ATLANTA — ASHRAE and the Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA) announced that they have agreed in principle to a merger, combining resources to improve IAQ in the built environment.
Pending a three to six month period of due diligence, IAQA will become a part of the ASHRAE organization while maintaining its own brand and board of directors. IAQA will operate independently within ASHRAE’s organizational structure. Plans call for IAQA headquarters to relocate from Rockville, Maryland, to Atlanta, home of ASHRAE’s international headquarters.
“This merger is beneficial to both ASHRAE and IAQA in that it strengthens the programs and services of both organizations,” said Tom Phoenix, ASHRAE president. “The work of IAQA complements the work of ASHRAE in its standards, research, publications, and educational offerings. We now combine our resources to ensure the industry receives the best indoor air quality technical guidance and educational programs possible, which means improved indoor air quality for the world around us.”
Among ASHRAE’s major IAQ offerings are Standard 62.1, Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality, and Standard 62.2, Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality in Low-Rise Residential Buildings, and publications such as the Indoor Air Quality Guide: Best Practices for Design, Construction and Commissioning. ASHRAE also recently announced the formation of the Indoor Environmental Quality Global Alliance, which included IAQA as a charter member. In addition, ASHRAE has a research program related to IAQ with 10 current projects totaling $2.8 million, representing 23 percent of ASHRAE’s research budget.
“This merger allows IAQA to maintain its own brand while also providing its members with enhanced benefits and services,” said Kent Rawhouser, president of IAQA. “Our strong history of programs and products is expected to not only continue, but to grow as the merger allows us to take advantage of the resources and programs overseen by ASHRAE. Members of IAQA and ASHRAE will work collaboratively to strengthen indoor air quality programs for the industry, and most importantly, for the people who occupy homes and buildings around the world.”
IAQA provides continuing education, conferences and expositions, certification programs, monthly webinars, technical publications, and funds IAQ-related research. IAQA subsidiary, Indoor Environmental Standards Organization (IESO), is an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited standards developing organization focused on IAQ assessment, remediation, and management of indoor environments.
The organizations said ASHRAE and IAQA programs will be aligned to create high-impact resources for building professionals.
For more information on ASHRAE, visit www.ashrae.org. For more information on the Indoor Air Quality Association, visit www.iaqa.org.
Publication date: 7/14/2014
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