Air Quality
IAQ Tools for Schools (TFS) Program:
EPA developed the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Tools for Schools (TfS) Program to reduce exposures to indoor environmental
contaminants in schools through the voluntary adoption of sound indoor air quality management practices. The IAQ Tools
for Schools Program is a comprehensive resource to help schools maintain a healthy environment in school buildings by
identifying, correcting, and preventing IAQ problems. Poor indoor air quality can impact the comfort and health of
students and staff, which, in turn, can affect concentration, attendance, and student performance. In addition, if
schools fail to respond promptly to poor IAQ, students and staff are at an increased risk of short-term health problems,
such as fatigue and nausea, as well as long-term problems like asthma.
www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/index.html
National IAQ Conference
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hosts its annual Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools (IAQ TfS) National
Symposium in Washington, DC, to bring together past, present and future leaders in protecting and improving IAQ in our
nation’s schools. The IAQ Tools for Schools Program is a nationwide initiative to help school officials assess, resolve,
and prevent IAQ problems, and to reduce exposure to asthma triggers in school facilities. While school officials,
administrators, facilities and operations personnel, teachers, parents, and students traditionally attend, the Symposium
is open to anyone with an interest in IAQ in schools.
www.iaqsymposium.com/
Awards Program
The U.S. EPA Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools (IAQ TfS) Awards Program was initiated to recognize schools and school
districts that have demonstrated a strong commitment to improve children's health by promoting good indoor air quality (IAQ).
For those schools and school districts just beginning to implement comprehensive IAQ management plans to those who have
mature, sustainable, district-wide IAQ programs, EPA provides a series of national-level awards. From the Great Start
Award through the Leadership, Excellence, and Sustained Excellence Awards, as the stature of the awards increase, so does
the value gained by each recipient in terms of improved IAQ and improved health and performance of faculty, staff and students.
How to Order the Action Kit
The IAQ Tools for Schools Action Kit and its components are available free of charge and can be obtained from EPA's
National Service Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP):