IEQ credits focus on which areas to improve occupant safety and health?

• A. Ventilation, filtration, and pollutant source control.
• B. Thermal mass and insulation.
• C. Exterior shading.
• D. Water efficiency.

Answer: (A)

Ventilation, filtration, and pollutant source control directly improve indoor air quality, which is central to IEQ credits aimed at occupant safety and health. Providing adequate ventilation brings in outdoor air to dilute contaminants; filtration traps particulates and some pollutants; and source control reduces emissions from building materials, furnishings, cleaning products, and other sources. Together, they target the substances people breathe indoors and the conditions that affect health risks like humidity and airborne contaminants.

Thermal mass and insulation mainly affect energy use and thermal comfort, not IAQ in a direct health sense. Exterior shading influences heat gain and glare but doesn’t directly impact indoor air quality. Water efficiency concerns moisture and resource use rather than air contaminants.