Building renovation and IAQ: a case study

Ventilation requirements originally intended for a given space use may not be adequate if the building is renovated. Therefore, renovation of buildings represents a growing concern for indoor air quality (IAQ) compliance among design professinals and building managers alike. This article presents the results of an actual renovation project in which CO fumes, emitted from a gas engine-driven concrete saw/cutter operated in an unoccupied, renovated space, entered into an adjacent occupied space, reportedly causing CO-related symptoms. The procedure used to substantiate the validity of attributing a serious injury to the employees from CO exposure is described.