I had the great pleasure of talking to Peter Rickaby in the second episode of the Air Quality Matters Podcast.

Now living in South Africa, he is an Independent Energy and Sustainability Consultant working for the UK housing and building industries, an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at University College London (UCL) and a member of the management team of the UK Centre for Moisture in Buildings.

My Conversation with Max Sherman on the Evolution of Indoor Air Quality and Ventilation Standards For episode 1 of "Air Quality Matters," I had the privilege of discussing the intricacies of air quality and ventilation with none other than Max Sherman.

Max's contributions to the field are immense, and his insights from over three decades at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have helped shape our understanding of indoor air quality.

We come unstuck far too often because we fail to take the time to consider the fundamentals of ventilation.

And nowhere shows this up more than in a retrofit.

With all that we have been through over the last few years and the ever-increasing awareness of health and well-being and indoor air quality in the workplace, I would have expected more—a chance for those responsible for our environmental and occupational health to raise the bar.

It is, after all, a very good document considering this is the first one of its type. It's practical, not over-complicated, informative, and, if followed, will improve workplace outcomes.

Having completed a handful of risk assessments in various workplaces since its release, I wanted to give some initial insight on what to expect.

Unlocking better ventilation and air quality outcomes in housing.In 2019 the UK Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government published a report, “Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality in New Homes.”

The study's results indicated poor indoor air quality in several monitored homes. In all cases, failure to meet indoor air quality indicators corresponded with failure to meet the ADF ventilation recommendations.

The ubiquitous nature of ventilation, if done well, offers us an opportunity to deliver meaningful outcomes in such a broad cross-section of our housing it can’t or shouldn’t be ignored. It’s a central pillar in the outcomes of so much of what we want to achieve with good housing.

Yet this omnipresent nature of ventilation is part of what makes it a challenge to diagnose and unpack.

In case you hadn't spotted, I launched my new consultancy practice in the last couple of weeks, Air Quality Matters, offering outcome-focused air quality and ventilation strategy, communication and business support.

So as I get started on this frankly terrifying adventure, I thought it might be an excellent time to explain more about my motivations behind it and what I hope to achieve.

Indoor air quality is a significant factor in our health and well-being. With most of us spending a significant amount of time indoors, it's crucial to understand the potential pollutants in our indoor environment. Here are the ten worst indoor pollutants you should know about, how they affect your health, and practical tips to reduce exposure.

A Plain English Guide to the Indoor Air Quality Code of Practice

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is critical to maintaining a healthy and productive workplace. Recognising this, the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has published a Code of Practice for Indoor Air Quality, which came into operation on 26th May 2023.

For most of us, our homes are a place of refuge and safety, a place we rest and regenerate. But for many in our society, it is a place of risk, anxiety, and even shame. Try to imagine that if you can.

As the installation of heat pumps is skyrocketing, without the correct skills available in the sector, landlords, housing associations and councils are facing a potential build-up of risk over the next few years.