Advances in the Standards & Applied Sciences

Advances in the Standards & Applied Sciences

Indoor Air Quality Criteria and Standards in LEED, BREEAM and HQE Green Building Rating Systems: Implications for Iran

Document Type : Review Article

Authors
sajad jalilian 1
Alireza Pardakhti 2
Saeed Givehchi 3
1 Department of Environmental Engineering, Air Pollution, Faculty of Environment, Kish International Campus, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
2 Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
3 Associate Professor, Department of Disasters Engineering, Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
10.22034/asas.2026.600062.1120
Abstract
Indoor air quality (IAQ) is an important component of building environmental performance because people spend much of their time indoors. Poor ventilation, emissions from construction materials, combustion by-products, and other pollutants can adversely affect occupant health and comfort. This paper compares IAQ criteria in three established green building rating systems: LEED (United States), BREEAM (United Kingdom), and HQE (France). A documentary review of publicly available technical guidance was conducted without field measurements. The criteria were organized into four themes: pollutant source control, ventilation, filtration, and pre-occupancy testing, enabling comparison despite differences in scoring approaches. LEED emphasizes performance-based requirements, including ventilation rates, combustion safety, parking-related emissions, radon, and low-emitting materials. BREEAM integrates IAQ within health and wellbeing and gives greater attention to occupant information and system operation after handover. HQE is notable for its attention to odor and its requirement for an air quality check before occupancy. The findings indicate that none of these systems can be directly applied to Iran because of its climatic diversity, ventilation regulations, and construction cost constraints. The study therefore proposes a staged framework for Iran, beginning with mandatory minimum requirements for ventilation and pollutant source control, followed by voluntary higher-performance measures. Such a framework should draw on international experience while being adapted to Iran’s climatic, regulatory, and economic conditions and local building practices to improve feasibility, consistency, and long-term adoption across different building projects.
Keywords
air quality
green building certification
LEED
BREEAM
HQE
Subjects
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Advances in the Standards & Applied Sciences
Volume 4, Issue 3
Summer 2026
Pages 113-120