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The Canadian Committee on Indoor Air Quality and Buildings (CCIAQB) was created in 2008 following consultations and discussions by a working group.
The Committee is modeled on successful forums supported by NRC with representation from government, industry and consumer groups from a wide geographical distribution across Canada. NRC is committed to providing administrative and technical support for the next three years. Members of the Committee are chosen for their individual interests and abilities rather than as delegates of any particular organization.
The Committee's mission statement and mandate are as follows:
The goal of the Canadian Committee on Indoor Air Quality and Buildings is to improve indoor air quality in buildings and, ultimately, the health of occupants, by providing a national forum and clearinghouse for ‘best-of-knowledge' information on the design and operations of buildings as they affect indoor air quality.
Its mandate is to:
- solicit and review relevant information;
- identify gaps and issues;
- provide discussion forum;
- recommend studies;
- develop "best-of-knowledge" positions and best practices;
- disseminate knowledge;
- promote adoption of uniform requirements, best practices and guidelines for the design and operation of buildings; and
- provide guidance for evaluation of solutions and technologies.
Currently, the CCIAQB has 12 members, representing a broad cross-section of stakeholders across Canada. The members are:
Heather Cannon (Chair), Westeinde Group
Mohamed Attalla, McMaster University
Regina De La Campa, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Don Figley, Saskatchewan Housing Corporation
Daniel Forest, Venmar Ventilation Inc.
Tim Halstead, North Island College
John Molot, Environmental Health Clinic, Women's College Hospital
Keith Noel, Government of Newfoundland
Colin Wildgrube, Government of Alberta
Dathe Wong, Stantec Inc.
Scientific advice is provided by:
Marie-Ève Héroux, Health Canada
Hans Schleibinger, National Research Council Canada
The secretariat is managed by:
Luc Saint-Martin, National Research Council Canada
The members were selected in accordance with a matrix designed to maintain the balance between government, industry and consumers. The Committee has four vacant positions for persons in the following fields: public health, medical practice, building regulation and facility management. Anyone interested in participating can send their expression of interest and resume to the Secretary for consideration.
Although the Committee is interested in all buildings and people that may be affected by IAQ issues, its initial focus is on commercial, institutional and multi-family residential buildings, including offices, schools and apartment buildings, as well as the information needs of designers and operators of buildings and building systems.
As a first step in fulfilling its mandate, the CCIAQB determined that it was imperative to gain an appreciation of the level of knowledge of indoor air issues and improvement strategies currently held by building professionals. The Committee therefore commissioned a survey that would at once establish a baseline measure of knowledge as well as identify gaps in information.
The nationwide survey consisted of 150 interviews with building and property managers, and facility managers, conducted by telephone between October 15 and December 3, 2010. The survey was designed by the CCIAQB with technical support from National Research Council Institute for Research in Construction (NRC-IRC). The database of interviewees was provided by the International Facility Management Association (IFMA). Telephone interviews were conducted by Environics Research Group, an independent research agency.
The results of the 2010 research reveal that building professionals are knowledgeable about traditional indoor air quality issues and solutions and the potential harm to human health. Most provide guidance to and field concerns from tenants about indoor air quality, which likely contributes to their sensitivity to the issue. There is also widespread confidence in the quality of the indoor air in their buildings, although many seem to recognize some room for improvement. Yet there is little sense of urgency for such improvement; most say they have the ability to reduce the concentration of specific pollutants, and few know of design features missing from their buildings that could make a difference.
The results have also indicated to the Committee the need to develop guidelines in areas such as the hygienic operation of air-handling units, maintenance scheduling and pollutant source control strategies.
View a summary of the report.
View the full report.
For more information, contact the Secretary, Luc Saint-Martin at 613-993-7844, e-mail: luc.saint-martin@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca.
