Indoor Air Quality Services Perth

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Discover Comprehensive Indoor Air Quality Testing in Perth with Opira

Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) measures building performance/efficiency concerning the health of occupants, relying on factors like – improving quality of life comfort, reducing stress and limiting potential illness or injuries.

At Opira, we are dedicated to providing a diverse array of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) testing services in Perth.

Perth boasts generally excellent outdoor air quality, with the essential air quality parameters across Western Australia meticulously monitored through the Western Australia Air Quality Index, which can be accessed at the Air Quality Index Western Australia.

Predominantly, the outdoor air quality in Perth is affected by heightened levels of particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), primarily stemming from bushfires and planned vegetation burns.

During such periods, adopting a proactive stance towards the functioning of your building’s air conditioning system becomes crucial. This helps mitigate the adverse effects of poor outdoor air quality on your indoor air quality (IAQ).

Scorching Summer Months

Furthermore, Perth’s scorching summer months, marked by low humidity and high temperatures, can negatively impact the productivity and comfort of building occupants if the air conditioning systems fail to manage external air effectively. This is where the significance of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) testing becomes apparent, aiding in discerning how Perth’s climate influences the interior environment and, consequently, the thermal comfort of occupants.

An additional factor to consider is the location of your building in proximity to major Perth road networks like freeways, highways, or industrial areas. Wind patterns in Perth also play a pivotal role in dispersing air quality pollutants from vehicle exhaust and industrial/manufacturing processes. Only through comprehensive indoor air quality testing, tailored to detect specific contaminants, can a clear understanding of potential hazards be achieved, along with viable solutions.

Opira is your reliable partner, collaborating with building management and air conditioning contractors to uphold optimal indoor air quality (IAQ) throughout the year. We tailor our testing schedules according to your budget and regional air quality concerns, ensuring your space remains safe, comfortable, and productive.

ASBESTOS TESTING AND SURVEYS

Asbestos has generally been well managed in Perth over the years and typically the high risk asbestos materials have been removed or controls implemented. However if a workplace is in a building constructed before 2004 then a workplace asbestos register and management plan is a requirement. Opira manages many commercial buildings in Perth CBD, West Perth and East Perth that were constructed in the 1970s and 80s and therefore still contain a high number of asbestos materials within the building fabric. With regular asbestos surveys and inspections these materials can be effectively managed and a low risk status maintained.

The aim of each site asbestos audit is to provide hazardous material management documentation that meets the requirements of the Western Australian Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act 2020 which is supported by the Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022 and How to Manage and Control Asbestos in the Workplace: Code of Practice (The Work Health and Safety Commission: Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety 2022).

Opira WA also has close associations with asbestos license holders to assist in managing any asbestos removals in and around Perth.

HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL AUDITING

Opira offers a site inspection to audit all hazardous chemicals onsite and to provide hazardous chemical management documentation that meets the requirements of the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 which is supported by the Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022.

This includes creation of a hazardous chemical register, which documents the following items;

Hazardous substance or chemical according to Safe Work Australia criteria.
Dangerous Good Class according to the Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road and Rail.
Compliance with current safety data sheets and/or material safety data sheets.
Compliance with labelling requirements.
Incompatibility and storage guidance.

The hazardous chemical management plan to complement the register includes processes for hazard identification and control, risk assessment, site safety rules, training, responsibilities and emergency preparedness.

The methodology employed by Opira references the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission’s Approved Criteria for Classifying Hazardous Substances and the Australian Dangerous Goods Code and the Globally Harmonised System (GHS).

POTABLE WATER TESTING

The Perth region relies on a water supply system that draws on surface sources, groundwater and seawater desalination. This is known as the Integrated Water Supply System (IWSS).

Drinking water contamination can potentially occur in the holding tank for a or from the piping network in the building. Contaminants can leach into the water when water is not flushed through regularly or when the pH chemistry of the water is acidic (less than pH 7). A duty holder, in managing risks to health and safety, must identify reasonably foreseeable hazards that could give rise to risks to health and safety

To thoroughly test drinking water for all contaminants is not practical and so a standard water quality assessment focuses on various common parameters as an indicator to microbiological, physical or chemical contamination. This includes the following;

Common heavy metals associated with holding tank and water supply piping networks throughout the building.
The pH chemistry of the drinking water to determine if this is encouraging contaminants to leach into the drinking water.
Bacteria associated with drinking water that can flourish if residual chlorine levels aren’t sufficient at point of use or from bacteria proliferation from cross contamination or poorly maintained plumbing fixtures.

Watercorp in Western Australia(WA) provide assurances that the water at the entry point of a building is within the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG) as published by the National Health and Medical Research Council. and conduct testing to confirm throughout the network.

Opira can test your water to ensure these drinking water guidelines are met.

CONFINED SPACE AUDIT

A confined space is determined by the hazards associated with a set of specific circumstances and not just because work is performed in a small space.

Entry into a confined space means a person’s head or upper body is in the confined space or within the boundary of the confined space.

Common confined spaces include vats, tanks, pits, pipes, ducts, flues, chimneys, silos, containers, pressure vessels, underground sewers, wet or dry wells, shafts, trenches, tunnels or other similar enclosed or partially enclosed structures.

The aim of the site audit for confined spaces in Perth is to provide confined space management documentation that meets the requirements of Western Australian work health and safety legislation.

The methodology employed by Opira WA adheres to the Code of Practice for Confined Spaces 2020 and the Australian/New Zealand Standard, AS/NZS 2865-2009 Confined Spaces.

A full register is provided and also including identification pictures, a generic risk assessment (including control guidance), criteria, training register and complete checklists made available to assist building manager to manage the risks associated with confined spaces.

MOULD TESTING

Perth is not well recognised for mould issues due to the relatively low humidity climate, however due to faulty piping or water ingress into building structures mould can definitely be an issue for Perth residents.

The guidelines used for mould assessment are varied due to a number of factors and there is no definitive level that defines a microbial contamination. Mould testing however when conducted correctly is an indicator if current levels could pose a potential hazard to sensitive occupants.

In the presence of moisture and lack of preventive programs such as routine climate control, maintenance and cleaning, there can be contamination of mould spores throughout the indoor air and settling within dust. The combination of both viable and non viable mould spores should typically be tested to create a thorough understanding of mould levels in the indoor air.

Some useful references for mould testing and mould remediation include the following references.

AS/NZS 3666.2:2011 Air-handling and water systems of buildings—Microbial control Part 2: Operation and maintenance.
AIRAH: HVAC Hygiene Best Practice Guidelines, 2010
Australian Mould Guidelines 2nd Edition (2010) The go-to guide for everything mould, Peter Kemp and Heike Neumeister-Kemp
ANSI/IICRC S520 – Mold Remediation – Third Edition: 2015

Opira can assist with remediation advice and work with a number of mould remediators in Perth to ensure any mould testing results are adequately understood and resolved.

Other Environmental Services offered by Opira in Perth

MANAGING DIRECTOR – OPIRA WA

Mark Graham has been consulting regarding indoor environment hazards and risk management since 2009. Having worked with a major Perth based indoor environment consultancy firm and now as managing director of Opira WA.