The updated guidance below is intended to provide more clarity. It introduces two competency levels to address the requirements of the Indoor Air Quality requirements in BREEAM. From the next reissue of the referenced V7 technical manuals, this guidance will replace the current definition of Suitable IAQ professional, and this will instead refer to Competent individual – IAQ.
The below guidance can be applied immediately; however, it will become mandatory, once published in the next reissue of UK NC V7, International NC V7 and RFO Commercial V7.
Competent individual – IAQ
IAQ Professional
An individual who has more than three years’ experience and has acquired expertise in IAQ plans AND/OR post-construction IAQ measurements. The experience must clearly demonstrate a practical understanding of one or both, as relevant:
- IAQ plans covering indoor air quality and pollutant control, building services engineering, low-emission materials, product specification, and IAQ management throughout the lifecycle of the building.
AND/ OR
- Post-construction IAQ measurement including sampling strategy development, practical monitoring experience, site-based problem solving and interpretation and quality control of post-construction IAQ measurements.
An IAQ Professional can only prepare and/or sign-off activities for which they can demonstrate relevant competence and experience.
IAQ Technician
An individual who is responsible for conducting post-construction IAQ measurements and has less than three years of experience in this area can be considered an IAQ Technician if:
- Trained in sampling methods and equipment use, AND
- Works under the instruction and supervision of an IAQ Professional, AND
- Has received documented site-specific training, AND
- Has completed at least one year of relevant field experience, OR
- Has participated in a minimum of five post-construction IAQ measurement projects.
An IAQ Technician can only conduct post-construction IAQ measurements under the leadership of the IAQ Professional, who must undertake a formal review of all field notes, deviations and raw data and provide written sign-off before submitting the report and the training record to the assessor.
Professional memberships and certifications
Professional membership is not mandatory; however, both the IAQ Professional and IAQ Technician may choose to provide evidence of membership in recognised organisations such as ASHRAE, CIBSE, BOHS, VDI-TGA, AICVF or equivalent national or international organisations.
Evidence of experience and professional memberships and certifications
Both the IAQ Professional and the IAQ Technician must confirm the required experience by providing a CV with project history and, where relevant, documentation of professional memberships and certifications. This must be reviewed for compliance by the assessor and submitted as supporting evidence for this issue.