Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Plans in Schools

Introduction: School Indoor Air Quality Management Plan Development Package

Target audience

The Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Management Plan Development Package has been developed for Minnesota school officials. This package may be used by other parties as a resource.

Purposes

To assist Minnesota school officials:

1. Develop an effective IAQ Management Plan.
2. Implement practical policies that protect the health of students and staff and improve the teaching and learning environment.
3. Comply with Minnesota Statutes that require public schools have health and safety programs that comply with health, safety, and environmental regulations and best practices including indoor air quality management.
   1. Min. Stat. § 123B.595, Dubs. 4. Facilities plans. (a) To qualify for revenue under this section, a school district or intermediate district, not including a charter school, must have a ten-year facility plan adopted by the school board and approved by the commissioner. The plan must include provisions for implementing a health and safety program that complies with health, safety, and environmental regulations and best practices, including indoor air quality management.
   2. Min. Stat. §124E.03, Subd.2. General federal, state and local requirements. (a) A charter school shall meet all federal, state, and local health and safety requirements applicable to school districts.

Overview

An effective IAQ Management Plan can improve health, learning, operations, and public relations. The Minnesota Department of Health has developed an IAQ Management Plan Development Package. This Package consists of four components:

• A ‘Model IAQ Management Plan’ that provides brief policies and procedures. 
• A ‘Tools for Schools’ (TfS) folder that consists of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) checklists that should be used to develop and implement an IAQ Management Plan.
• An ‘Appendices’ folder that includes additional guidance on developing an IAQ Management Plan.
• An ‘Attachments’ folder that includes recommended schedules and forms that could be used to implement an IAQ Management Plan.

The IAQ Management Plan Development Package was created using the USEPA Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Kit (TfS Kit), the Minnesota Department of Education’s published policies, information from existing Minnesota school IAQ Management Plans, and other MDH research.

What is an effective IAQ Management Plan?

An IAQ Management Plan is a district specific set of policies and procedures established to maintain and improve indoor air quality that is coordinated by an IAQ Coordinator. 
An IAQ Management Plan must include the following:

1. An appointed IAQ Coordinator who is:
   1. Based in the school or spends most of his/her time there.
   2. Capable of answering parent's basic questions.
   3. Authorized to receive and respond to complaints.
   4. Fulfills a separate role from maintenance (health and safety oriented).
2. A written set of policies that are:
   1. Operational and implementes.
   2. School board adopted.
   3. Updated yearly.

There are recommended assessments and policies school staff should consider beyond these requirements. An effective IAQ Management Plan is designed to meet the goals and needs of a specific school district. Expectations of an IAQ Management Plan must be realistic and manageable so that commitment from the school board, the administration, and staff can be achieved. IAQ Management Plans may also refer to or summarize other policies that assist in maintaining air quality within school buildings, such as an Integrated Pest Management program, or the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) management plan.

Acknowledgments

The Indoor Air Quality Management Plan Development Package was developed by the MDH in collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Education. This project was partially funded by a cooperative agreement from the USEPA, Region 5. Minnesota schools, consultants, and service cooperatives helped to edit the Package.

Contents of development package

• Model Indoor Air Quality Management Plan (Word)

Attachments

• Attachment 1: Example Preventive Maintenance Schedule (Word)
• Attachment 2: Example Concern Reporting and Investigation Forms (PDF)
• Attachment 3: Example Plan to Address Identified Issues (Word)
• Attachment 4: Example List of Information Resources for Parents to Assess Home (Word)

Appendices

• Appendix A: Guide for the Development and Implementation of a School or District Indoor Air Quality Management Plan (Word)

Tools for schools folder

• Creating Healthy Indoor Air Quality in Schools (EPA)
• Documents available on the following websites:
  • Building and Grounds Maintenance Checklist from Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools (EPA)
  • Ventilation Checklist from Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools (EPA)
  • Walk-through Inspection Checklist from Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools (EPA)