Indoor Air Quality Assessments for Developers
Independent IAQ testing for planning, BREEAM HEA 02, and handover compliance.
Arthian delivers indoor air quality assessments designed specifically for developers, contractors, and project teams who need clear, defensible evidence for planning, certification, and building control. Our specialists provide post‑construction and pre‑occupancy IAQ testing, ensuring your development meets required standards before handover — avoiding delays, rework, and compliance risk.
What Is an Indoor Air Quality Assessment for Developments?
A development‑focused IAQ assessment verifies that a new building meets planning conditions, BREEAM HEA 02 criteria, and best‑practice ventilation requirements. It measures pollutants, ventilation performance, and environmental conditions using accredited methods aligned to:
- BREEAM HEA 02 / HEA 05
- WELL / LEED IAQ requirements
- Building control and handover documentation
- Contractor and client employer’s requirements (ERs)
This ensures your project is compliant, certifiable, and ready for occupation.
Why Developers Commission IAQ Assessments
Indoor air quality testing is now a standard requirement across many UK developments. It helps project teams:
- Demonstrate compliance with planning conditions
- Secure BREEAM HEA 02 credits
- Provide evidence for building control sign‑off
- Reduce risk of handover delays
- Validate ventilation performance before occupation
- Provide clients with clear, defensible documentation
This is not a “nice to have” — it’s a programme‑critical deliverable.
IAQ Services for Developers & Contractors
Arthian provides a full suite of indoor air quality services designed for new‑build developments, major refurbishments, and commercial projects. Our work supports planning approval, BREEAM HEA 02 credits, building control sign‑off, and handover documentation — giving project teams confidence at every stage of delivery.
Post‑Construction & Pre‑Occupancy IAQ Testing
Independent IAQ testing aligned with BREEAM HEA 02, WELL, LEED, and building control requirements.
Includes:
- Accredited sampling for VOCs, formaldehyde, particulates, CO₂, and combustion by‑products
- Testing scheduled to suit programme and handover timelines
- Verification that pollutant levels meet HEA 02 thresholds
- Evidence packs for BREEAM assessors and building control
- Clear pass/fail criteria and remediation guidance
Ideal for: Developers needing certifiable evidence before occupation.
Planning Condition IAQ Assessments
Support for planning submissions and discharge of IAQ‑related conditions.
Includes:
- IAQ risk assessments aligned with local authority guidance
- Modelling of pollutant sources and ventilation performance
- Recommendations for design‑stage mitigation
- Reporting structured for planning officers and consultants
Ideal for: Projects with IAQ requirements embedded in planning conditions.
BREEAM HEA 02 Indoor Air Quality Support
End‑to‑end support for achieving HEA 02 credits.
Includes:
- HEA 02‑compliant IAQ Plans
- Pre‑occupancy and post‑construction testing
- Evidence packs for BREEAM assessors
- Guidance on pollutant limits, ventilation strategy, and material selection
Ideal for: Developments targeting BREEAM certification.
Ventilation & Airflow Performance Verification
Assessment of ventilation systems to confirm they meet design intent and regulatory expectations.
Includes:
- Airflow rate verification (Part F‑aligned)
- Air change rate calculations
- Airflow pattern analysis to identify stagnation zones
- Recommendations for system optimisation
- Verification for building control and handover documentation
Ideal for: Contractors needing evidence of ventilation performance.
Commercial Indoor Air Quality Assessments
IAQ assessments tailored to offices, mixed‑use developments, retail, education, and healthcare.
Includes:
- Pollutant sampling and environmental monitoring
- Ventilation performance review
- Occupant comfort analysis (temperature, humidity, CO₂)
- Compliance benchmarking against WELL, CIBSE, and BREEAM
Ideal for: Developers and FM teams managing commercial assets.
Pollutant Sampling & Laboratory Analysis
High‑accuracy sampling for pollutants commonly required in new‑build and refurbishment projects.
Includes:
- VOCs (including formaldehyde)
- PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀
- CO₂ and combustion by‑products
- Mould spore sampling (commercial contexts only)
- Accredited laboratory analysis with defensible results
Ideal for: Projects requiring evidence‑based pollutant verification.
Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) Monitoring
Short‑term or continuous monitoring to validate indoor environmental performance.
Includes:
- Temperature, humidity, CO₂, and comfort metrics
- Identification of conditions that may affect occupant wellbeing or building performance
- Data‑driven recommendations for ventilation and system optimisation
- Reporting aligned to WELL and BREEAM IEQ criteria
Ideal for: Developers needing post‑occupancy validation.
Construction Handover IAQ Documentation
Clear, defensible reporting for building control, clients, and certification bodies.
Includes:
- Pollutant data tables and compliance statements
- Methodology aligned to BREEAM and industry standards
- Evidence packs for assessors and regulators
- Recommendations for any required remediation
- Handover‑ready documentation for O&M manuals
Ideal for: Contractors preparing handover and completion documentation.
Why Developers Choose Arthian
Arthian combines technical accuracy with programme‑driven delivery, giving project teams confidence at every stage.
- Proven experience across commercial, residential, mixed‑use, and public‑sector developments
- Reporting aligned to BREEAM, WELL, LEED, and building control
- Fast mobilisation to meet programme deadlines
- Clear, defensible evidence for planning and certification
- Integrated expertise across IAQ, ventilation, sustainability, and building performance
We help you deliver buildings that are compliant, certifiable, and ready for occupation — without surprises at handover.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I need an indoor air quality assessment?
Indoor air quality assessments are essential for supporting the health and comfort of a building’s occupants. By identifying pollutants and ventilation issues, these assessments help reduce the risk of negative health effects and create a more comfortable indoor environment. Effective remediation can also minimise odours, enhance overall performance within the space, and contribute to lower energy costs.
What is included in an indoor air quality test?
Indoor air quality testing measures a variety of factors that influence the health and comfort of a building’s occupants. This can involve visual inspections, humidity monitoring, sampling for volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and collecting mould samples to identify potential sources of contamination.
Is BREEAM mandatory?
BREEAM is a long‑established framework for assessing, rating, and certifying the sustainability performance of buildings. Although BREEAM assessments are not legally required across the UK, some local authorities, including those in London, make BREEAM accreditation a condition of planning approval. In these areas, achieving a specified BREEAM rating becomes effectively mandatory for certain types of development.
What is a home quality mark?
A Home Quality Mark (HQM) is a certification used to evaluate and demonstrate the quality, sustainability, and performance of new homes in the UK. It provides buyers, homeowners, and developers with a clear, independent measure of how well a property has been designed and built, covering factors such as energy efficiency, environmental impact, and overall living standards.
What is the WELL Building Standard?
The WELL Building Standard is an international framework designed to improve health and well‑being within the built environment. A key component of WELL is achieving high indoor air quality, and our team at Stroma can support you in meeting these requirements ahead of your WELL verification assessment.