IAQ TESTING
Manufacturers seeking to demonstrate Indoor Air Quality must develop a Human Thriving IAQ Plan that addresses pollutant sources and protective and/or corrective measures to improve air quality (e.g. increased PPE, installed new HEPA filters, new scrubbers in recovery tanks). The plan must confirm that, at minimum, the facility meets all applicable OSHA requirements for ventilation and air contaminants sources relevant to the manufacturing of the product seeking LPC Certification.
If the facility is located in a state that has an OSHA-approved state plan, this supersedes general OSHA compliance and should be followed to demonstrate a responsible approach to air quality within the facility. There are twenty-eight OSHA-approved State Plans (and California has its own superseding Indoor Air regulations), operating state-wide occupational safety and health programs. State Plans are required to have standards and enforcement programs that are at least as effective as OSHA’s and may have different or more stringent requirements.
To demonstrate the ongoing implementation of IAQ measures, manufacturers must also provide one or more of the following:
- Results from an indoor air quality test performed within the last 12 months; or
- Compliance with an ILFI approved continuous monitoring standard, such as RESET; or
- A site specific IAQ implementation plan signed off by an industrial hygienist addressing the areas of highest contaminant concern where IAQ testing or monitoring may not be appropriate. The plan must be accompanied by photos, receipts, or construction documents confirming the plan’s recommended measures are in place.
FACILITY VENTILATION
The manufacturer must demonstrate compliance with the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)’s Manual for Industrial Ventilation for the manufacturing floor. Common areas and shared spaces, other than manufacturing zones, must demonstrate compliance with the ventilation rates stated in ASHRAE 62.1.
DEMONSTRATING SAFE WORKPLACES
The final facility should demonstrate that during the past year there have been no fatal injuries, and no injuries with greater than 0.5 Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) over the expected duration of the injury. If the expected duration of the injury is permanent, use life expectancy in the applicable country.
EMPLOYEE COMFORT MEASURES
The manufacturer must demonstrate compliance in a minimum of two of the following areas:
- Occupant Thermal Comfort: the manufacturing zones, common areas, and shared spaces must be in compliance with ASHRAE 55- 2017.
- Occupant Noise Exposure: the manufacturing zones must be in compliance with OSHA 1910.95, Standard for Occupational Noise Exposure.
- Ergonomics: the manufacturer must document the relevant and implemented OSHA Controls for MSD Hazards.
SUFFICIENT AND FREQUENT HUMAN-NATURE INTERACTIONS
The facility must provide break areas, accessible for all employees manufacturing the product, meeting one or more of the following criteria:
- Break rooms with direct access to daylight and a view outside.
- In regions where climate allows access to outdoor spaces for a minimum of nine (9) months out of the year [1], break room and lounge spaces may be provided outside and directly adjacent to the building. Outdoor spaces must be appropriately weather protected [2] and furnished with seating and tables in a quantity to appropriately accommodate all building occupants given access to the space.
- Facilities that cannot provide outdoor break rooms or move break rooms to those with a window wall must prove integration of biophilic design elements in their break room.
[1] Climate conducive to providing break room and lounge spaces outdoors is defined as having 273 days (average of 9 months) with a daytime mean temperature that has a PET thermal perception between slightly cool (10 C/50 F) and slightly warm (26oC/79oF). Conformance may be calculated using historical weather data and may be consistently calculated using daily, weekly, or monthly mean temperatures.
[2] Weather protection for outdoor spaces must include full protection from rain and partial protection from intense, direct sun or wind.
COLLECTING EMPLOYEE FEEDBACK
Manufacturers must demonstrate that they have mechanisms in place for employee feedback that gather input about how the facility does or does not meet the intent of Imperative 10, and identifies opportunities for improving support of worker health and happiness at the facility. For example, providing space and infrastructure for employees to access daylight and fresh air or biophilic elements is important, but manufacturers should be aware of how these resources are used and whether staff can actually take advantage of them in practice.
