HVAC GLOSSARY - I

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IAQ Backgrounder: A component of the IAQ Tools for Schools Action Packet that provides a general introduction to IAQ issues in educational facilities.

IAQ Coordinator: An individual (usually with facility management) who provides leadership and coordination of all IAQ activities.

IAQ: (Indoor Air Quality) Indoor Air Quality - characteristics of the indoor climate of a building, including the gaseous composition, temperature, relative humidity, and airborne contaminant levels.

IAQ Management Plan: A set of flexible and specific steps for preventing and resolving IAQ problems in any kind of commercial facility.

Indicator Compounds: Chemical compounds, such as carbon dioxide, whose presence at certain concentrations may be used to estimate certain building conditions (e.g., airflow, presence of sources).

Indoor Air Pollutant: Particles and dust, fibers, mist, bioaerosols, and gases or vapors.

Indoor Coils: (Also see Evaporator Coil) Refrigerant containing portion of a fan coil unit similar to a car radiator, typically made of several rows of copper tubing with aluminum fins. A homes comfort system consists of two components: the outdoor unit (air conditioner or heat pump) and the indoor unit (coil or blower coil). Combinations of various units will result in vastly different efficiency ratings. Unreasonably high efficiency ratings can be created by using unrealistic indoor and outdoor equipment combinations. The term "most popular coil" indicates the actual tested combinations; other ratings may be simulated and unrealistic. Be sure that the efficiency ratings you are comparing are for "most popular coil." You'll know the ratings are attainable and close to reality.

Indoor Unit: This is usually located inside the house and contains the indoor coil, fan, motor, and filtering device, sometimes called the air handler.

Induction: Process by which the primary air sets into motion an air volume, called secondary air, in the room.

Induction ratio: (i) Ratio of the total air flow rate to the primary air flow rate.

Industrial: The industrial sector is generally defined as manufacturing, construction, mining, agriculture, fishing, and forestry establishments (Standard Industrial Classification [SIC] codes 01-39). The utility may classify industrial service using the SIC codes or based on demand or annual usage exceeding some specified limit. The limit may be set by the utility based on the rate schedule of the utility.

Infiltration: Air movement into an enclosed space through cracks and openings. Unintentional movement of outdoor air into a house. Air flows inward into a space through walls, leaks around doors and windows or through the building materials used in the structure. It results from the forces of wind, temperature difference, and HVAC operation.

ISO 9000: A family of international standards for quality management and assurance by the ISO (International Standards Organization).

IWC: (Inches of water column) Commonly used in the USA.