ABSTRACT
The legal and administrative environment can differ considerably and effective option in one jurisdiction may prove to be ineffective in another. This chapter discusses the various types of standards and guidelines area. A vague or qualitative standard is one that states what should be taken into consideration when designing or assessing conditions or situations in order to mitigate or avoid threats to health and/or safety. The most appropriate approach for existing buildings is through qualitative “standards”. A minimum standard is one that states what is the least necessary, such as the provision of a supply of water, the provision of at least one sanitary facility, or at least one bath or shower with a supply of hot and cold water. The maximum limits could be those recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for indoor air quality and WHO guidelines for ambient air quality; similarly, the WHO recommendations for minimum and maximum thresholds for indoor temperatures could be adopted.
