Isolate
& Exhaust Point Sources Of Indoor Air Pollution
Building
occupants often need equipment or materials that can be sources
of indoor air pollution. These include high-capacity photocopiers,
laser printers, blueprint and film processing machines, gluing
or painting areas, and toxic cleaning products.
To
reduce occupant exposure to indoor air pollutants:
- Isolate
the source from occupied spaces.
- Provide
a local exhaust to the outdoors.
Ideally,
each floor and suite should have a local exhaust capability.
If the source location is known, install an exhaust inlet
as close as possible, behind and above the source. If the
location is not established, provide for future installations
by installing:
- a capped
exhaust duct inlet in each suite or floor, or
- equipment
spaces that lead to an appropriate location for an exhaust
outlet.
For
intermittent sources, such as blueprint or film machines,
control the exhaust with a labeled switch located near the
equipment. Exhausts for continuous sources (including high-capacity
laser printers and photocopiers) should be scheduled to start
an hour before and after occupied periods.
Point
source locations change as interior layouts change. Ideally,
pollutant sources should be located in an unoccupied room.
If this is not possible, locate point sources far from occupied
areas, preferably in a niche or cabinet that limits pollutant
dispersion and aids exhaust effectiveness.
