Draft law on indoor air quality control unveiled
 
2006/6/25
TAIPEI, CAN
 


The Environmental Protection Administration unveiled yesterday a draft law aiming at controlling the indoor air quality of public establishments and office buildings.

The draft law stipulates that the concentrations of pollutants such as carbon dioxide, suspended particulates, volatile organics and bacteria in indoor environments must not exceed the EPA-recommended levels for indoor air.

According to Yeh Fang-lu, a section chief from the EPA's Department of Air Quality Protection and Noise Control, as people spend 80 percent to 90 percent of their time indoors every day, the quality of indoor air directly affects the quality and efficiency of their work, as well as their health.

Research indicates that people can display symptoms such as drowsiness, itchy eyes and dry throat after staying for long periods in an indoor environment where the air quality is bad, Yeh noted.

Yeh said that after the law is enacted, it will apply to public establishments first before expanding to other facilities.
Violators will be subject to fines of up to NT$25,000 (US$765) and will be required to make improvements. Until the situation is improved, prominent signs should be set up at the entrance of the buildings to warn the public of the air quality inside, Yeh said.

She said the draft law will be submitted to the Cabinet for review soon and is likely to be included in the Legislative Yuan's agenda for the next session set to start in September.
 
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