Indoor air quality inspections conducted before move-in at some new apartment complexes in Jeonnam revealed that levels exceeded recommended standards, prompting authorities to guide remediation measures.
The Jeonnam Health Environment Research Institute announced that it assessed the management of indoor air quality in new apartment complexes ahead of occupancy.
This inspection was carried out in accordance with the Indoor Air Quality Management Act to ensure proper management of indoor air quality and to prevent sick building syndrome among residents.
New apartment buildings can emit various pollutants from construction materials, adhesives, paints, and finishing materials, making pre-occupancy air quality management crucial.
The institute focused on key indoor air pollutants, including formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, styrene, and radon, to determine if levels exceeded recommended standards.
The inspection also evaluated whether measurement processes and management procedures complied with relevant standards.
Results indicated that some complexes and units exceeded the recommended indoor air quality standards.
The institute notified the relevant local governments and construction companies, advising them to implement remediation measures such as bake-out to reduce indoor pollutant concentrations.
However, the report did not disclose the total number of complexes and units inspected, the names of complexes that exceeded standards, or the specific exceedance levels for each pollutant.
Lee Jeong-il, head of the Environmental Investigation Division at the Jeonnam Health Environment Research Institute, stated, “We will do our best to ensure that citizens can move in comfortably and without concerns about sick building syndrome through continuous inspections and management.”
Bake-out involves raising the indoor temperature of new buildings to a certain level to promote the release of volatile pollutants remaining in construction materials and finishes, followed by adequate ventilation to expel them. Sufficient ventilation and proper indoor air quality management before moving into new apartments can help reduce substances that cause sick building syndrome.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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