Why the Industry’s Focus Has Shifted from Air to the Total Environment
For years, the HVAC and building management industries have rallied around the critical importance of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). And rightly so. The quality of the air we breathe has a profound impact on health and productivity. However, as we move into a new era of building design centered on human well-being, the conversation has expanded. Today, the focus is squarely on Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ), and leading industry bodies are making this comprehensive approach a priority.
As a valued partner in optimizing building performance, Coat Zone understands that simply improving the air is no longer enough. Here is why IEQ represents the future of healthy, high-performing buildings and how our specialized solutions can help you meet this evolving standard.
IEQ vs. IAQ: Understanding the Crucial Difference
While often used interchangeably, IAQ and IEQ are fundamentally distinct. Think of IAQ as a critical subset of the larger, all-encompassing concept of IEQ.
| Metric | Focus | Key Components |
| Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) | The air we breathe. | Pollutants (VOCs, particulates, carbon dioxide), pathogens (mold, bacteria), ventilation, and humidity. |
| Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) | The total experience inside a building. | IAQ, Thermal Comfort (temperature, humidity), Lighting (daylight, glare), and Acoustics (noise control). |
IAQ specifically addresses the air’s health and comfort. It is about reducing concentrations of contaminants and ensuring adequate fresh air exchange.
IEQ, on the other hand, is a holistic measure of the overall conditions inside a building that affect occupant health, comfort, and productivity [1, 2, 3]. It encompasses all the factors that impact human well-being. An environment with excellent air quality but poor lighting or uncomfortable temperature is still considered to have poor IEQ [4].
The New Industry Mandate: ASHRAE’s Focus on IEQ
This shift from a singular focus on air to a holistic view of the environment is being championed at the highest levels of the industry. The current ASHRAE President, Bill McQuade, has made IEQ the central theme of their 2025-2026 term under the initiative “Healthy Buildings: Designing for Life.” [5]
ASHRAE’s focus stresses that the industry must move beyond simply reducing energy consumption. While decades of work have successfully improved energy efficiency, these measures have sometimes had the unintended consequence of negatively impacting the indoor climate. This new mandate calls on professionals to champion solutions that successfully balance energy efficiency with excellent IEQ. By integrating principles that address thermal comfort, lighting, acoustics, and air quality simultaneously, we ensure that buildings are not only environmentally sustainable but also conducive to the health and productivity of the people inside them [5].
Coat Zone Solutions for Comprehensive IAQ and IEQ
At Coat Zone, our specialized products are engineered to provide direct, measurable contributions across multiple IEQ pillars. This ensures your HVAC systems are optimized not just for energy, but for life.
1. CoilSafe and CoilSafe Plus: Optimizing IAQ and Thermal Comfort
HVAC cooling coils are ground zero for two of the biggest threats to IEQ: biological growth and inefficient temperature control.
- Direct IAQ Contribution: CoilSafe and CoilSafe Plus are designed to prevent the proliferation of mold, mildew, and bacteria that thrive on wet coil surfaces. By eliminating these microbial contaminants at their source, we drastically reduce the concentration of airborne pathogens and odors circulated throughout the building, ensuring cleaner air for occupants.
- Thermal Comfort IEQ Contribution: A coil free of biofilm is an efficient coil. By maintaining optimal heat transfer performance, CoilSafe and CoilSafe Plus enable your HVAC system to meet precise cooling and dehumidification setpoints without strain. This translates directly to enhanced thermal comfort, reducing the risk of stuffy, humid, or improperly cooled spaces, which are key components of IEQ.
2. ThermalBlock: Enhancing Thermal Comfort, IAQ, and Acoustics
Our specialized thermal barrier coating, ThermalBlock, impacts the built environment on multiple fronts.
- Thermal Comfort IEQ Contribution: Applied to air handling unit casings, plenums, or ductwork, ThermalBlock provides a superior thermal barrier. This minimizes surface temperature fluctuations and prevents undesirable heat transfer, making it easier for the system to maintain stable zone temperatures and eliminate cold spots or drafts that cause occupant dissatisfaction.
- IAQ Contribution (Condensation Control): By reflecting solar radiation before it can increase surface temperatures, ThermalBlock effectively eliminates condensation caused by cold air meeting hot metal. Condensation is the prerequisite for mold growth, meaning ThermalBlock is a proactive measure against moisture intrusion and mold proliferation, safeguarding IAQ.
The Path Forward
The future of high-performance buildings is focused on the whole human experience. Embracing IEQ is not just about meeting a standard; it’s about investing in the productivity, health, and peace of mind of every occupant. By leveraging comprehensive solutions like CoilSafe, CoilSafe Plus, and ThermalBlock, you ensure your HVAC systems are powerful contributors to the holistic health model that ASHRAE is now advocating for. Don’t settle for merely acceptable IAQ; strive for exceptional IEQ.
Sources:
- IAQ Versus IEQ: What’s the difference? Consulting-Specifying Engineer. https://www.csemag.com/iaq-versus-ieq-whats-the-difference/
- IEQ vs IAQ: What’s the Difference? Trane Commercial HVAC. https://www.trane.com/commercial/north-america/us/en/about-us/newsroom/blogs/ieq-vs-iaq-whats-the-difference.html
- Understanding Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) versus Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) in Hospitals. AMI Environmental. https://amienvironmental.com/understanding-indoor-environmental-quality-ieq-versus-indoor-air-quality-iaq-in-hospitals/
- What Are IAQ and IEQ? Buildings. https://www.buildings.com/resiliency-sustainability/health-wellness-iaq/article/55130336/what-are-iaq-and-ieq
- ASHRAE President. ASHRAE. https://www.ashrae.org/about/yea-presidential-initiative-challenge