Jongno-gu Takes Initiative to Manage Indoor Air Quality in Small Multi-Use Facilities

Annual 2-4 Visits to Over 520 Facilities Including Senior Centers, Daycare Centers for Health-Sensitive Groups, Small Theaters, and Billiard Halls to Measure Indoor Air Quality Such as Fine Dust and Carbon Dioxide

Certification Ceremony for Outstanding Indoor Air Quality Management Facilities Held in April Last Year

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Jongno-gu (District Mayor Kim Young-jong) is focusing on managing indoor air quality in small-scale multi-use facilities to create a sustainable healthy city by establishing a pleasant and safe indoor environment.

The Indoor Air Quality Control Act mandates indoor air quality management only for facilities above a certain size, so the district has been paying attention to the indoor air quality of smaller facilities not covered by this law and has been managing indoor air quality in small-scale multi-use facilities since 2010.

From April to December, indoor air quality will be intensively managed, with the schedule subject to change depending on the COVID-19 outbreak situation. The targets include a total of about 520 locations, such as ▲facilities used by health-sensitive groups like senior centers and daycare centers ▲small-scale general facilities such as small performance halls, billiard rooms, indoor golf ranges, and libraries.

Facilities used by health-sensitive groups are visited once quarterly, and general facilities once every six months. Using comprehensive indoor air quality measuring devices, the following are measured: ▲(ultra)fine dust ▲carbon dioxide ▲carbon monoxide ▲formaldehyde ▲volatile organic compounds ▲temperature and humidity.

The district requires posting indoor air quality measurement results at facility entrances and conducts one-on-one consulting based on the results to analyze pollution sources and provide guidance on appropriate air quality management methods for each facility, such as cleaning methods and ventilation tips.

In particular, for daycare centers where children spend long hours, indoor air quality will be measured from May to October with the participation of parents of the children. The target includes 21 national and public daycare centers excluded from legal management.

Additionally, the district operates an ‘Indoor Air Quality Management Excellence Certification System’ to encourage interest among small facility managers and allow residents to use facilities with confidence, awarding certificates of commendation and excellence certification marks.

Applications are accepted from facilities whose indoor air quality results measured last year were within the standard range. Joint on-site investigations are conducted with the Jongno-gu Environmental Monitoring Team to measure indoor air pollution levels and check management status such as ventilation and purification systems, selecting 10 excellent facilities.

District Mayor Kim Young-jong said, “Since seniors and young children have weaker immune systems and spend a lot of time indoors, it is important to intensively manage indoor air quality to prevent contamination.” He added, “We will continuously manage indoor air quality to protect residents’ health and create a pleasant and safe indoor environment.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.