Global Indoor Air Quality Standard: A New Dawn for Air Quality Management
Simon Jones
Consultancy | Podcast | Speaker | Unlocking better ventilation and air quality. AMIEnvSc, AMIAQM
The importance of air quality, especially within indoor environments, cannot be overstated. Clean air is as essential to human health as clean water or food, yet standards for indoor air quality (IAQ) have long been fragmented, inconsistent, and lacking in global alignment. In a recent episode of the Air Quality Matters podcast, I revisit a topic of growing importance with air quality expert Sotirios Sotirios Papathanasiou— a conversation around the creation of the GO AQS Global Open Air Quality Standard. This standard, a comprehensive new approach to improving indoor air quality, aims to unite academics, industry leaders, and policymakers under one umbrella of best practices.
The Urgent Need for GoAQS
As Sotirios emphasized in the discussion, the current state of indoor air quality standards is, in a word, messy. Different countries, organisations, and building certifications each have their own approaches to measuring and mitigating air pollution. This results in a fractured landscape where indoor air quality data and strategies lack consistency. Without a unified standard, it’s difficult for professionals across the world to agree on what constitutes “good” air quality.
In practice, this fragmentation leads to serious problems. Manufacturers of air quality sensors, for example, may have to design different products for different markets to accommodate varying standards. Additionally, building owners and facility managers are often left wondering which guideline to follow, especially when tackling the complex task of controlling multiple pollutants in diverse environments.
This is where GoAQS comes in. The vision behind this new standard is to simplify the way we approach indoor air quality. GoAQS offers a global framework that can be adapted to local conditions, creating a clear and actionable guide for everyone involved—from academics conducting air quality research to companies manufacturing air purification devices.
Building Consensus for a Global Standard
Sotirios shared how GoAQS was born from a desire to create not just another standard, but a practical tool for improving indoor environments globally. He points out that despite existing frameworks, air quality research and recommendations are often incomplete, outdated, or contradictory. The challenge for GoAQS was to create a comprehensive yet adaptable standard that can be universally adopted.
The development of GoAQS relies on collaboration between multiple stakeholders, including scientists, industry professionals, and policy experts from around the world. The process began with Sotirios consulting a wide array of experts to gather insights and feedback. Encouragingly, 99.9% of the people he spoke to saw value in the initiative and were eager to contribute.
Breaking Down the Two-Tier System
GoAQS proposes a two-tier system: a Starter Tier and an Ultimate Tier, each designed to offer flexibility depending on the specific needs of the building or environment.
By providing different levels of engagement, GoAQS makes it easier for a wider range of buildings to participate in improving air quality, regardless of budget or technical expertise.
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Science, Simplicity, and Global Collaboration
One of the key strengths of GoAQS is its focus on making air quality management both scientifically grounded and accessible. While the tools for measuring pollutants like PM2.5, CO2, and formaldehyde exist, the real challenge lies in interpreting this data and applying it in a meaningful way. Sotirios explained that GoAQS aims to offer guidelines that are adaptable to different environments and use cases.
A significant aspect of the GoAQS development process is the inclusion of scientists and air quality experts from all over the world. The international collaboration ensures that the standard isn’t built around the needs of any single region, but is truly global in scope. By allowing input from experts across different climates and environments, GoAQS hopes to address the complex variables that affect indoor air quality, such as regional differences in pollution sources and building practices.
A Path Forward for All
During the podcast, we acknowledged the significant challenge of getting a global consensus on something as complex as indoor air quality. But Sotirios is optimistic. The GoAQS standard will be free and open, allowing any organisation or government to adopt and adapt it to their needs. He believes that by starting with a flexible, foundational standard, GoAQS can evolve as technology advances and more research becomes available.
One of the exciting features of GoAQS is its potential to create a universal reference point for manufacturers of air quality monitors and purification systems. Currently, these devices must adhere to different regional standards, making global sales and deployment challenging. A global standard like GoAQS could streamline this process, enabling manufacturers to design products that meet the same quality criteria worldwide.
The Next Steps
In the coming weeks, GoAQS will move into a critical phase of development, where votes from contributors will be gathered on key components of the standard. The final numbers for pollutant limits, exposure timeframes, and other critical factors will be determined by the consensus of this global community.
For more information, check out https://www.airqualitymatters.net/podcast
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Regenerating People and Planetary Health through Tea & Technology
1 个月Kudos to Sotirios! Setting a universal standard is so important in this day and age.
Owner at Apricot Tree Cafe
1 个月Our air quality levels are posted live at the entrance and on the website. And we proof every breath what difference it makes to keep staff and customers safer
Lead Author @ GO AQS, WELL Building Institute Air Advisor, Expert Advisory @ The Safer Air Project - Indoor Air Quality is the value that reassures the well-being of occupants. - #airquality
1 个月Great to be back on the podcast discussing such an important topic! Indoor air quality is often overlooked, but it has a significant impact on our health and well-being. We all agree that universal standards are crucial to ensure a healthy environment for everyone. Let's keep the conversation going and work towards making a difference. Thank you Simon!