Americans spend about 90% of their time indoors -- many in office buildings. Now that new studies have shown that certain textiles, moisture build-up, and poor ventilation, among many other factors, can contribute to poor indoor-air quality and problems for building occupants -- including headaches, fatigue, sinus congestion, and eye, nose, and throat irritation -- IAQ has become an important consideration for building owners and facility managers.

This extensive, 228-page document equips building managers to prevent, identify, and correct problems with indoor air. Written in 1991, this guide lacks recent IAQ discoveries and approaches, but it offers a solid introduction to IAQ problems and prevention plans.

The guide outlines a procedure for evaluating buildings. For existing problems, it suggests potential solutions and where to turn for professional assistance with serious IAQ problems, such as those caused by chemical leaks. The appendices on moisture and mildew, radon, and asbestos provide an informative introduction to some of the most dangerous causes of poor indoor-air quality.