The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates and enforces indoor air quality standards in the United States. The EPA has several regulations and guidelines for indoor air quality:
- The Clean Air Act: The Clean Air Act is a federal law that sets national standards for both indoor and outdoor air quality.
- Indoor air quality guidelines: The EPA provides recommendations for maximum levels of indoor air pollutants (e.g., radon, particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5), and carbon dioxide (CO2)). These guidelines are meant to protect public health and provide a basis of future regulations and standards.
- Indoor air quality regulations: The EPA has several regulations related to indoor air quality (e.g., radon in drinking water, lead-based paint, and asbestos in buildings).
- Voluntary programs: The EPA also offers several voluntary programs to help improve indoor air quality. One example is the Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools program. This provides guidance to maintain good indoor air quality in schools.
The EPA also provides resources for building owners, facility managers, and the public on how to improve indoor air quality.
While the EPA sets guidelines and regulations related to indoor air quality, it does not have direct authority to regulate indoor air quality in most residential and commercial buildings. Instead, the duty to maintain good indoor air quality often falls on building owners, facility managers, and occupants. However, the EPA can provide technical assistance and enforcement support to address indoor air quality problems in certain cases (e.g., environmental contamination or violations of federal regulations).