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Inadequate Ventilation and High CO2 Levels
Does your room feel stuffy? Do you feel fatigued or become
dizzy during the work day? Do you regularly
get headaches at your work location?
These symptoms have a variety of causes (ergonomics, lighting or
noise) but could indicate an indoor air
quality problem due to inadequate ventilation.
In an office building, a minimum supply of 10 litres per second
of outdoor air per person is recommended
by ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air
Conditioning Engineers) but measuring
airflow is complicated.
Inadequate ventilation can lead to the build-up of small amounts
of contaminants which are difficult to
identify and test, so carbon dioxide (CO2) levels are used
as an indicator of adequate ventilation in a
room. Carbon dioxide is released by combustion of fuels
and every time we breathe. It is normally
measured at 300-350 ppm (parts per million) in the atmosphere.
The legal exposure limit is a TWAEV
(time weighted average exposure value) of 5000 ppm which will
unlikely be reached outside of heavy
industry (Regulation 833 Control of Exposure to Biological or
Chemical Agents). Levels of 600-800 ppm
are typical in office environments. Guidelines suggest CO2
levels do not exceed 1000 ppm (700 ppm
above outdoor levels), the ASHRAE action level. Some individuals
are sensitive to CO2 levels as low as
600 ppm so action may even be warranted at lower levels.
The Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) can make
recommendations to improve the ventilation if
there is an obvious problem. If the employer does not believe
there is a ventilation problem, the JHSC can
recommend indoor air testing for CO2 and any other suspected
contaminants be done to ensure exposure
values are not being exceeded. If the employer refuses, the
Ministry of Labour can be called.
Testing should be done throughout the day to show fluctuations
and should show the worst case scenario.
A JHSC member may be present at the beginning of every workplace
test and OSSTF recommends that
this is requested.
If levels are above outdoor levels before the room is occupied
each morning there is definitely a
problem with the ventilation system, or possibly the problem can
be alleviated if the ventilation is
left on longer in the afternoon/evening or throughout the
night.
Be aware of the way the room is ventilated. Turning off the
ventilation because it is noisy or
blocking the ventilator to control temperature or drafts can
lead to inadequate ventilation. A unit
ventilator allows for adequate fresh air intake and is not just
necessary for heating and cooling.
Be sure there is air movement at both the supply and the return
(using a short ribbon) and that
they are adequately spaced apart to promote air circulation.
HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) systems in
older buildings may not have been
designed to today's standards. The employer does not necessarily
have to redesign the ventilation
system but does have to maintain the ventilation system in
place.
To be properly maintained ventilation units need to be
rebalanced, filters should be changed
regularly and dampers should remain open to allow for some
outside air to be brought in if
possible. Appropriate maintenance records should be made
available to the JHSC.
Buildings made in the 1970s were often built airtight and
without windows to open in order to save
energy. Ventilation in these building and in interior rooms of
any building is regularly a concern
since there is rarely any air exchanged through drafts if the
ventilation system is not workingproperly.
Be sure any renovations include ventilation plans for any
subdivided rooms.
Leaving a door open to the hallway, leaving a window open a
crack, or opening windows for a few
minutes a couple of times a day can alleviate problems if the
employer has taken all other actions
possible to maintain adequate ventilation.
Plants can help reduce carbon dioxide levels and produce oxygen
but generally not to a significant
amount and if they are not properly cared for can become sources
for mould growth.
Improving ventilation rates can eliminate high CO2 levels and
prevent other contaminants from
accumulating. Employees should not have to suffer from headaches
and fatigue.
Relevant Legislation
Occupational Health and Safety Act
25. (1) An employer shall ensure that,
(b) the equipment, materials and protective devices provided by
the employer are maintained in good
condition;
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The Fungus Among Us
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Inadequate Ventilation andHigh CO2 Levels
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Indoor Temperatures During theWinter Months
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Inspections of VentilationSystems in Shops
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Industrial Establishments Regulation 851
127. An industrial establishment shall be adequately
ventilated by either natural or mechanical means
such that the atmosphere does not endanger the health and safety
of workers. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 851, s.
127.
128. (1) Replacement air shall be provided to replace
air exhausted.
(2) The replacement air shall,
(a) be heated, when necessary, to maintain at least the minimum
temperature in the workplace specified
in section 129;
(b) be free from contamination with any hazardous dust, vapour,
smoke, fume, mist or gas; and
(c) enter in such a manner so as,
(i) to prevent blowing of settled dust into the workplace,
(ii) to prevent interference with any exhaust system, and
(iii) not to cause undue drafts.
(3) The discharge of air from any exhaust system
shall be in such a manner so as to prevent the
return of contaminants to any workplace. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 851,
s. 128.
Related Links
Occupational Health Clinic for Ontario Workers (OHCOW)
(http://www.ohcow.on.ca)
http://www.ohcow.on.ca (http://www.ohcow.on.ca)
Hygienists are on staff and offer their services for free.
Indoor Air Quality - Tools for Schools Action Kit for Canadian
Schools (http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca)
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca (http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca)
The Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Action Kit offered by Health Canada
is a practical tool to help school boards, principalsand their
management teams, and school employees understand and address IAQ
problems.
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