Indoor Air Quality

If you notice an odor, check with occupants in nearby rooms and floors to determine if the problem is throughout the building or specific to your workspace. Ask if they are conducting any activities or know of any activities that might create a similar odor.

Use only as recommended on the label. Be aware that some products, such as those with citrus odors, can cause allergies in some people. Whenever possible, use cleaning products without added fragrances.

When temperatures exceed 80 °F indoors, unit supervisors or administrators should evaluate when and how to alter work practices, if needed. Units should consider the type of work, the local working conditions, and an individual’s personal response to the heat. Supervisors are encouraged to be as flexible as possible, in alignment with the unit’s business needs, in allowing personnel to either take appropriate leave, to allow telework or relocation to a setting with cooling capabilities, and/or make work schedule adjustments as appropriate to avoid periods of excessive heat.

We encourage UW personnel to:

• Dress for the weather - while keeping safety in mind. For example, no shorts or sandals in labs or around hazardous materials.
• Drink water frequently.
• Take more frequent breaks in cooler areas.
• Use fans and open windows (if temperatures are cooler outdoors) in buildings that do not have central air conditioning.
• Place containers of ice in front of fans.
• Use adequately sized portable air conditioning units to cool rooms.

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) guidelines for indoor temperature control and indoor air quality parameters are referenced for best practices at the University as federal and state agencies do not regulate temperature for indoor workers at this time.

For those working outdoors for 15 minutes or longer, refer to the EH&S Outdoor Heat Exposure webpage for guidance on complying with the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries worker safety requirements for protection against excessive heat. For additional guidance on high outdoor temperatures, please review this news post.

Refer to Heat Wave Safety webpage from the American Red Cross and the CDC Preventing Heat-Related Illness page.

If you have an upcoming remodel of your space you can look for “green” or low emission (low VOC) paint, carpet, and furniture. See EPA’s Indoor airPLUS for more information.

If your activities produce an odor, take action to control them. Turn on the kitchen fan or exhaust ventilation, or use the product in a fume hood. Prohibit odors from traveling to nearby spaces by closing the door and opening a window. Inform others in the area about your activities.

These can aggravate allergies in some individuals – so use them sparingly as it may cause an adverse reaction in your neighbors.

Frequently, foul odors are from rotten food, so check your space to ensure there isn’t any in drawers, cabinets, and lunch bags. Ensure trash and compost are removed regularly.

Infrequent use of drains can lead to the traps drying out which allows sewer gases to enter the room. To prevent the emanation of drain odors it is recommended that water is poured down the drain at least every two weeks. Make sure you locate the drains under refrigerators and other equipment or furniture. If a fixture is no longer in use, contact Facilities Services to request it be removed from service and capped. Maintain floor drains for proper flow to avoid fluid backup into work areas.

When products having volatile chemicals or strong odors are used, provide as much ventilation as feasible and schedule work when the building is minimally occupied.

The purpose of the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) program is to provide and maintain healthy and comfortable environments free of contaminants. A key part of the program is responding to and resolving concerns of building occupants about air quality issues in their work environment.

Indoor air quality refers to air quality in indoor office, classroom or laboratory environments, as opposed to industrial or outdoor settings. These areas have either natural ventilation from openable windows, or mechanical ventilation from a heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) system. 

Industrial environments, as well as some laboratories and classrooms, contain sources of air contaminants: chemical, particulate, aerosol, or fumes. These contaminants should be controlled by localized exhaust hoods (e.g., fume hoods), or sometimes by increased general dilution ventilation.

UW Administrative Policy Statement APS 10.1 Environmental Health & Safety Services

Washington State Department of Health -  Indoor Air Quality Program

Environmental Protection Agency - Appendix F of the building Air Quality Guide

If you are on the Seattle campus, contact UW Facilities at 206.685.1411 or submit an online service request. If you are not on the Seattle campus, contact your facilities manager.

If you are unsure whether it is mold, or you feel ill near the area of concern, contact EH&S at 206.543.7262 or email ehsdept@uw.edu. For more information see the Mold, Mildew, Water Damage Focus Sheet.

The primary health concern during a wildfire smoke event is breathing in the tiny particles in wildfire smoke that can impact health, especially for individuals who are more vulnerable to the effects of air pollution.

Hazardous air quality during an outdoor wildfire smoke event can affect indoor air quality depending on the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system configuration and other building conditions.

Mechanically ventilated buildings filter outdoor air that is brought into the building, in addition to filtering air that is recirculated within the building. Most mechanically ventilated buildings on UW campuses have primary filters that are minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) 13, which remove approximately 90% of tiny particles found in wildfire smoke with an average diameter of 2.5 microns (PM 2.5).

Typically, the combination of air filtration and closing windows and doors will help reduce the concentration of wildfire smoke particles indoors compared to outdoors; however, lingering smoke odors can persist even though particle concentrations indoors are reduced.

Additional measures may be needed in buildings that are not mechanically ventilated, including portable air cleaners and voluntary use of N95 respirators.

Requirements and information for departments/units and personnel working outdoors is available on the Wildfire Smoke webpage.

EH&S or UW Facilities generally will respond to and evaluate indoor air quality concerns. First, we determine if the issue is an emergency and, if so, take immediate action to protect the occupants.

If it is not an emergency and the issue is related to thermal comfort, water intrusion, mold or natural gas odors contact UW Facilities.

For all other issues, EH&S should be contacted. We will conduct a preliminary investigation by first talking to occupants to determine if the problem is a one-time event or if the source can be easily identified and resolved.

In more complex situations, where the issue cannot be readily resolved, EH&S will gather information about the history of the problem, occupant complaints and/or symptoms, and previous efforts to identify or solve the problem. Based on the occupants' information, and depending on the issues, EH&S will determine:

• If the HVAC system is clean and operating properly, supplying adequate outdoor air volume to dilute and exhaust indoor air contaminants (with the assistance of UW Facilities)
• If there are any obvious sources or reservoirs of chemical or microbiological emissions (indoors or outdoors)
• If the temperature and relative humidity are a factor in health symptoms
• If excessive dusts or other particulates are present, and whether they are generated inside the work area or outdoors
• If a space may be occupied safely and without health effects

Not every evaluation identifies a clear source for the air quality issue. Sometimes minor changes to the building or ventilation system are effective, other times significant capital improvements are indicated.

Certain individuals have increased sensitivity to particular chemicals, odors, dusts or allergens when compared to the general population. Sensitive individuals should seek medical attention as needed, and advise their supervisor if they have specific needs so they can be accommodated.