Certificate in Indoor Air Quality Management

The Certificate in Indoor Air Quality Management is designed to provide learners with practical knowledge and technical skills required to understand, monitor, assess, maintain, and improve indoor air quality in residential, commercial, institutional, industrial, hospitality, healthcare, and other occupied buildings.

The program introduces the fundamental principles of indoor air quality and examines the factors that influence indoor environmental conditions, including ventilation, filtration, humidity, temperature, airborne particles, gases, chemical contaminants, biological contaminants, building materials, moisture, HVAC operation, occupancy, and outdoor air conditions. Learners will develop an understanding of how building design, maintenance practices, and HVAC system performance can affect indoor air quality.

The course covers ventilation assessment, fresh-air requirements, filtration systems, air-handling units, ductwork, air distribution, humidity control, carbon dioxide monitoring, particulate monitoring, contamination sources, mould and moisture awareness, cleaning practices, air-quality testing, HVAC maintenance, corrective actions, occupant complaints, documentation, and performance monitoring.

Emphasis is placed on practical indoor air quality management strategies that support healthy, comfortable, and productive indoor environments while maintaining efficient HVAC operation and appropriate building-management practices.

Skills Covered

• Fundamentals of indoor air quality

• Indoor environmental quality principles

• Importance of good indoor air quality

• Common indoor air contaminants

• Particulate matter and airborne dust

• Carbon dioxide monitoring

• Carbon monoxide awareness

• Volatile organic compounds

• Odours and chemical contaminants

• Biological contaminants

• Mould and fungal growth awareness

• Bacteria and microorganisms

• Allergens and biological particles

• Indoor moisture and humidity

• Temperature and thermal comfort

• Ventilation principles

• Outdoor-air supply

• Fresh-air systems

• Exhaust-air systems

• Air changes and ventilation rates

• Air distribution principles

• HVAC system impact on indoor air quality

• Air-handling unit operation

• Fan coil unit operation

• Ductwork and air-distribution systems

• Filters and filtration systems

• Filter selection and efficiency awareness

• Filter pressure-drop considerations

• Air-cleaning technologies

• Air purification systems

• UV air-treatment awareness

• HEPA filtration awareness

• Activated-carbon filtration

• Humidification and dehumidification

• Condensate management

• Cooling coil cleanliness

• HVAC coil cleaning

• Duct cleaning and inspection

• Airflow assessment

• Air balancing awareness

• Building pressure relationships

• Positive and negative pressure concepts

• Indoor air quality inspections

• IAQ sampling and monitoring

• Temperature and humidity measurement

• CO₂ measurement

• Particulate measurement

• Airflow measurement

• Basic air-quality monitoring instruments

• Sensor placement and monitoring practices

• IAQ baseline assessment

• Indoor contamination source identification

• Moisture and water-intrusion assessment

• Mould prevention and control

• Housekeeping and cleaning practices

• Construction and renovation contamination control

• Occupant-related pollution sources

• Chemical storage and emission control

• Ventilation system maintenance

• HVAC preventive maintenance

• Air filter maintenance

• Air duct inspection

• Fresh-air intake inspection

• Exhaust system inspection

• Air-quality complaint investigation

• Corrective-action planning

• Indoor air quality management plans

• IAQ documentation and reporting

• Building inspection records

• Air-quality performance indicators

• Trend monitoring and data analysis

• Emergency response to indoor contamination

• Communication with building occupants

• Contractor and service-provider coordination

• Workplace health and safety

• Personal protective equipment

• Chemical and cleaning-product safety

• Confined-space and restricted-area awareness

• Environmental management

• Energy-efficiency and ventilation balance

• Continuous improvement of indoor environmental quality

Why Join This Program?

• Develop practical knowledge of indoor air quality and indoor environmental conditions.

• Understand common sources of indoor air contamination and pollution.

• Learn how ventilation and HVAC systems influence air quality.

• Develop skills in assessing fresh-air supply, exhaust systems, and air distribution.

• Understand the importance of filtration and proper filter maintenance.

• Learn how humidity, temperature, and moisture affect indoor environmental quality.

• Develop awareness of common biological, chemical, and particulate contaminants.

• Learn how to identify conditions that may contribute to mould and microbial growth.

• Develop practical knowledge of CO₂ and particulate monitoring.

• Learn how to use basic indoor air quality monitoring instruments.

• Understand the importance of HVAC coil, filter, duct, and ventilation maintenance.

• Develop skills in identifying potential indoor pollution sources.

• Learn how to investigate occupant complaints related to indoor air quality.

• Understand corrective measures for poor ventilation, excessive humidity, contamination, and filtration problems.

• Develop knowledge of air-cleaning and purification technologies.

• Learn how to establish basic indoor air quality management and monitoring programs.

• Understand how construction, renovation, cleaning activities, and occupant behaviour can affect indoor air quality.

• Develop documentation, reporting, and performance-monitoring skills.

• Learn how to balance ventilation requirements with HVAC energy efficiency.

• Prepare for responsibilities in facilities management, HVAC operations, building maintenance, workplace environmental management, and property operations.

Course Objective

The objective of the Certificate in Indoor Air Quality Management is to develop practical and technical competence in assessing, monitoring, managing, and improving indoor air quality within occupied buildings. The program aims to equip learners with the ability to identify common indoor air pollutants and sources, assess ventilation and filtration performance, monitor temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide, and particulate conditions, identify moisture and contamination risks, support HVAC maintenance and corrective actions, investigate indoor air quality complaints, maintain monitoring records, and develop practical strategies for maintaining comfortable and environmentally controlled indoor spaces.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, learners will be able to:

• Explain the fundamental principles of indoor air quality.

• Describe the relationship between indoor environmental quality and building operation.

• Identify common indoor air contaminants and their potential sources.

• Distinguish between particulate, chemical, biological, and gaseous contaminants.

• Explain the importance of adequate ventilation in occupied buildings.

• Describe the role of fresh-air and exhaust-air systems.

• Explain basic air-change and ventilation concepts.

• Identify factors affecting indoor air movement and air distribution.

• Explain how HVAC systems influence indoor air quality.

• Identify major components of air-handling and ventilation systems.

• Explain the role of filters in controlling airborne contaminants.

• Identify common filtration technologies and their applications.

• Understand the importance of correct filter selection and maintenance.

• Explain how dirty filters and excessive filter pressure drop can affect HVAC performance.

• Identify common air-cleaning and purification technologies.

• Explain basic applications of HEPA, activated-carbon, and ultraviolet air-treatment technologies.

• Understand humidity control and its relationship to indoor environmental conditions.

• Identify causes and effects of excessive indoor humidity.

• Identify conditions associated with excessive dryness.

• Explain the importance of temperature control for occupant comfort.

• Identify common sources of moisture intrusion in buildings.

• Recognize conditions that may contribute to mould and fungal growth.

• Identify common biological contamination sources.

• Identify common chemical and VOC sources within buildings.

• Recognize the potential contribution of cleaning products, furnishings, construction materials, and occupant activities to indoor pollutants.

• Explain the importance of carbon dioxide monitoring as an indicator of ventilation conditions.

• Conduct basic temperature and humidity measurements.

• Conduct basic carbon dioxide measurements using appropriate instruments.

• Conduct basic particulate measurements using suitable monitoring equipment.

• Carry out basic airflow measurements where applicable.

• Identify appropriate locations for indoor air quality sensors and monitoring devices.

• Establish basic indoor air quality monitoring routines.

• Develop basic indoor air quality inspection checklists.

• Conduct visual inspections of HVAC and building conditions affecting air quality.

• Inspect fresh-air intakes and exhaust-air systems.

• Inspect air filters and identify signs of loading, damage, or improper installation.

• Inspect AHU and FCU components for conditions that may affect indoor air quality.

• Inspect cooling coils and condensate systems for cleanliness and moisture-related problems.

• Identify basic ductwork conditions that may affect air quality.

• Understand basic air-balancing and airflow-distribution principles.

• Explain the impact of building pressure relationships on air movement and contamination control.

• Identify potential indoor contamination sources during building inspections.

• Investigate basic moisture and water-intrusion conditions.

• Apply basic mould-prevention and moisture-control measures.

• Understand appropriate cleaning and housekeeping practices for maintaining indoor air quality.

• Apply basic controls during construction and renovation activities to minimize indoor contamination.

• Identify appropriate methods for controlling chemical emissions and pollutant sources.

• Develop basic HVAC preventive maintenance activities that support good indoor air quality.

• Establish basic filter inspection, cleaning, and replacement schedules.

• Identify ventilation-system maintenance requirements.

• Develop basic duct and air-distribution inspection routines.

• Investigate occupant complaints relating to odours, temperature, humidity, dust, or ventilation.

• Collect and document relevant information during an indoor air quality investigation.

• Identify potential corrective actions for poor ventilation and airflow conditions.

• Identify corrective actions for excessive humidity, moisture, and contamination.

• Evaluate the basic effectiveness of implemented indoor air quality measures.

• Maintain indoor air quality monitoring, inspection, and maintenance records.

• Prepare basic indoor air quality assessment and performance reports.

• Track trends in temperature, humidity, CO₂, particulate levels, and other monitored conditions.

• Coordinate indoor air quality activities with HVAC technicians, facilities personnel, cleaning teams, building management, and specialist service providers.

• Communicate indoor air quality findings and required corrective actions professionally.

• Respond appropriately to significant indoor contamination or ventilation concerns.

• Apply suitable PPE and workplace safety procedures during inspections and maintenance.

• Handle cleaning chemicals and contaminated materials safely.

• Understand basic confined-space and restricted-area precautions where applicable.

• Apply environmentally responsible cleaning, waste-management, and HVAC maintenance practices.

• Balance indoor air quality requirements with energy-efficient HVAC operation.

• Support continuous improvement of indoor environmental quality through monitoring, maintenance, corrective action, and documented management practices.