Keeping schools healthy
State law requires school districts to conduct (1) an annual inspection and evaluation of indoor air quality (IAQ) in each school building and (2) an inspection and evaluation of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system in each school building once every five years.
In order to comply with state law for both the annual IAQ inspection and the 5-year HVAC inspection, school districts must:
- Conduct the required inspection and evaluation;
- Make results of each inspection publicly available; and
- Submit the appropriate form to DAS.
Inspections
The annual IAQ inspection can be completed by staff within the school/district using checklists created by the EPA.The 5-year HVAC inspection must be completed by a certified professional (i.e., a testing, adjusting and balancing technician, an industrial hygienist certified by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene or the Board for Global EHS Credentialing, or a mechanical engineer) and cover the criteria outlined in C.G.S. § 10-220(d)(3).
Publishing results
Districts must make the results of each inspection available to the public at a regularly scheduled meeting of the board of education. Results of the annual IAQ testing must also be posted on the board’s website or the website for the individual school, while results of the five-year HVAC testing should be posted on the board’s website and, if the individual school has a website, on the school’s website.Reporting forms
Districts must submit the following forms to DAS:
- Annual IAQ Form (Microsoft Forms) – due to DAS by close of business December 31, 2024
- Five-Year HVAC Form (Microsoft Forms) – DAS will begin accepting these forms on July 1, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
No, DAS does not collect the checklists or physical documents. Per CGS § 10-220(d), PA 22-118, and PA 23-167, local and regional boards of education must post these checklists on the board of education website and respective school website.
After you post the checklists on your respective BOE/school websites, fill out the below form for DAS. You will be asked to provide the URL link for the publicly posted checklists.
IAQ Annual Reporting Form (Microsoft Forms)
After you post the checklists on your respective BOE/school websites, fill out the below form for DAS. You will be asked to provide the URL link for the publicly posted checklists.
IAQ Annual Reporting Form (Microsoft Forms)
No, the Environmental Protection Agency’s Tools for Schools Program is designed to help schools and districts to create a practical plan to improve indoor air problems at little- or no-cost using in-house staff. See the EPA’s IAQ Tools for Schools Resources page for more information
IAQ Tools for Schools Resources (US EPA)
IAQ Tools for Schools Resources (US EPA)
Yes, per Connecticut laws (CGS § 10-220(d), PA 22-118, and PA 23-167), local and regional boards of education need to complete the annual inspection for each school building.
- Complete the following six EPA Tools for Schools Checklists for each school in your district:
- Post the checklists on your board of education website and respective school website (if any); and
- Complete the DAS form for each school in your district.
Yes, the EPA offers reference guides, fact sheets, backgrounders, and more. You can find those resources on the EPA website.
Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Action Kit (US EPA)
Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Action Kit (US EPA)
Yes, the annual inspection utilizes the EPA’s Tools for Schools program and is intended for school districts to complete with in house staff on a yearly basis. On the other hand, the five year inspection of heating, ventilation, and HVAC systems must be completed by a certified professional (such a testing, adjusting and balancing technician, an industrial hygienist certified by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene or the Board for Global EHS Credentialing, or a mechanical engineer) for 20% of schools each year until every school has been inspected.
The annual requirement using Tools for Schools is currently in effect as of January 1, 2024, whereas the five-year inspection requirement does not go into effect until July 1, 2026.
Per Connecticut laws (CGS § 10-220(d), PA 22-118, and PA 23-167), local and regional boards of education must provide an annual inspection of indoor air quality using the EPA Tools for Schools program. This inspection can be performed by school staff and is required annually.
The five year HVAC inspection and evaluation is a separate requirement. Per Connecticut laws, local and regional boards of education must provide for a uniform inspection and evaluation of the HVAC systems within each school building for 20% of schools each year until every school has been inspected. This inspection has to be completed by a certified professional, such a testing, adjusting and balancing technician, an industrial hygienist certified by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene or the Board for Global EHS Credentialing, or a mechanical engineer.
| Annual requirement | Five-year requirement | |
| Effective date | January 1, 2024 | July 1, 2026 |
| Summary of the requirement | Complete the tools for schools indoor air quality checklists within each school on an annual basis. Post the Tools for Schools checklists on the school and BOE websites. Complete the DAS form to attest that your district performed the program as required. | Complete an inspection and evaluation of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system within each school by a certified official. Districts must complete these at a rate of at least 20% of schools per year until all schools are inspected and evaluated. Complete the DAS form to attest you’re your district provided the inspection as required. |
|
Who completes the inspection and evaluation? |
In-house school staff such as principal, superintendent, facilities and maintenance staff, teachers. | Certified testing, adjusting and balancing technician, an industrial hygienist certified by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene or the Board for Global EHS Credentialing, or a mechanical engineer. |
| What to do with the results? | Post the EPA checklists on your board of education website and respective school website. | Post the report and results of each inspection and evaluation on your board of education and respective school website. |
| DAS Form | Annual IAQ form | Five-year HVAC form |
| Relevant laws and public acts |
CGS § 10-220(d) PA 22-118 PA 23-167 |
CGS § 10-220(d)
PA 22-118 PA 23-167 PA 24-74 |
| Resources | IAQ Tools for Schools Resources | US EPA |
