EOP Analysis / Consulting
INITIAL CONDITION AUDIT
Indoor air quality monitoring in establishments open to the public has been compulsory since January 1, 2023, for collective childcare facilities (crèches, schools, educational or vocational training establishments, daytime leisure centers).
It will be compulsory from January 1, 2025 for other establishments concerned (EHPAD, medico-social and penitentiary structures, etc.).
One of the 4 points of the regulation concerns the obligation to carry out a pollutant measurement campaign at each key stage in the life of the building (works, change in room layout, staffing, activity):
- Pollutants to be measured: formaldehyde, benzene, CO2.
- Sampling and analysis carried out by a body accredited by the French Accreditation Committee (Cofrac).
- Collected in a CSTB database.
Even if you’re not at a key stage in the life of your buildings in the short term, you may wish to proactively carry out an initial condition audit. This initial condition audit would follow all the procedures of a regulatory campaign, but is not carried out within a regulatory framework, with reporting obligations to the relevant authorities, where applicable.
Mission organization
1- Determining the sampling strategy
The following conditions must be met to ensure that the mission runs smoothly:
- The context of the initial condition audit is defined between the customer and Laboratoire VECTOEUR. In particular, it is specified that the initial condition audit is not carried out within a regulatory framework, with the obligation to declare to the competent authorities, if applicable.
- All available information on the building (floor plan, layout, etc.) and its ventilation systems
- Wherever possible, an on-site visit is organized prior to sampling, in order to validate documentary data and prepare the sampling campaign(s) in the best possible conditions.
- A “SAMPLING PLAN” is drawn up. It defines the number of sampling campaigns (winter and/or summer), the eligible parts to be instrumented (number, distribution, identification), and the nature of the regulated pollutants to be measured. Sampling and direct measurement dates are set in advance.
2- On-site sampling and measurements
For each sampling campaign (winter or summer, 4 to 7 months apart):
- Intervention dates and times are confirmed with the customer.
- Direct on-site CO 2 measurements are carried out according to the sampling strategy.
- On-site air sampling for benzene and formaldehyde analysis is carried out in accordance with the sampling strategy. At the same time, an outdoor sample is also taken for benzene, in order to determine the source of contamination (indoor/outdoor).
- Samples and measurements are taken over a period of 4.5 days.
3- Analysis
At the end of each sampling campaign, the devices are recovered for :
- Calculate the containment index (ICONE) from CO 2 measurements P
- erform benzene and formaldehyde analyses by a partner laboratory, accredited to LAB REF 30 – analysis part – by Cofrac, and to NF EN ISO 16017-2 and NF ISO 16000-4 respectively.
4- Drafting of analysis reports and feedback
At the end of each sampling and analysis campaign, a test report is issued as :
- The intermediate report gives the results of the first series of measurements (benzene, formaldehyde, and/or CO 2 expressed through the containment index).
- The final report is based on the methodology described in the previous section, in which the results of two campaigns are compiled.
- Analysis reports, occupancy sign-in sheets, plans, photos and/or any other elements relevant to understanding the report are appended to it.
At the customer’s request, a feedback meeting (face-to-face or remote) is held to explain and discuss the results.
