ATLANTA — ASHRAE announced the incorporation of the Indoor Environmental Quality Global Alliance (IEQ-GA) as a legal entity. The announcement of IEQ-GA’s incorporation took place at a ceremony during the 40th AIVC conference, Oct. 15, in Ghent, Belgium.

The mission of the IEQ-GA is to promote and advocate for acceptable indoor environmental quality (thermal environment, indoor air quality, lighting, and acoustics) for building occupants globally while ensuring the knowledge from IEQ research is implemented in practice.

At the ceremony, the founding members celebrated with short speeches about the establishment of the alliance and presented its vision for achieving a healthy indoor environment in the building industry.

Founding members of the corporation are the Italian Association of Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration (AiCARR), the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), the Air Filtration and Ventilation Center (AIVC), the Indian Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ISHRAE), the Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (REHVA), and ASHRAE.

“We are inspired by the forward-thinking approach IEQ-GA has in the building industry,” said Darryl K. Boyce, P.Eng, 2019-20 ASHRAE president. “It is critically important that we advocate for the well-being of the people who occupy our buildings. Through the collaborative efforts and resources of IEA-GA’s member organizations, we will continue to provide safe buildings for generations to come.”

The creation of the IEQ-GA was the result of a presidential initiative of Bill Bahnfleth, 2013-14 ASHRAE presidential member and current IEQ-GA vice president, based on the report of a presidential ad hoc committee chaired by Bjarne Olesen, 2017-18 ASHRAE presidential member and current ASHRAE IEQ-GA alternate director. The committee was tasked with exploring ways in which industry groups could work together to address all aspects of indoor environmental quality and health.

A memorandum of understanding was established between the Air & Waste Management Association (A&WMA), the Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA), AIHA, AIVC, REHVA, and ASHRAE to form IEQ-GA. AiCARR and ISHRAE later became members of the alliance.

“An important attribute of IEQ-GA is that it is a non-industrial alliance among societies representing members that promote IEQ,” said Olesen. “The intent of IEQ-GA is to work with all partners of the value chain for indoor environmental quality, including building research, comfort and health research, building design, installation, commissioning, and operation and occupant behavior. Furthermore, IEQ-GA will work with industry organizations to help their members to provide products and services that promote IEQ.”

The founding members represent professionals from various disciplines linked to indoor environment and are committed to work together and promote education, research, and knowledge exchange at a global scale; to develop standards, codes, guidelines; and to encourage advocacy among the general public in indoor environments around the world.

The IEQ-GA is currently seeking new members from all the involved sectors and disciplines to join forces. Sectors include architects, engineers, environmental professionals, industrial/occupational hygienists, and health section specialists, among others. For more information on IEQ-GA, visit https://ieq-ga.net/.