Oregon Revised Statutes §§ 431A.410-417
Requires the Oregon Health Authority to establish a program to increase the availability of portable air cleaners and HVAC filters among persons vulnerable to the health effects of wildfire smoke and who reside in areas susceptible to wildfire smoke. Authorizes the agency to: award grants for the purchase of smoke filtration devices, with priority given to residential buildings occupied by persons who qualify for the Oregon Health Plan or Medicaid and are vulnerable to the health effects of wildfire smoke; adopt rules establishing standards for smoke filtration devices obtained with such grants, including minimum acceptable filter efficiency; and provide information and refer service providers to grantees that need housing interventions to facilitate effective use of smoke filtration devices, including interventions such as weather proofing. Also requires the agency to establish and implement a grant program that allows local governments to establish emergency clean air shelters free to the public, and equip public buildings with smoke filtration systems so the public buildings may serve as cleaner air spaces during wildfire smoke events and other poor air quality events. Legislation in 2022 (S.B. 1536) amended the air filter distribution program to add distribution of air conditioners and established that a rental dwelling unit in a building that received a building permit on or after April 1, 2024, is considered unhabitable if it substantially lacks adequate cooling facilities as defined in the law. (See also Or. Rev. Stat 90.320.)
Oregon Revised Statutes §§ 431A.400, .402
Establishes and funds the Healthy Homes Grant Program within the Oregon Health Authority to provide financial assistance to persons in low-income households to repair and rehabilitate their residences and to landlords to repair and rehabilitate dwelling units inhabited by low-income households. The law authorizes the agency to make grants to eligible entities that serve low-income communities or communities "impacted by environmental justice factors," in order to assist households in maximizing energy efficiency, extending the useful life of homes, or improving occupant health and safety. Provides that health and safety improvements include abatement of radon, lead, and mold; installation of a smoke filtration system; removal of asthma or allergen triggers; and structural and safety improvements. (See implementing rules, Or. Admin. Code §§333-090-0100--0140.)
Oregon Revised Statutes §§ 332.341, .345
Requires school districts to develop a plan that provides for radon testing in any frequently occupied room in contact with the ground or located above a basement or crawlspace, and for retesting at least once every 10 years. Requires test results to be provided to the local school board and the state Health Authority and made readily available to parents/guardians, staff and others. Also requires the state Health Authority to disseminate information on radon to school districts and to develop model plans for school districts to follow.
Oregon Revised Statutes § 455.365
Requires the state building code agencies to adopt design and construction standards for mitigating radon in new residential buildings and new public buildings, including schools. Requires the agencies to consider standards recommended by the U.S. EPA. New standard is to be applicable in seven counties listed in the law, as well as others the agency may consider appropriate in light of local radon levels. The state Building Code and Structures Board has incorporated the International Residential Code Appendix F (radon control) standard into the Oregon Residential Specialty Code and incorporated requirements for passive soil depressurization into the Structural Specialty Code for public buildings. (See also Or. Admin. Code 918-020-0390.)
Oregon Revised Statutes § 455.445
Requires the Department of Consumer and Business Services to adopt ventilation standards for public areas and office workplaces that are at least equivalent to the most recent, nationally recognized and accepted standards. Requires the Department to adopt building codes and building product standards to protect the indoor air quality of private residences, but only as necessary to address serious or unique IAQ problems not addressed by federal standards or national codes.
Oregon Revised Statutes §§ 468A.775--785
Requires the Environmental Quality Commission to establish a voluntary accreditation program for those who provide IAQ sampling or HVAC evaluation, and a voluntary contractor certification program for contractors providing remediation services for residential indoor air pollution problems. Authorizes the Commission to establish a pilot program for household or office products with the potential to contaminate indoor air, including a voluntary product-labeling program to identify products with a low potential for causing indoor air pollution.
Oregon Revised Statutes § 276.915
Requires state agencies to consider IAQ issues when identifying energy conservation measures to be incorporated in state construction or renovation projects.
Oregon Revised Statutes §§ 433.502--.526
Authorizes the Department of Human Services to conduct IAQ field investigations, establish IAQ standards, and implement a public information program. Requires that if established, the standards include particulate matter, aldehydes, radon, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, ozone, and water vapor. Authorizes the Department to establish a public recognition program for office workplaces, buildings, and public areas that consistently meet the IAQ requirements set forth in state law.
Oregon Revised Statutes § 286A.801
Establishes a grant program providing matching fund grants to school districts for capital costs (i.e. construction, improvement, remodel, equipment, maintenance or repair of a school district building), which is to be financed by Article XI-P bonds and administered by the Department of Education. Provides that school districts must provide matching funds that meet or exceed the amount of the grant. Sets aside 66% of available funds for awards based on a "priority list" (factors include enrollment and percentage of families in poverty), with the remaining 34% of funds awarded in the order in which complete applications are received. Requires a school district seeking a grant under the program to prepare and submit a facilities assessment and a long-term facilities plan to the department; rules adopted to implement the program provide that the mandatory facility assessment must include an indoor air quality assessment and an assessment of the presence of harmful substances such as lead or asbestos in the facility (Or. Admin. R. 581-027-0035). The rules also set forth five "Educational Adequacy Review Standards" to be used for "facilitating discussions around capital planning and improvement"; these standards focus on five "primary facets of school facilities that directly correlate to student outcomes": acoustics, lighting, temperature, school capacity, and air quality. ("Air quality" is defined in the rules to mean the degree to which the classrooms are ventilated to avoid high levels of carbon dioxide and the indoor air is free from pollutants such as radon, asbestos, mold, and particulate matter.) Per the rules, the Air Quality Education Adequacy Standard reviews whether the school district implements an Indoor Air Quality Management Program at each of its campuses. Or. Admin. R. 581-027-0043.
Oregon Revised Statutes § 456.594 et seq.
Requires every "petroleum supplier" (defined as any petroleum refiner in the state or any person engaged in wholesale distribution of distillate fuel oil) to pay an annual assessment to the Housing and Community Services Department for deposit into the Oil-Heated Dwellings Energy Account. Provides that moneys in that account are "continuously appropriated" to the agency and may be used to fund cash payments to dwelling owners (or contractors) for energy conservation measures and for providing information, assistance, and technical advice to residential customers of fuel oil dealers, including about energy conservation measures and home energy audits. Rules adopted to implement the program (Or. Admin. R. 813-207-0070 et seq.), which is known as the State Home Oil Weatherization ("SHOW") Program, specify the energy conservation items and measures eligible for which the program’s cash payments may be used, which include (among other things) "occupant health and safety measures and building code requirements" like addressing moisture intrusion issues, addressing indoor air quality issues, and addressing shared vent or flue issues.
Subscribe to Oregon