Indoor Air Quality related illness are as common as the common cold. The U.S. Environment Protection Agency (EPA) and The National Institute of Occupation Safety & Health (NIOSH) have been in the forefront among other agencies in research and production of comprehensive guidelines on preventing, identifying and correcting indoor air quality problems. The volumes of comprehensive reports have assisted building owners and facility managers to prevent and resolve IAQ problems.

The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) too, have published numerous reports on IAQ related Standards and guidelines to assist building designers and facility engineers. In Malaysia, the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) has published a Code of Practice on Indoor Air Quality Since July 2005 to educate employers and public on the importance of improving indoor air quality. The Green Building Index (GBI) is Malaysia’s industry recognized Green rating tool for buildings to promote sustainability in the built environment and raise awareness among Developers, Architects, Engineers, Planners, Designers, Contractors and the Public about environmental issues and our responsibility to the future generations. With all the concern and efforts by these professional bodies, we as the IAQ Specialists alongside other players in the IAQ industry in Malaysia have an important role as a conduit educate and apply the principles of prevention and correction of IAQ problems. Threats such as SARS, Bird Flu Virus, the seasonal haze, Coxsackie virus, etc if unchecked can be disastrous to the country’s economy. This was apparent with the H1N1 epidemic suffered all over the world.