Indoor Air
IAQ in Large and Commercial Buildings
IAQ Building Education and Assessment Model (I-BEAM)
U.S. EPA, Office of Air and Radiation, Indoor Environments Division (6609J)
The Indoor Air Quality Building Education and Assessment Model (I-BEAM), released in 2002, is a guidance tool designed for use by building professionals and others interested in indoor air quality in commercial buildings. I-BEAM updates and expands EPA's Building Air Quality guidance (the BAQ is still available via the web at www.epa.gov/iaq/largebldgs/baq_page.htm) and was designed to be a comprehensive state-of-the-art guidance for managing IAQ in commercial buildings. I-BEAM contains text, animation/visual, and interactive/calculation components that can be used to perform a number of diverse tasks.
With I-BEAM you will be able to: Improve indoor air quality (IAQ) within budget; Refine your maintenance program for IAQ; Better manage housekeeping services for IAQ; Conduct an indoor air quality building audit; Train management and staff in indoor air quality; Provide documentation that the building is following IAQ building practices; Reduce liability exposure to indoor air quality complaints; and, Improve the marketability of the building and rental space
I-BEAM consists of many individual modules which explain different aspects of IAQ including how to manage, operate, and maintain your building for IAQ, and how to insure that your energy efficiency projects are compatible with IAQ. I-BEAM creates a way for you to learn how to manage for indoor air quality as an integral part of your daily building management activities. You can use I-BEAM to train management and building personnel on IAQ issues and tasks. You can use I-BEAM as a reference tool for specific issues. You can use I-BEAM to assist in solving problems and responding to complaints. You can use I-BEAM to set up an IAQ management program including maintenance, housekeeping, and renovation, and energy efficiency functions to protect IAQ.
Note: This guidance was designed to be a web-only resource. PDF versions of each of the text modules have been made available (please note that these PDF files represent the version of I-BEAM on the date the files were created).
What is I-BEAM?
There are three types of modules which incorporate what is I-BEAM.
- Text Modules and Links Text modules contain text material only, along with links to other parts of I-BEAM for more explanation and information. Click on one of the main menu topics, and a submenu of that topic appears, along with the main page for that subject. You can access the information in one of two ways. The text screen contains a detailed table of contents that will link you directly to the detailed subject matter identified. Or, you can scroll down the text screen for all the text material contained in that module.
- Visual Reference Modules The Visual Reference module contains pictures and animations of IAQ problems and solutions. Learn about the IAQ issues contained in each picture by clicking on a "hot button" contained on the pictures. You may find explanations in text, or in other visual guides which show air movement flows, or pollutant flows as various elements in the building are changed. Please note, the animated series modules use animated GIF files which are about 2MB in file size. If you have dial-up access to the internet, it may be a moment before the graphics load.
- IAQ Budget and Accounts Module
I-BEAM also includes Forms, Glossary of IAQ Terms, and Related sites, as well as other resources.