Indoor air quality

Indiana can do better

Indiana's union sheet metal industry has some suggestions about improving the air we breathe in our public buildings. We are working diligently in the Indiana General Assembly to improve our statutes regarding this important public issue.

 

Certification for inspectors.

The people who conduct indoor air quality inspections are largely unregulated in Indiana. Our proposal calls for a very reasonable precaution to be implemented: Require certification for inspectors, to ensure they are competent and that they are who they say they are.

 

Preventing sick-building syndrome.

All tax-funded buildings, and not just public schools, should be free of sick-building syndrome, in which a structure's indoor air quality causes ailments among building users.

 

The bottom line.

Ask any union sheet metal apprentice who is taking classes in testing and balancing of HVAC systems: There is a substantial body of knowledge on best practices for indoor air quality.

Shouldn't we in Indiana be requiring best practices for the air we breathe in our public buildings? This is just good public policy, pure and simple.