process for buildings - one for industrial facilities and one for commercial facilities. The industrial facility diagnostic model is not appropriate or productive in commercial facilities, except in rare instances. The fourth section analyzes important actions to protect and improve IAQ during each phase of the design and construction process.