Issue link: https://hi.iaq.net/i/655416
Energy Savings Plus Health | INDOOR AIR QUALITY GUIDELINES FOR MULTIFAMILY BUILDING UPGRADES 41 PRIORITY ISSUE 14.0 ENVIRONMENTAL TOBACCO SMOKE (ETS) ASSESSMENT PROTOCOLS (AP) MINIMUM ACTIONS (MA) EXPANDED ACTIONS (EA) AP 14.1 Determine Whether There is a Smoke-Free Policy Determine whether the building has a smoke-free policy prohibiting smoking in common areas and residential dwelling units. AP 14.2 Determine Whether There is an Exterior Smoking Policy Determine whether the building has an exterior smoking policy that prohibits smoking within a specified distance (e.g., 10, 20 or 25 feet) of the building's operable windows, outdoor air intakes and entryways. AP 14.3 Identify Occupants' Smoking- Related Concerns Determine whether there has been a pattern of complaints from occupants about smoking odors or other smoking- related concerns. AP 14.4 Assess Whether Compartmentalization is a Possible ETS Control Strategy Identify spaces in the building with strong ETS sources that can be isolated using compartmentalization techniques. The intent is to reduce ETS migration by maintaining airtightness, controlling pressure differences, and limiting uncontrolled airflow and cross contamination among spaces. • Identify the ETS migration pathways due to pressure differences within the building and across the building envelope, which can be caused by a variety of factors (e.g., thermal stack effect, mechanical ventilation if not properly designed and maintained, inadequate air balance, operation of combustion appliances). • Make visual observations or use infrared thermography, chemical smoke, and/or pressure testing to identify all penetrations at the perimeter of the space/dwelling unit that can be air sealed to reduce ETS transfer. ASTM E1186-03 (2009) Standard Practices for Air Leakage Site Detection in Building Envelopes and Air Barrier Systems can be used to guide the air sealing assessment work. MA 14.1 Actions to Take if There is a Smoke-Free Policy and a History of Complaints If there is a pattern of complaints and the building has an interior and/or exterior smoke-free policy, discuss occupant education, signage and implementation methods with the building owner and/or property manager. Review the policies and revise as necessary. If feasible, increase the distances of exterior smoking areas from operable windows, outdoor air intakes and building entrances. MA 14.2 Actions to Take if There is Not a Smoke-Free Policy If there is a pattern of complaints and the building does not have an interior and exterior smoke-free policy, take the appropriate actions, when feasible, in the following order, for the most effective ETS control strategy: (1) Source Control, (2) Ventilation and Air-Pressure Control, and (3) Air Sealing. 1. Source Control • Propose developing and implementing a smoke-free policy to the building management. See Appendix B: Property Management and Occupant Education for guidance on implementing a smoke-free policy. Note: Eliminating ETS through a building-wide smoke-free policy is the most effective, and cost efficient, method of controlling ETS. There is no safe level of ETS exposure and no engineering technique can eliminate ETS infiltration. This guidance recognizes that eliminating smoking in all multifamily residential buildings is not immediately possible. Therefore, alternative techniques for reducing exposure also are discussed. • Propose including an exterior smoking policy that prohibits smoking within a specified distance (e.g., 10, 20 or 25 feet) from the building's operable windows, entryways and outdoor air intakes. EA 14.1 Additional Actions if There is a History of Complaints and a Smoke-Free Policy is Not Feasible If there is a pattern of ETS-related complaints and a smoke-free policy is not feasible: • Follow the Expanded Actions guidance in Priority Issues 18.0 through 21.0, as applicable to the type of ventilation system. • Provide air sealing in separating walls, floors and ceilings such that dwelling units demonstrate less than 0.3 cfm leakage per square foot of enclosure area (i.e., sum of all wall, ceiling and floor areas) at 50 Pascals pressure difference, or as low a pressure difference as possible, during a blower door test conducted according to either ASTM E779-10 Standard Test Method for Determining Air Leakage Rate by Fan Pressurization or ASTM E1827-11 Standard Test Methods for Determining Airtightness of Buildings Using an Orifice Blower Door. The test shall be conducted as if the dwelling unit tested is exposed to outdoor air on all sides, top, and bottom by opening doors and windows in adjacent dwelling units. Notes: (1) A progressive sampling strategy, as defined in Chapter 4 of the Residential Manual for Compliance with California's 2001 Energy Efficiency Standards, can be employed in performing the blower door test. (2) The activities above are intended to further reduce, but not eliminate, ETS migration. (3) When air sealing, the air barrier assembly must have been evaluated by the Air Barrier Association of America (ABAA) and installed according to the manufacturer's specifications. Fire-rated assemblies must be sealed using approved fire-rated materials. The fire rating requirements supersede the ABAA evaluation requirement. Appendix B: Property Management and Occupant Education