Guidance
The IAQM is committed to enhancing the understanding and development of the science behind air quality by promoting knowledge and understanding of good working practices. Therefore from time-to-time we publish guidance to aid members in their work.
Once published, guidance is reviewed on typically an annual basis to determine whether any updates are necessary to keep the guidance aligned to emerging policy and practice. The current status of each guidance document can be seen below in its description.
Guidance production and updates are carried out by IAQM members in a voluntary capacity and therefore timelines are subject to change. If a guidance document is shown as under review, being updated or is out for consultation, the most recent published version of the guidance should be used until the final updated version is published following Committee approval. The guidance working group will attempt to answer members’ queries during this time. They can be contacted via the IAQM mailbox.
Monitoring
Good practice on air quality monitoring for brownfield projects (2025 V1.0)
Status: Up to date
Next review date: 2027
This guidance aims to improve collaboration between those working in the air quality and contaminated land disciplines, be they consultants, developers, or regulators, and to increase understanding of interactions between topics.
It describes best practice in the monitoring of air pollutants, including individual compounds and the odours that they contribute on remediation sites and assists in complying with the regulatory framework which governs remediation activity. Consultation comments and responses
Air Quality Monitoring in the Vicinity of Demolition and Construction Sites (2018 V1.1)
Status: Update in progress
Estimated timeline: Member consultation Q1 2027
Constructing buildings, roads and other infrastructure can have a substantial, temporary impact on local air quality. This document provides updated guidance on air quality monitoring in the vicinity of demolition and construction sites. It should be read and applied in conjunction with the Guidance on the assessment of dust from demolition and construction 2014 that was published by the IAQM in January 2014.
Assessment
Assessment of dust from demolition and construction (2024 V2.2)
Status: Update in progress
Estimated timeline: Member consultation due in Q4 2026
The document provides guidance for developers, their consultants and environmental health practitioners on how to undertake a construction impact assessment (including demolition and earthworks). The impacts of dust depend on the mitigation measures adopted. The emphasis in this document is therefore on classifying the risk of dust impacts from a site, which will then allow appropriate mitigation measures to be identified.
This is a rewrite of previous guidance published in 2014, adopting the lessons learnt from the application of the previous guidance. Please note that, in relation to small particulates, this guidance is focused on PM10. This is due to a current lack of empirical evidence regarding PM2.5 emissions from construction sites specifically. Updates to this guidance will be made where appropriate as more evidence on PM2.5 is gathered. Details of corrections from version 2.1 to 2.2 can be found in this document. Substantive changes from version 1 can be found at the end of the guidance document.
A guide to the assessment of air quality impacts on designated nature conservation sites (2020 V1.1)
Status: Under review
Estimated timeline: Review outcome due in Q3 2026
Air pollution damage to protected wildlife sites is often overlooked due to the current emphasis on its effect on human health. This publication signposts the appropriate thresholds used by local authorities, the Environment Agency and other regulators to conclude that there will not be a significant effect. When these thresholds are exceeded, a suitably qualified and experienced ecologist must determine whether there is likely to be a significant effect on the habitat. The guide stresses the importance of air quality and ecology specialists working closely together. Read the responses and amendments.
Guidance on the assessment of odour for planning (2018 v1.1)
Status: Final drafting of update (following consultation)
Estimated timeline: Publication due in Q3 2026
Some guidance on odour assessment is already available from the national Government, the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) and the Environment Agency (EA). However, none of this specifically provides guidance applicable for planning purposes. This IAQM document has been prepared to assist practitioners involved in odour assessment for planning.
Guidance on the Assessment of Mineral Dust Impacts for Planning (2016 v1.1)
Status: Update in progress
Estimated timeline: TBC
This IAQM document has been prepared to assist practitioners undertake dust assessments for mineral sites. It aims to provide advice on robust and consistent good-practice approaches that can be used to assess the operational phase dust impacts. This guidance is designed for use in the planning process; it is not designed for other purposes such as Environmental Permitting.
General
Indoor Air Quality Guidance: Assessment, Monitoring, Modelling and Mitigation (2021, V1.0)
Status: Up to date
Next review date: 2027
This guidance has been produced to assist its members and others in the assessment of indoor air quality. It is guidance for appropriately qualified practitioners working on improving indoor air quality. It has been endorsed by the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE).
Guidance on land-use planning and development control: Planning for air quality (2017 v1.2)
Status: Update in progress (in collaboration with EPIC)
Estimated timeline: Member consultation on exposure draft Q3 2026 (Note, there may be multiple rounds of consultation as this is a substantive update)
Environmental Protection UK (EPUK) and the Institute of Air Quality Management (IAQM) have produced this guidance, which replaces the 2010 EPUK Guidance document, to ensure that air quality is adequately considered in the land-use planning and development control processes.
Replaced guidance
Assessment of dust from demolition and construction 2014
The document provides guidance for developers, their consultants and environmental health practitioners on how to undertake a construction impact assessment (including demolition and earthworks). The impacts of dust depend on the mitigation measures adopted. The emphasis in this document is therefore on classifying the risk of dust impacts from a site, which will then allow appropriate mitigation measures to be identified.
This guidance had a minor update in 2016, listed at the start of the guidance.
Significance in Air Quality, November 2009
Following discussion amongst the membership, the Institute has prepared recommendations for assessing the significance of air quality impacts.
This guidance was replaced by the Planning Guidance published in 2015 and available above.
Dealing with Uncertainty in Vehicle NOx Emissions Within Air Quality Assessments: Withdrawn
Mitigation of Development Air Quality Impacts V1.1 (2018)
Competent Air Quality Expert for Environmental Impact Assessment (2018)
Assessment of Air Quality Impacts from Combustion Plant with Limited-hours of Operation (2017)
Mitigation Measures: Ambient Pollution Removal Techniques (2019)
Use of Screening Tools for Preliminary Determination of the Significance of Pollutant Sources (2020)
Use of 2020 and 2021 Monitoring Datasets V1.1 (2023)
Use of Low-Cost Sensor Systems for PM10 V1.0 (2025)