1. (1) Ventilation systems must undergo annual checks by the school facility manager, school administrator, or administrator-approved staff to ensure they are operating within manufacturer parameters.

2. (2) Air filters must have a minimum efficiency reporting value of between 8 and 13 as recommended by the National Air Filtration Association and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) unless other types of non-MERV rated filters are used.

   1. (a) The department recommends that schools with ventilation systems using MERV rated air filters change their filters to MERV 13 or greater during times of poor outdoor air quality.
   2. (b) Schools using electrostatic air filters must clean the filters according to manufacturer specifications.

3. (3) The school facility manager, school administrator, lead teacher, or other administrator-approved staff must complete annual indoor air quality inspections using the Walk Through Inspection Checklist from EPA's Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools or other department-approved inspection form.

   1. (a) Schools must maintain records of indoor air quality inspection on site for no less than three years and the records must be made available to the local health authority and the department upon request.

Authorizing statute(s): 50-1-206, MCA

Implementing statute(s): 50-1-206, MCA

History: NEW, 2020 MAR p. 47, Eff. 9/1/20.