S&T Committees

Scientific and Technical Committees (STCs)


STC's are volunteer committees. If you would like to get involved, email the chairperson of the relevant STC.

About ISIAQ STCs

The ISIAQ BOD voted in 2010 to establish STCs to review, conclude and report new and emerging research directions in indoor air sciences, to establish Policy Committees to develop ISIAQ policy papers on interested and emerging indoor air topics, and to review and select papers for ISIAQ Flagship conference – Indoor Air. As of early 2011, ISIAQ has established 7 STCs. The STC Council appoints STC chairs and also coordinates STC activities. The STC Council is led by an ISIAQ board member, the Vice President for Research. The council also includes the Academy president, all STC chairpersons, and another member of the ISIAQ board, the STC coordinator. During its Annual Meeting, the STC Council appoints STC chairpersons and assists with coordinating STC activities. The STC coordinator is in charge of the overall coordination and communication between the STCs. Any additional formal or informal meeting of the STC Council may be requested by the ISIAQ Vice President for Research.
 
 
In 2024 ISIAQ will transition from STCs to Research Collaboratives through our Innovation Network. To learn more about this opportunity, please click below.
 
 
  • STC11 Source, monitoring and evaluation: Chemical pollutants
Chairperson: Ying Xu, Tsinghua University, China - Members

STC11 has decided to focus on two initial topics. Our first topic is a review of chamber techniques for measuring emissions of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs). A paper will be written that describes the current state of the art and recommends the best approaches for tackling this challenging problem. Our second topic is the improvement of chamber emissions testing for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and formaldehyde using reference materials and inter-laboratory studies. This will include the development of a guidance document for the use of reference materials and the integration of reference materials with existing standards.
 
  • STC12 Source, monitoring and evaluation: Aerosols
Chairperson: Brandon E. Boor, Purdue University, USA - Members

The indoor atmosphere is populated with a diverse spectrum of airborne particles (aerosols) that span in size from several nanometers to tens of micrometers. Indoor aerosols include abiotic and biological material of indoor and outdoor origin that vary widely in composition and morphology. Recent developments in state-of-the-art aerosol instrumentation, online mass spectrometry, and low-cost sensing technologies are advancing research on the measurement and characterization of aerosols in buildings. The present aim of STC12 is to identify current trends and future directions in indoor aerosol measurement and to envision how cutting-edge measurement techniques can improve our understanding of indoor aerosol science. To fulfill this aim, STC12 members are preparing a collaborative journal manuscript on indoor aerosol measurement techniques. The manuscript is considering indoor aerosol measurement through the lens of aerosol physics, chemistry, biology, and low-cost monitoring. 
 
  • STC13 Microbes in Indoor Environments
Chairperson: Ju-Hyeong Park, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention / National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, USA - Members

The microbiology of the built environment is a comprehensive and diverse research field that involves a multitude of disciplines, such as microbiology, ecology, building physics, engineering, toxicology, epidemiology, bioinformatics, and always health sciences. Interaction between these disciplines is key in order to facilitate relevant progress. A multitude of different indoor environments are concerned, all with significantly different characteristics and occupant-related needs. The indoor microbiome is of concern for a multitude of different ’users‘: first and foremost of course for the building occupants and owners; the people responsible for building design, construction, and maintenance; building and health inspectors and consultants, industrial hygienists, and physicians, etc.

The STC on Microbes in Indoor Environments has agreed on a number of common themes in its activities:
  1. Ultimately, the health of the building occupant is why we do research on microbes indoors. Both beneficial and adverse effects of microbial exposures indoors have been described. Thus, activities within this STC will be driven by the health relevance of indoor microbial research.
  2. Translation of scientific knowledge into practical guidance has been identified as one way of how this STC can actually make a difference and contribute most where contribution is needed.
  3. The interdisciplinary understanding and (research) activities that involve indoor microbes/microbiology are currently limited, considering for example microbiology versus chemistry, material sciences, building sciences, epidemiology, and practical situations. Activities within this STC aim to increase the communication between sciences and between science and practice.
A current activity of this STC involved the preparation of a document on The role of microbial sampling in building investigations for moisture damage and indoor mold, containing an overview on guidance that is available in different countries specifically on the aspect of microbial measurements in building investigations, and expressing an expert opinion and recommendation on Do‘s and Don't‘s in this context.
 
  • STC21 Ventilation
Chairperson: Donghyun Rim, Penn State, USA - Members

STC21 will aim to conduct periodic review of ventilation research worldwide and produce series of succinct summaries of key findings that are identified as having significant impact on comfort, productivity and health. Both FUNDAMENTAL (the science that underpins natural/mechanical ventilation principles) and PRACTICAL (the engineering strategies that make ventilation solutions work in practice) aspects are integral to STC21. The influence of energy debate on ventilation solutions for IAQ will be a primary consideration, particularly in the context of climate change and sustainability. New research directions will be identified that aim to address the dual issues of IAQ and energy and explore the practical viability of engineering solutions. Possible collaborations with other international organizations, such as ASHRAE and REHVA, will be explored.
 
  • STC22 Air cleaning
Chairperson: Alireza Afshari, Danish Building Research Institute, Denmark - Members

In addition to reporting or evaluating new research directions, advances in developing new and high performance air cleaning materials, technologies and devices/systems, this STC will explore the potential of inter-laboratories studies for evaluating available and commonly-used air cleaning materials, technologies and devices/systems, and establish a common database of air cleaner performance which is helpful not only for indoor air cleaner researchers, manufacturers but also for customers. We also aim to review and report the standard test methods that are currently available indoor air cleaners (passive or active; portable vs. ducted) and try to provide a technical basis for indoor air cleaner labeling system. This STC will prepare a series of (systematic or critical) review papers/reports.
 
  • STC31 Health effects and epidemiology
Chairperson: Yuexia Sun, Tianjin University, China - Members

The overall aim is to conclude the current knowledge and to identify research needs or directions of indoor environmental problems and related adverse health effects globally. The first priority for the STC31 is to conduct reviews on important issues including biofuels burning problems in low-income countries, controversy of dampness and mold in allergic illness, transition of indoor risks in the past decades, and emerging chemical problems such as endocrine disruptors. We will conduct meetings to invite members from different expertise to discuss and prioritize the main topics and goals for STC31 in the first stage. Review papers of current state of evidences will be prepared for publish from working groups. New research directions will be identified and call for international collaboration in further research.
 
  • STC32 Environmental/climate impacts
Chairperson: Zhiwen Luo, California Department of Public Health, USA - Members

Buildings, their occupants, and the larger environment are intimately linked. Changes in local, regional or global environmental conditions have important public health implications including impacts on indoor air quality. At the same time, many efforts to address IAQ affect local, regional, and global environmental conditions. All of these together affect human health and well being. This STC will review the important considerations for indoor air scientists and professionals and develop recommendations for further action, by ISIAQ and beyond. The STC began its activities with a review of the National Academy of Science, Institute of Medicine committee‘s report, The Effect of Climate Change on Indoor Air Quality and Public Health and the publication of an "Climate Change, Indoor Environments and Health," as an editorial in ISIAQ's Indoor Air journal by Jack Spengler, chairman of the IOM committee. In 2012, the article was the 4th most downloaded article published in the Indoor Air journal. This review is the basis for the STC's goals and objectives.
 
  • STC33 Thermal comfort
Chairperson: Bin Cao, Tsinghua University, China - Members

The aim of STC33 is to strengthen the network of thermal comfort community. The priority of the STC during 2023-2024 is to summarize progress in thermal comfort research over the last 10 years and identify emerging trends. Preliminary findings indicate the recent surge in thermal comfort research includes: a) non-uniform thermal exposure and personal comfort systems (PCS), b) prediction of thermal comfort status using technologies such as infrared temperature measurement, motion recognition, etc., and c) health impacts of thermal experience in extreme conditions. The goal of STC33’s work by 2024 is the preparation of a collaborative review article for possible publication in a high quality journal. STC33 will also organize meetings and workshops under the topic of thermal comfort at ISIAQ conferences, i.e., Indoor Air and Healthy Buildings.
 
  • STC34IEQ Guidelines
            Chairperson: Ulla Haverinen-Shaughnessy, The University of Oulu, Finland & The University of Tulsa, Oaklahoma, USA - Members

The STC has three primary objectives.  The first objective is to continuously collect and organize information about IEQ guidelines worldwide. The second objective is to develop an open, functional database to share information about the guidelines. The third objective is to review existing guidelines and to develop recommendations. The results will be discussed in open meetings at Indoor Air and Healthy Building conferences.

For more information, visit our website www.ieqguidelines.org or email ieqguidelines@gmail.com
 


ISIAQ STCs Regulations and Operation Manual
Download the Operation Manual
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