An indoor air quality certified professional (IAQA) is one of the world’s most qualified and sought after IAQ experts. IAQA members having AmIAQ certification are often called upon by building management and general public for practical solutions to any complex IAQ problem.

HIRE ONLY THE BEST CERTIFIED AND TRAINED IAQA MEMBERS

While hiring a contractor or professional consultant, select a firm that has a certified and qualified staff that follows industry guidelines and standards and ensures proper job execution.

IAQA has several training courses, including remediation and assessment programs made available to its members through several indoor air disciplines.

HOW TO SCREEN AN IAQ CONSULTANT

Before making that crucial selection, check whether the consultant has appropriate project experience and training. Seek information from contact clients and references to know whether he has successfully accomplished earlier IAQ related problems.

Check whether one of the personnel (who have more experience than others do) stays in direct touch with site investigation staff or remain onsite.

There are numerous IAQ qualified consultants who work for small firms or who are self-employed. Nationally recognized accreditations and certifications would help you in ensuring that firms of varying size yield similar results. Note that not all professional society memberships, certifications or accreditations are equal. Be wary of contractors who cross their expertise limits or those having an in-depth financial stake in the investigation outcome.

For instance, though a duct-cleaning professional may have noticed several IAQ problems, it does not qualify her/him to remedy and diagnose all of them. You need to remain aware of federal certification or state certification requirements for persons involved in ventilation modifications.

Next, always clarify your stand as to what you are expecting from your hired consultant. If required, see whether the consultant can respond on a short notice. This may help you define the scope of services on an upfront basis. However, an indoor air quality is rarely predictable. Hence, your proposed scope may get modified based on your question and answer session with some prospective consultants.

No two indoor air quality problems or buildings are alike. Hence, the scope of project could not be defined till a thorough inspection is conducted through testing and analysis.

If time permits, interview candidates and solicit proposals. A telephonic interview will suffice. Ask the consultant for her/his general approach towards problem resolution. Usually, a systematic but general approach is more effective than extensive air testing. Proposals have to indicate the estimated consulting expenses and fees for the initial phase of the specified project.

Pay attention to project approach and enquire if you feel some of the scope items don’t have any sense. Find as to how the decisions for remediation or follow-up testing could be made.

What Studies Indicate

Studies indicate that most people spend 90 % of their time indoors and Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) issues exercise deep impact on several people around the world. Poor air quality leads to decreased property values, lost productivity, liability issue and health concerns.

IAQ problems in non-industrial buildings such as offices, schools and homes are often caused by inter-related and complex issues. Fixing and diagnosing poor IAQ sources may need professional expertise of more than one contractor or consultant.

Currently, there are several firms available which would help you find solutions to your IAQ problems. As the IAQ industry is non-regulated in most parts of the country, it is important to ensure that only qualified firms and individuals deal with such complex issues.

So far, IAQA is the largest professional organization dealing with issues related to indoor air quality. Since 1995, IAQA has delivered the industry’s most respected and prestigious programs especially in mold training.

Indoor air quality impacts occupant comfort and health in a major way. Whenever issues related to indoor air quality arises, it is important that only the highly qualified ones are called upon.

What happens when you don’t hire an IAQA:

If you have a serious indoor air problem and are not hiring an IAQA, below mentioned are the problems that you may face:-

1. Excessive mold growth would result in more toxic spores getting dispersed in your room.

2. In case you have a weak resistance power, there are high chances that you may suffer from respiratory ailment or sinus based problems.

3. Prolonged mold exposure may lead to chronic illness and, if the problem persists for a longer period, may even force you to shift to a safer location.

4. Hiring a non-experienced consultant to clear mold growth may offer temporary solution. After a brief period of lull, mold may develop and even spread to other areas.

IAQA in Pennsylvania:

Most people may be unaware of the fact, but Pennsylvania is the only state in the United States which does not have a statewide certification. Hence IAQA is the only available resource for a consumer in Pennsylvania.

How to find an IAQA agent:

For those who wish to seek an IAQ professional contractor or consultant, then the Indoor Air Quality Association is the best resource. Using a variety of filter criteria, you can search the member database. Some of them are as follows:-

1. Industry Discipline - Members of IAQA come from numerous trades and professions. You can use the IAQA advanced search mechanism for advancing the query so that it fits their needs

2. IAQA Profiles – There are numerous IAQA members who have posted the personal profiles in which they have detailed their credentials, experience and education. In case you are not getting enough results while you search for the IAQA site, you can unclick a box which states, “Include those listings which have IAQ profiles.”

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN IAQA TRAINING CERTIFICATION AND PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION

Adam Andrews from the American Indoor Air quality council states, “If you hold a private IAQA related credential, you might be surprised to learn that it may be nothing more than a training certificate. Newly Published ANSI/NOCA Standard 1100 explains the difference between training certificates, known as assessment based certificates and true professional certification programs. According to the standard, a training certificate is awarded to someone who takes a particular course of instruction and then passes a test based on that course.”

Adding further, Adam says, “A professional certification, on the other hand, is awarded to someone who passes an examination based on broad industry knowledge that is independent of training courses or course providers. In section 8, Standard 1100 stipulate that holders of training certificates may not use letters or acronyms behind their names. Nor may they use the name “certified” in describing their credentials. The standard suggests that the so-called certifications that are offered by many IAQA organizations today are, in reality, nothing more than training certificates. And that these organizations mislead their members by referring to their credentials as certifications.”

Now the ANSI/NOCA standard does not condemn all IAQ certified bodies. Organizations such as the American Board of Industrial Hygiene (ABIH) and the American Indoor Air Quality Council (AIAQC) offer professional certification programs as defined in Standard 1100. Predictably, these organizations are among the only IAQ groups to earn third party accreditation of their certification programs. If you are unsure whether your credential is compliant with standard 1100, ask the following questions:-

1. Does my certifying body develop a credit or deliver certification prep courses?

2. Does my certifying body require these courses as prerequisites for certification?

3. Or imply that such courses are the only way to become certified?

If the answer to these questions is yes, then your certifying body should not grant titles or use the word certified in describing you. According to ANSI/NOCA Standard 1100, these credentials are training certificates – not professional certifications.

Press the link below to click on IAQA expert Aaron Stull’s profile on the official IAQ site: - Email Member

“Keystone Basement Systems, Inc. is a foundation repair company. KBS is not, however, a engineering firm and should not be considered as such.”