Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

About the IAQ Team

The Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) team within the Division of Sustainability and Compliance (DSC) focuses on identifying and resolving IAQ concerns reported by school staff and students. A combination of more than 60 years experience in IAQ investigations and access to skilled trades workers within the Division of Maintenance and Operations means that sources of problems are quickly found and resolved so that good IAQ is restored and maintained. MCPS employees or parents can submit IAQ-related complaints for any school, office, or support facility using the IAQ Complaint Form. Once the complaint is investigated, a response plan is developed, which may tap into resources from other DSC teams, the Division of Maintenance and Operations, or on-call contractors. Suspect problems are investigated, and a response plan usually involves groups across the Office of Facilities Management (OFM).

Reporting IAQ Problems

The IAQ team addresses problems related to indoor environmental conditions at all MCPS facilities. Examples of such problems include health concerns associated with building or room conditions, unusual odors, moisture issues, and suspected mold growth. MCPS staff and parents are able to report their concerns using the form linked below. How to report a problem/concern:

1. All IAQ requests including Mold Reports and Indoor Air Quality Complaints must be submitted attached to work orders.
2. Report concerns using  MCPS Form 230-23  (Indoor Air Quality Complaint); 
3. Building Service Staff should complete MCPS Form 230-24 (Building Services Indoor Air Quality Checklist), this form should accompany the Form 230-23; 
4. Submit both forms with pictures/videos to the IAQ team via the Asset Essentials Work Order System;
   • Non-MCPS staff (Parents) will have to coordinate submission of the work order with the school’s Main Office Staff
   • Please note only authorized AE users can access the work order system to submit work orders - FOR SCHOOL STAFF - The Building Service Manager or other Administration Staff should be able to assist with submitting a work order request with the required forms and any other documentation/media attached.
   • If you are unfamiliar with the attachment of files to a work order - a quick training video is available here Adding attachments to a work order in the mobile app. The Asset Essentials mobile app is available in the App Store (Apple)  and Google Play (Android)
   • Additional assistance is available from the DFM Call Center 240-740-2300
5. When received by the IAQ team, the request is reviewed and evaluated against other pending and active requests. 

Helpful Links

• Real-time IAQ Monitoring at Schools 
• Frequently Asked Questions About IAQ
• MCPS Approved Products List
• Indoor Air Quality Tips for Teachers

IAQ Recommendations

• Humidifiers – Guidance Document
• Portable Dehumidifiers - Maintenance
• Portable Dehumidifiers - Usage Guidelines
• Portable Air Cleaners

Governmental Resources

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
  • EPA Indoor Air Quality Page
  • EPA Tools for Schools (TfS) Program
  • EPA TfS Excellence Award Winners (Maryland)
• U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
  • OSHA Indoor Air Quality Page
  • OSHA Molds and Fungi Page
• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
  • NIOSH School Safety Checklist Program
  • NIOSH Indoor Air Quality Checklist
• National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH)
  • NCEH Mold Page
• National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
• U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health (NIH)
  • NLM/NIH Mold Page
  • NLM/NIH Indoor Air Pollution Page
• Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH), Division of Labor and Industry
• Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
  • DEP Indoor Air Quality Page
  • DEP Radon Page
  • DEP Mold Information
  • DEP Information on VOCs

Private Organizations

• American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA)
• American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)
• American Lung Association (ALA)
• The National Academy of Sciences (NAS)
  • NAS Mold Research Press Release
  • Damp Indoor Spaces and Health (2004)
• American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM)
• Green Seal
• GreenGuard Environmental Institute
• DoctorFungus Corporation
• American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)
• Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC)

Other Resources

• How Stuff Works
  • How Air Conditioners Work
• The Weather Channel