In a previous post, we told you about our work with Rush University Medical Center on its new hospital building. An important part of the quest for LEED Gold Certification involves creating an indoor air quality plan, and we were excited at the opportunity to develop and manage one specifically for Rush.

We designed the plan around four major areas: 1) Source control, meant to minimize pollutants and other hazardous particulates indoors; 2) Pathway interruption, which involves isolating work areas so as not to contaminate clean, finished spaces; 3) Housekeeping; and 4) Scheduling.

Here are some steps we and others involved in the project are taking to bring the new Rush building closer to LEED Gold:

• Protecting on-site or installed absorptive or porous materials such as batt insulation and drywall from exposure to moisture, and disposing of water-damaged materials
• Providing adequate ventilation of packaged dry products prior to installation
• Routing of material deliveries and construction waste removal around the exterior of the building, not through it
• Erecting temporary barriers to separate construction activities from finished areas of the building  and sealing all transfer ducts, pipe chases and other openings that cross into sealed areas
• Using negative area pressurization to prevent the migration of contaminants from one space to another
• Minimizing accumulation of dust fumes, vapors, or gases in the building; suppressing dust with wetting agents or sweeping compounds; removing spills, water and moisture as soon as possible; and vacuuming using HEPA-filtered vacuum cleaners
• Scheduling of application of interior finishes such as paints, adhesives, sealants, coatings, finishes, carpets and furnishings to ensure optimal air quality
• Monitoring ventilation and moisture levels

In addition to being an important aspect of LEED certification, good indoor air quality is also a crucial for medical facilities such as this one. For more information on LEED, click here.