Publications / Ordering Assistance

The Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools (IAQ TfS) Action Kit shows schools how to carry out a practical plan of action to improve indoor air problems at little or no cost using straightforward activities and in-house staff.  The Kit provides best practices, industry guidelines, sample policies, and a sample IAQ management plan.  The voluntary guidance can save schools time and money so that resources can be directed toward educating children. The IAQ TfS Action Kit is co-sponsored by the National Parent Teacher Association, National Education Association, Association of School Business Officials, American Federation of Teachers, and the American Lung Association.

• Learn more about the Action Kit and and download the contents (HTML)
• EPA 402-K-07-008 (hard copy) or EPA 402-C-05-001 (CD-ROM version)

EPA designed the IAQ TfS Road Map as a user-friendly, ten-step guide to help school staff familiarize themselves with the multitude of resources included in the IAQ TfS Action Kit.  These easy-to-follow steps help school staff apply IAQ TfS guidance to establish a comprehensive IAQ management program.  The Road Map is included in the IAQ TfS Action Kit and is available for order separately.

This brief reference guide consists of 10 easy-to-follow steps to get you started on developing a comprehensive IAQ program today!  The Road Map is available here as three separate files.  The files are larger because they are full page, full color printable versions of the Road Map.

• Road Map page 1 PDF (PDF, 1 page, 764KB)
• Road Map page 2 PDF (PDF, 1 page, 2.2MB)
• Road Map page 3 PDF (PDF, 1 page, 8.3MB)
• EPA 402-F-00-11, 2000

The problem solving wheel is an interactive, user-friendly tool that EPA designed to help school staff identify IAQ emergencies and determine actions to take in an emergency IAQ situation.  This resource was designed to help school staff understand various factors related to the indoor environment, such as odors, temperature and humidity problems, illnesses, symptoms of health problems, and explanations of and solutions to common problems.  The problem solving wheel is included in the IAQ TfS Action Kit and is available for order separately.

• EPA 402-K-05-001A, January 2005

Watch this four-minute video to find out why schools across the country rely on the IAQ TfS Program to improve and protect their learning environments.  The video begins with excerpts from news broadcasts and features superintendents, principals, teachers, and facility managers discussing the IAQ TfS Program.  These school representatives describe how they have learned to recognize IAQ problems, identify common indoor pollutants, and address problems using simple, low-cost techniques.

• EPA 402-E-04-002, February 2004

This fact sheet offers a brief overview of the concerns related to poor IAQ in schools and describes the Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools (IAQ TfS) Program, established by EPA in 1995.  The IAQ TfS Program and related resources offer voluntary guidance for schools on how to implement and sustain a proactive IAQ management plan to identify, correct, and prevent IAQ problems to create and maintain healthy and safe learning environments.

• PDF Version (PDF, 1 page, 108KB)
• EPA 402-F-03-011, March 2003

This fact sheet provides an overview of the IAQ Design Tools for Schools (IAQ DTfS) Web resource.  EPA created IAQ DTfS primarily for school staff, architects, engineers, and consultants responsible for school planning, design, construction, renovation, operations, and maintenance.  The resources included on the Website offer valuable information on the variety of factors that affect the quality of the indoor environment, such as mold, ventilation, and pollutants, and voluntary guidance on how to ensure good indoor air quality during school construction and renovation projects.

• PDF Version (PDF, 1 page, 311KB)
• Visit the IAQ Design Tools for Schools Website - www.epa.gov/iaq/schooldesign
• EPA 402-F-03-012, March 2003

The IAQ TfS Mentor Network is a collaborative network of IAQ advocates who share experiences and successes and offer advice.  This fact sheet provides background information on the IAQ TfS Program and describes the Mentor Network.  It discusses how to join the Mentor Network and the benefits of participating, both as a mentor and as a participant.

• PDF Version (PDF, 1 page, 140KB)
• Visit the Mentor Network page - www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/mentor.html

Revised in August 2003, this fact sheet offers the latest information and data about poor indoor air quality (IAQ), it causes, health consequences, and solutions.  The quality of indoor air declines when schools fail to follow simple practices that help to maintain a safe and healthy indoor environment.  Recent data and evidence show that exposure to poor IAQ can cause or exacerbate illnesses, especially asthma and allergies, in children and adults.  In addition, poor IAQ can reduce a person's ability to perform specific mental tasks requiring concentration, calculation, or memory.  This fact sheet is a good resource to help school administrators understand that good indoor air quality can enhance student performance, a key measure of success for schools.

• PDF Version (PDF, 8 pp, 234KB)
• EPA 402-K-03-006, Revised August 2003

"This fact sheet provides an overview of EPA’s 2002 IAQ Practices in Schools Survey and summarizes key survey findings. Results indicate that 42 percent of schools in the U.S. have an IAQ management program in place (about half of those schools use the IAQ Tools for Schools Program). Survey respondents said that their IAQ programs have led to improved workplace satisfaction, fewer asthma attacks, fewer visits to the school nurse, and lower absenteeism."

• A brief fact sheet summarizing the six page EHP article is available here (PDF, 2 pp, 87KB)
• Read the article online at http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/docs/2005/7881/abstract.html
• EPA 402-F-07-006, February 2007

Implementing the IAQ TfS Program district-wide has become the standard approach for schools initiating an IAQ management program.  However, large districts sometimes find it challenging to implement the Program in all schools simultaneously.  This fact sheet describes the benefits of implementing a district-wide program and components that ensure a successful program from the start.  EPA has developed 15 easy steps to make the process of launching a district-wide program more organized and straightforward for small and large districts alike.  This document is part of the IAQ TfS Action Kit, and it can also be ordered separately.

• PDF Version (PDF, 2 pp, 61KB)

This fact sheet offers a brief overview of the Healthy School Environments Website.  EPA created the Website as a "one stop shop" to provide valuable information for facility managers, school administrators, school nurses, parents, architects, engineers, teachers, students, and the general community on various school environmental health and safety topics important to improving the quality of school facilities.  Included on the Website are links to environmental health and safety resources developed by EPA, other federal agencies, state and local governments, and non-government organizations.

• Visit the Healthy School Environments Website - www.epa.gov/schools
• PDF Version Color (PDF, 1 page, 110KB)
• PDF Version B&W (PDF, 1 page, 97KB)

A software tool is now available to assist school districts establish and manage comprehensive school facility self-assessment programs. The Healthy School Environments Assessment Tool (HealthySEAT) contains a fully integrated environmental health and safety checklist and is designed to be easily customized to reflect state and local requirements and policies. Go to the HealthySeat Website

This full-color brochure describes the many benefits of using the Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Program to improve IAQ and the quality of the learning environment.  Benefits highlighted in the brochure include:  successful outcomes in schools (i.e., health benefits and cost savings), research on IAQ and schools (i.e., cost savings, performance, and health effects), mold remediation, and asthma management.  This brochure is a great companion guide to help school staff communicate the importance and benefits of improving IAQ in schools and to encourage upper level management and the community to adopt and support the IAQ TfS Program.

• PDF Version (PDF, 20 pp, 1.8MB)
• EPA-402-K-02-005, October 2002

This guide offers valuable information for all school staff, especially school nurses, teachers, and maintenance staff, on how to identify and control common environmental factors in schools that trigger asthma attacks.  Resources include an "Asthma Action Card" which can serve as a daily asthma management plan.  School nurses can share these resources with parents to raise awareness of asthma triggers and to help manage asthma at home and school effectively.  Also included are easy tips for managing asthma in schools, including using the IAQ TfS Kit and Program to improve IAQ in the learning environment.

• HTML Version
• PDF Version (PDF, 24 pp, 4.47MB)
• www.epa.gov/asthma
• EPA 402-K-05-002, August 2005

The Communications Guide offers ideas and resources for developing and carrying out activities that communicate the benefits of participating in an indoor air quality (IAQ) management program. This practical guide is designed to help members of a school's IAQ team communicate--both internally and externally. Good communication helps your team gain the continuing support of key stakeholders, making your team's job easier. Raising awareness of good IAQ practices among administrators, school board members, the community, teachers and the local media will build support for your team's efforts to improve trust and collaboration while decreasing liability.

• PDF Version (PDF, 29 pp, 2.16MB)
• EPA 402-K-02-008, January 2003

EPA designed this colorful tri-fold brochure as the primary resource to market the IAQ TfS Program to school staff and other stakeholders.  This brochure includes insert cards with guidance and action items for facility managers, teachers, administrators, and health professionals on how to implement the program and improve IAQ in schools.

• HTML Version (includes PDF versions of the four insert cards)
• EPA 402-F-05-016, July 2005

Schools and school districts across the nation are reaping the benefits of improved IAQ by successfully implementing the IAQ Tools for Schools Action Kit and Program.  EPA had developed case studies describing the experiences and processes associated with implementing good IAQ strategies and practices.  Each school profiled has overcome different barriers -- financial, legal, managerial, health-related, or community-related -- through teamwork and with a strong commitment to providing a healthy learning environment for students and staff.  Help others learn from your experiences!

• Go to the Case Studies page

Periodically, EPA distributes bulletins on topics relevant to IAQ in schools. The bulletins are generally distributed electronically via e-mail. If you are interested in receiving future bulletins, send an email to IAQTfSBulletin@cadmusgroup.com to add your name to our distribution list.  The Cadmus Group, Inc. is a contractor supporting EPA's IAQ Tools for Schools Program.  Read past bulletins:

• Visit the Bulletins page

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has published a number of reports to Congressional requestors on School Facilities, which are available for download. 
 

• Visit the GAO Reports page of this Website to learn more about these reports, download the PDF versions of the reports and find out how to order printed copies from GAO.

This low-literacy asthma management guide provides parents of children with asthma with the information they need to improve their children's quality of life.  It is filled with tips on managing asthma by developing a management plan and following some simple steps to minimize exposure to asthma triggers found indoors and out.  The brochure includes helpful visuals that display how to implement the suggested steps.

• PDF Version (PDF, 36 pp, 1.08MB)
• EPA 402-F-04-021, September 2004

Ayude a su niño a controlar el asma

• Disponible en Inglés y Español (PDF) (PDF, 36 pp, 1.3MB)
• EPA 402-F-05-021, December 2005

This funbook is filled with activities for children such as a maze, connect-the-dots, coloring, etc.  These activities will help parents and children learn together about asthma triggers that can be found in the home and how to avoid them.

• PDF Version (PDF, 15 pp, 1.28MB)
• EPA 402-F-04-008
   
• Disponible en Inglés y Español (PDF) (PDF, 15 pp, 1.41MB)
• EPA 402-F-04-009 February 2004

This bookmark, with English on the front and Spanish on the back, provides a list of six asthma triggers.  Children can use this colorful bookmark and it will remind them about the most common asthma triggers so that they can avoid them.

• EPA 402-E-05-001, April 2005

The Mold in School Fact Sheet provides an organized summary of information related to facts of mold growth in school buildings and portable classrooms. Concern about indoor exposure to mold has been increasing as the public becomes aware that exposure to mold can cause a variety of health effects and symptoms, including allergic reactions. Parents are especially concerned about the conditions of school buildings and how mold may affect their children. Because of the mold risk and media attention, school administrators should understand the mechanics of mold growth and take steps to avoid the moisture and mold problems.

• PDF Version (PDF, 2 pp, 131KB)
• www.epa.gov/mold
• EPA 402-F-03-029, January 2004

This document presents guidelines for the remediation/cleanup of mold and moisture problems in schools and commercial buildings; these guidelines include measures designed to protect the health of building occupants and remediators. It has been designed primarily for building managers, custodians, and others who are responsible for commercial building and school maintenance. It should serve as a reference for potential mold and moisture remediators.

• HTML Version
• PDF Version (PDF, pp, 4.8MB)
• www.epa.gov/mold
• EPA 402-K-01-001, March 2001

This magnet promotes moisture control and includes EPA's Mold Website and the IAQ Information Clearinghouse number (1-800-438-4318. This magnet is a great resource to use in your school as a reminder to keep school facilities free of mold.

• EPA 402-E-04-001, 2004

This document describes radon, how it enters buildings, and its health effects and risks.  The document provides results of a nationwide survey that indicates that more than seventy thousand (or one in five) schoolrooms have high short-term radon levels.  The document describes how to test a school for radon and what to do with the test results.  Additional sources of information are also listed.

• HTML Version
• This document is only available via the web
• www.epa.gov/radon

The Indoor Air Quality Building Education and Assessment Module (I-BEAM) is a software program that EPA designed for building professionals and others to manage IAQ in commercial buildings.  I-BEAM includes text, animated and visual graphics, and interactive/calculation components that can be used to perform several building management tasks, including IAQ building audits, diagnosing IAQ-related health problems, establishing an IAQ management and maintenance program, planning IAQ-compatible energy projects, and calculating the cost, revenue, and productivity impacts of planned IAQ activities.

• Visit the I-BEAM Website

The School Advanced Ventilation Engineering Software (SAVES) package is a tool to help school designers assess the potential financial payback and indoor humidity control benefits of Energy Recovery Ventilation (ERV) systems for school applications.

• Visit the SAVES Website
• You can download the EFast and IHAT programs directly from our Website
• You can obtain a copy of the SAVES CD-Rom EPA-402-C-04-004, 2004