Indoor (IAQ) and Outdoor Air Quality Sampling and Testing: Industrial Hygiene Monitoring for Indoor and Outdoor Environments

Indoor and occupational air quality directly impacts employee health, productivity, and compliance — IAQ is one of the most critical aspects of workplace health and most overlooked.

Our Air Quality (IAQ) Sampling and Testing services provide the data and insight needed to identify airborne contaminants, evaluate exposure risks, and ensure safe working conditions across industrial, construction, and commercial environments.

Accurate Safety Compliance’s Industrial Hygiene team uses precision-calibrated instrumentation and laboratory-backed testing methods (NIOSH, OSHA, EPA) to detect, quantify, and assess airborne particles, dusts, fibers, and fumes. Whether investigating an exposure concern, performing baseline sampling, or verifying the effectiveness of controls, we deliver clear, defensible results with actionable recommendations.

Our Equipment and Methodology

We use the Gilian 5000 Personal Air Sampling Pump — a high-performance, intrinsically safe pump capable of flows from 20 to 5,000 cc/min — to collect accurate, reproducible samples across a wide range of contaminants. Its real-time flow control and data logging ensure accuracy throughout each sampling event with precision under varying field conditions.

Paired with Sensidyne Filter Cassettes, the Gilian 5000 allows flexible sampling across a wide range of airborne contaminants. Different cassette types — including MCE, PVC, quartz, glass-fiber, and specialized media — enable collection of particulates, metals, fibers, and biological materials such as mold spores.

This versatility allows us to perform multiple sampling types with a single, reliable platform, delivering cost-effective and accurate results for our clients.

What We Sample For

Particulates & Dusts

• Respirable Crystalline Silica (Quartz, Cristobalite, Tridymite)
• Total Dust and Respirable Dust
• Welding Fumes (Iron, Manganese, Chromium, Nickel)
• Metal Particulates (Lead, Cadmium, Beryllium, Aluminum, etc.)
• Combustible and Industrial Dusts

Fibers & Aerosols

• Asbestos Air Sampling (PCM/TEM Analysis)
• Synthetic Mineral Fibers (Fiberglass, Mineral Wool, Ceramic Fibers)
• Diesel Particulate Matter (DPM)

Biological & Environmental Sampling

• Mold and Fungal Spore Sampling (Airborne and Surface)
• General Airborne Particulate and Dust Complaints
• PM10 and PM2.5 Concentrations
• Temperature, Humidity, and Airflow Assessments

Why Choose Accurate Safety Compliance

• Trained Industrial Hygienist Technicians ensure accurate sampling and defensible data.
• Detailed reporting compares results against OSHA PELs, ACGIH TLVs, and other exposure limits.
• Commitment to integrity, professionalism, and practical solutions.

Air Quality Sampling and Testing: Identifying and Controlling Airborne Hazards to Protect Worker Health with Precision Monitoring for Silica, Mold, and Airborne Contaminants

Accurate Safety Compliance provides reliable air quality testing and exposure assessments designed to keep your workforce safe and your organization compliant.

Whether evaluating silica exposure, investigating mold concerns, or performing comprehensive IAQ assessments, our professional air sampling and testing services identify and quantify airborne hazards such as respirable crystalline silica, mold spores, metal particulates, and industrial dusts.

Using the Gilian 5000 Personal Air Sampling Pump and Sensidyne filter cassette system, we deliver reliable, defensible results across a wide range of environmental and occupational conditions — ensuring compliance, protecting worker health, and maintaining safe air quality in every workspace.

Contact us today to schedule an on-site evaluation or discuss a customized IAQ sampling plan.

“IAQ” (Indoor Air Quality) specifically refers to air quality inside buildings or enclosed environments — offices, warehouses, plants, control rooms, or other occupied spaces. It focuses on how air quality affects occupant health, comfort, and compliance (think CO₂, VOCs, mold, dust, ventilation, etc.).

The kind of work Accurate Safety Compliance performs with the Gilian 5000 — sampling for silica, metals, welding fumes, and dust — often overlaps both indoor and outdoor settings, but it’s still generally classified under Industrial Hygiene Air Sampling, not traditional “IAQ.”

Accurate Safety Compliance services cover both indoor and outdoor air quality sampling, but it’s best described as “Air Quality Sampling and Testing” under Industrial Hygiene, not strictly “IAQ,” since your work extends beyond just indoor environmental comfort — it’s about exposure assessment and compliance.

Air sampling events (especially for occupational exposure like silica, dust, or metals) are typically (recommended) conducted over a full 8-hour work shift to represent the employee’s Time-Weighted Average (TWA) exposure.

Here’s the detailed breakdown for clarity:

Duration of Air Sampling Events

1. Full-Shift Sampling (Most Common – 8 Hours)

• Used to measure an employee’s 8-hour TWA exposure, which is what OSHA’s Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) and most NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limits (RELs) are based on.
• The pump (e.g., your Gilian 5000) runs continuously during the employee’s normal work shift or representative period.
• Typical for respirable crystalline silica, welding fumes, dusts, and metals.

2. Short-Term or Task-Based Sampling

• Conducted over 15 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the specific operation or exposure concern.
• Used for evaluating Short-Term Exposure Limits (STELs) or Ceiling Limits (e.g., high-exposure welding, paint application, chemical release).
• Often paired with a full-shift sample to capture exposure peaks.

3. Area or Environmental Sampling

• May be run for shorter or longer durations depending on the environment (e.g., continuous background IAQ, post-remediation, or complaint investigations).

For Silica Sampling

• OSHA’s Respirable Crystalline Silica Standard (29 CFR 1910.1053) requires sampling that represents a full shift under typical conditions.
• Usually, this means an 8-hour sample using a cyclone and PVC filter cassette at around 2.5 L/min flow rate — adjusted based on your lab’s method (NIOSH 7500 or OSHA ID-142).

Summary:

Most occupational air sampling events, including silica, are 8-hour full-shift samples to determine compliance with regulatory limits.

However, you can perform shorter or multiple samples in one day if you need to evaluate specific tasks or variable conditions.

Prerequisites for Air Quality Sampling Events

Access and Layout Information

• Floor plans or work area layouts (for indoor sampling).
• Identification of worker tasks, locations, and equipment used.
• Access to confined spaces, restricted areas, or outdoor worksites.

Operational Information

• Description of typical processes, shifts, and tasks.
• Expected work hours or duration of the exposure period (to plan full-shift or task-based sampling).
• Any known sources of contamination or historical exposure concerns.

Safety & PPE Requirements

• Any site-specific safety training, permits, or PPE required for personnel entering the sampling area.
• Hazards associated with the work area (e.g., chemicals, machinery, heights, confined spaces).

Environmental Conditions

• HVAC operation or ventilation schedules (for IAQ assessments).
• Recent maintenance, construction, or cleaning events that may influence results.

Coordination with Personnel

• Identification of workers who will wear personal sampling pumps (like the Gilian 5000).
• Scheduling to avoid disrupting operations while still capturing representative exposure.

There are no formal certifications or training required for the client to have sampling done. The main prerequisites are information and access so your technicians can perform accurate, representative sampling safely and efficiently.