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Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Action Kit

IAQ Tools for Schools Action Kit shows schools how to carry out a practical plan to improve indoor air problems at little- or no-cost using straightforward activities and in-house staff. The Kit provides:

  • best practices
  • industry guidelines
  • sample policies
  • a sample IAQ management plan

Reference Guides

IAQ Coordinator's Guide

This document is designed for the IAQ Coordinator at the school and district levels. It offers guidance on preventing and solving most indoor air problems with minimal cost and coordinating IAQ projects with other members of an IAQ team. The guide provides basic IAQ information, guidance for developing an IAQ management plan and suggestions for resolving IAQ problems.

EPA 402/K-07/008, January 2009

IAQ Reference Guide

This guidance provides common-sense measures for preventing, diagnosing and resolving most indoor air problems with minimal cost and involvement. This guide helps schools understand how IAQ problems develop, the importance of good IAQ and its impact on students, staff and building occupants. One section provides suggestions for dealing with an IAQ crisis and for communicating IAQ information to students, staff, parents and the community. The appendices of this guide offer detailed information on IAQ-related topics including:

  • mold
  • radon
  • secondhand smoke
  • asthma
  • portable classrooms
  • basic measurement equipment
  • hiring professional assistance
  • codes and regulations
  • integrated pest management.

The document also includes information on typical indoor air pollutants and pollutants from motor vehicles and equipment.

EPA 402/K-07/008 January 2009

Problem Solving Tool

Use this interactive tool! We've taken the IAQ Tools for Schools Problem Solving Wheel and made it available on the web. Click on a health symptom to review a list of possible causes of these complaints. Then, use the resources and checklists available in the IAQ Tools for Schools Action Kit to identify and respond to IAQ issues. Find out what to do in an emergency.

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Checklists

EPA has designed 11 checklists to engage school staff and key stakeholders in the process of school inspections and sustaining an IAQ management program. Each checklist is accompanied by a Checklist Backgrounder that describes the purpose of the specific checklist. Checklists may be downloaded in MS Word format and tailored or updated to reflect activities at a particular school.

Checklists and Backgrounders are available for:

Also available are Recommended Action Checklists.

Fact Sheets

Indoor Air Quality Backgrounder

This five page guidance document, included in the IAQ Tools for Schools Action Kit, offers an in-depth description of factors that affect air quality in schools. This document highlights important topics including: why IAQ is important to schools, understanding IAQ problems and solutions, sources of indoor air pollutants (indoor and outdoor sources) and strategies to control building systems that affect air quality. It also emphasizes the importance of the checklists provided for school staff and describes how the checklists can help schools identify problems and respond if IAQ problems exist.

Managing Radon in Schools

As part of an effective IAQ management program, schools should test for radon to know if radon levels are elevated — and if so, reduce risks to occupants through radon mitigation. Many schools have successfully applied radon mitigation strategies to control indoor radon levels.

Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Framework for Effective School IAQ Management

The Framework for Effective School IAQ Management provides a common language to describe the drivers of IAQ program success; detailed guidance on the proven strategies, organizational approaches and leadership styles that are fundamental to program success; and a clear vision of the pathway to IAQ excellence in schools. Use the Framework to launch, sustain or reinvigorate an effective IAQ management program.

Managing Asthma in the School Environment

This newly revised guide offers valuable information for all school staff, especially school nurses, teachers and maintenance staff, on how to identify and control common environmental factors in schools that trigger asthma attacks. School nurses can share these resources with parents to raise awareness of asthma triggers and to help manage asthma at home and school effectively. Also included are easy tips for managing asthma in schools, including using the IAQ Tools for Schools Kit and Program to improve IAQ in the learning environment.

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Hard Copy Materials

These materials can be ordered from the National Service Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP).

Problem Solving Wheel

The problem solving wheel is an interactive, user-friendly tool that EPA designed to help school staff identify IAQ emergencies and determine actions to take in an emergency IAQ situation. This resource was designed to help school staff understand various factors related to the indoor environment, such as odors, temperature and humidity problems, illnesses, symptoms of health problems, explanations of and solutions to common problems. The problem solving wheel is included in the IAQ Tools for Schools Action Kit and is available for order separately.

EPA 402-K-09-005, 2009

The IAQ Tools for Schools Video Collection DVD

This comprehensive Video Collection incorporates three informative films on one convenient DVD.

EPA 402-V-08-001

CD-ROM of IAQ Tools for Schools Action Kit

The IAQ Tools for Schools Action Kit (January 2009) is also available on CD-ROM. The CD includes most materials in the Action Kit, such as the:

  • IAQ Backgrounder
  • IAQ Coordinator's Guide
  • IAQ Reference Guide
  • Checklists in Adobe PDF and MS Word formats (some En Español)

EPA 402-C-05-001

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