INDOOR AIR QUALITY CRITERION TWELVE ⋆ Archi-Monarch

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Indoor air quality (IAQ) refers to the air quality within and around buildings and structures, especially as it relates to the health and comfort of building occupants.

The intent of this criterion is to encourage design and monitoring of ventilation systems such that the indoor air quality meets minimum requirement as recommended by the relevant standards. It also focuses on the conscious choice of strategies and products to control substances that produce harmful emissions in the habitable spaces.

Maximum Points: 6

1) Appraisal

Appraisal – 1 (Optional for 1 points)

Ensure that the minimum requirements of CPCB (NAAQS) for assessing the quality of fresh air are fulfilled.

Note – Appraisal-1 (Optional for 1 points) shall cover treatment of outdoor air predominantly for PM10 and PM2.5

Appraisal – 2 (Optional for 1 points)

Ensure that the minimum requirements of ASHRAE Standard 62.1–2010, Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quantity (with errata), or NBC 2016, for quantity of fresh air are met.

Appraisal – 3 (Optional for 2 point)

Ensure continuous monitoring of CO, CO2, temperature, and RH levels such that they meet the permissible thresholds as per ISHRAE standard 10001:2016, for all habitable areas either at space level or at AHUs by installation of sensor(s) deployed with feedback system as per the alternatives mentioned in Given Table below.

Applicability Check – If the project comprises of building/s with operable windows, then such building’s are exempted from Appraisal-1 (Optional for 1 points) and Appraisal-2 (Optional for 1 points).

To exempt the project from Appraisal – 1 (Optional for 1 points) and Appraisal – 2 (Optional for 1 points), please submit the following:

Floor plans, building elevations, and window sections (.dwg format)
Photographs clearly indicating that the windows installed in the building are operable

Appraisal – 4 (Mandatory for 0 point)

Ensure that all interior wall and ceiling finishes such as primers, paints, putty, etc. have low VOC content as per Appendix 4C, Table 1 and are lead free.

Appraisal – 5 (Optional for 1 point)

Ensure that all adhesives and sealants used have low VOC content as per Appendix 4C, Table 2 and 3 and that interior composite wood products do not have urea–formaldehyde as a bonding resin.

Appraisal – 6 (Optional for 1 point)

Ensure improved indoor air quality by adopting a minimum of three strategies from the following list (refer to APPENDIX 4D)

Installation of indoor plants
Promoting use of carpets and mats at all entrances
Use of green cleaning products for housekeeping
Installation of separate exhaust system for janitor/storage rooms for chemicals
Installation of air curtains
Air sanitization
Demand control ventilation

2) Compliance

Compliance – 1

Submit documentation detailing the specifications of the filtration system to demonstrate that fresh air quality meets the minimum requirements of CPCB (NAAQS) to demonstrate compliance with Appraisal – 1 (Optional for 1 points).

Submit a valid GRIHA Product Catalogue certificate as applicable for the product demonstrating compliance with Appraisal – 1 (Optional for 1 points).

Compliance – 2

Submit space-by-space heat load calculations highlighting the provision of sufficient fresh air in the HVAC system design as per the ASHRAE 62.1 or NBC 2016, to demonstrate compliance with Appraisal – 2 (Optional for 1 points).

Compliance – 3

Submit floor plans and/or HVAC system plans (.dwg format) highlighting the location of various CO, CO2, temperature and RH sensors, and digital displays to demonstrate compliance with Appraisal – 3 (Optional for 2 point).

Compliance – 4

Submit technical specification sheets/brochures of the filters, sensors, and digital displays installed in the project to demonstrate compliance with Appraisal – 3 (Optional for 2 point).

Submit a valid GRIHA Product Catalogue certificate as applicable for the product demonstrating compliance with Appraisal – 3 (Optional for 2 point).

Compliance – 5

Submit purchase orders reflecting the full quantities of the filters, sensors, and digital displays installed in the project to demonstrate compliance with Appraisal – 3 (Optional for 2 point).

Compliance – 6

Submit technical specification sheets/brochures of all interior walls and ceiling finishes, highlighting that they have low VOC content and are lead free to demonstrate compliance with Appraisal – 4 (Mandatory for 0 point).

Submit a valid GRIHA Product Catalogue certificate as applicable for the product demonstrating compliance with Appraisal – 4 (Mandatory for 0 point).

Compliance – 7

Submit purchase orders reflecting full quantities of all interior walls and ceiling finishes, to demonstrate compliance with Appraisal – 4 (Mandatory for 0 point).

Compliance – 8

Submit the technical specification sheets/brochures of all adhesives and sealants highlighting that they have low VOC content to demonstrate compliance with Appraisal – 5 (Optional for 1 point).

Submit a valid GRIHA Product Catalogue certificate as applicable for the product demonstrating compliance with Appraisal – 5 (Optional for 1 point).

Compliance – 9

Submit purchase orders reflecting full quantities of all adhesives and sealants to demonstrate compliance with Appraisal – 5 (Optional for 1 point).

Compliance – 10

Submit technical specification sheets/brochures of the bonding resin used in the making of composite wood-based products highlighting that they are urea formaldehyde free to demonstrate compliance with Appraisal – 5 (Optional for 1 point).

Submit a valid GRIHA Product Catalogue certificate as applicable for the product demonstrating compliance with Appraisal – 5 (Optional for 1 point).

Compliance – 11

Submit purchase orders reflecting full quantities of the bonding resin used in the making of composite wood-based products to demonstrate compliance with Appraisal – 5 (Optional for 1 point).

Compliance – 12

Submit a documentation to demonstrate compliance with the strategies adopted to improve IAQ as per Appraisal – 6 (Optional for 1 point).

These are some of the key criteria that are commonly used to assess indoor air quality. It is important to maintain good indoor air quality to protect the health and comfort of building occupants.