ABSTRACT
In the United States people spend about 90% of their time inside buildings. Indoor air quality is affected not only by the construction materials used, but also by the activities and products that we bring with us into the building. Although the building's mechanical system is important for providing good air quality, toxins and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) brought inside can make it difficult to achieve good indoor air quality. Designers must pay attention to materials specified and the appropriate design of mechanical systems. Having a tight enough building envelope to keep out poor air quality, radon, and pests is important. Users need to pay attention to how their everyday activities bring in contaminants as well as doing appropriate housekeeping.
