ASHRAE and AIHA Partner On Promoting Better Air Quality
Outreach collaboration focuses on public and workplace health
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding formalizing the organizations’ relationship.
The agreement defines parameters by which ASHRAE and AIHA will work on common public affairs goals and the coordination of technical activities and emerging research to accelerate the transformation to more sustainable built environment.
“This collaboration will draw upon ASHRAE’s deep understanding of building systems and standards and AIHA’s broad knowledge of industrial hygiene and occupational health to address the complexities of indoor air quality. Together, we will work towards establishing indoor spaces that benefit occupants across various settings and enhance the overall well-being and productivity of individuals worldwide,” 2023-24 ASHRAE President Ginger Scoggins, P.E., Fellow ASHRAE.
“Our associations will advocate on local, national, and international levels—amplifying the reach of our indoor air quality policies, standards, communications, and technical publications. The combination of AIHA and ASHRAE expertise is an invaluable step towards improving worker safety,” 2023-24 AIHA President Dina Siegel, CIH, CSP, CBSP, FAIHA.
The initial initiatives in the agreement includes:
- Joint promotion of codes and standards at the local, state and federal levels.
- Promotion of mutually beneficial positions during the development and passage of state and federal legislation.
- Exploration of the feasibility of creating new guidance documents that help interpret relevant ASHRAE standards with regard to industrial hygiene/OEHS practice.
- Investigate opportunities to co-develop new courses or other training programs that take advantage of overlapping and complimentary expertise between ASHRAE and AIHA.
- In addition to these initiatives, ASHRAE’s and AIHA’s specific areas of potential collaboration include advocacy; joint conferences and meetings; consistent leadership communication; publications, education and professional development, technical activities coordination; chapter and local involvement, public outreach/communications and research.
