ASHRAE and AIHA sign an MOU to work on healthier indoor environments

ASHRAE and the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The MOU includes initiatives such as joint promotion of codes and standards, exploring the feasibility of creating new guidance documents, and co-developing new courses.

ASHRAE and the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) formalising the organisations’ relationship. The agreement defines parameters by which ASHRAE and AIHA will work cooperatively on common public affairs goals and the coordination of technical activities and emerging research to accelerate the transformation to a more sustainable built environment.

“ASHRAE and AIHA will leverage our respective areas of expertise to develop comprehensive strategies and solutions for ensuring safer, healthier indoor environments,” said 2023-24 ASHRAE President Ginger Scoggins, P.E., Fellow ASHRAE. “This collaboration will draw upon ASHRAE’s deep understanding of building systems and standards and AIHA’s broad knowledge of industrial hygiene and occupational health to address the complexities of indoor air quality. Together, we will work towards establishing indoor spaces that benefit occupants across various settings and enhance the overall well-being and productivity of individuals worldwide.”

“Through this collaboration AIHA and ASHRAE will advance indoor air quality to the benefit of public and worker health,” said 2023-24 AIHA President Dina Siegel, CIH, CSP, CBSP, FAIHA. “Our associations will advocate on local, national, and international levels—amplifying the reach of our indoor air quality policies, standards, communications, and technical publications. The combination of AIHA and ASHRAE expertise is an invaluable step towards improving worker safety.”

The MOU includes, the following initiatives:

Joint promotion of codes and standards at the local, state and federal levels. Promotion of mutually beneficial positions during the development and passage of state and federal legislation.

Exploration of the feasibility of creating new guidance documents that help interpret relevant ASHRAE standards vis-a-vis industrial hygiene/OEHS practice. Investigate opportunities to co-develop new courses or other training programs that take advantage of overlapping and complimentary expertise between ASHRAE and AIHA.

In addition to these initiatives, ASHRAE’s and AIHA’s specific areas of potential collaboration include advocacy; joint conferences and meetings; consistent leadership communication; publications, education and professional development, technical activities coordination; chapter and local involvement, public outreach/communications and research.