Indoor Air Quality

Iowa Enacts HF 2297 Requiring Passive Radon Mitigation in New Homes

Iowa has enacted House File 2297 to require the state building code to mandate passive radon mitigation systems for all new single- and two-family homes, with the law taking effect on 1 July 2026. This will force residential builders and suppliers in Iowa to integrate radon-resistant design aligned with the 2021 International Residential Code into new projects, raising expectations on indoor air quality and radon risk management.

9 May 2026, 18:52legis.iowa.govUnited States

New Hampshire Senate Tables HB 1544 Scented Products Ban in State Buildings

In May 2026 the New Hampshire Senate tabled HB 1544, a bill that would require fragrance-free cleaning and personal-care products and ban fragrance-dispensing devices in public areas of state-owned or operated buildings. This pause in the bill’s progress removes any immediate compliance obligations but signals rising occupational health and indoor air-quality scrutiny of fragranced products used in government facilities and potentially by contracted service providers.

9 May 2026, 14:09gc.nh.govUnited States

South Korea Re-Notifies Draft Enforcement Rules for the Indoor Air Quality Management Act

South Korea’s environment ministry has re-notified draft Enforcement Rules for the Indoor Air Quality Management Act, combining a new “excellent facility” designation with updated training, testing and measurement requirements for multi-use facilities, with consultation open until mid-June 2026. This could tighten expectations on how buildings monitor and document indoor air quality, while offering recognition incentives, so operators and service providers should assess compliance gaps and opportunities ahead of finalisation.

9 May 2026, 07:09opinion.lawmaking.go.krSouth Korea

South Korea Promulgates Amendments to Multiple Environmental and Chemical Laws (April–May 2026)

South Korea has promulgated a package of partial amendments to multiple environmental and chemical laws, including K‑REACH, greenhouse‑gas emissions trading, waste and recycling, indoor air quality, environmental liability, light pollution and water resources, based on laws promulgated between 7 April and 6 May 2026. These framework changes signal closer regulatory attention to chemical management and environmental performance, and companies operating in Korea should review the amended texts to understand any new registration, permitting, monitoring or liability obligations ahead of staggered entry‑into‑force dates through October 2026 and April 2027.

8 May 2026, 07:28law.go.krSouth Korea

New Jersey Bills A4952 and S3275 Propose Registration for Mold Inspection and Remediation Contractors

New Jersey is advancing Assembly Bill A4952 and identical Senate Bill S3275 to bring mold inspection and remediation contractors under a formal state registration regime with explicit insurance and role-separation requirements. If enacted, contractors performing mold work in New Jersey would need to register with the Division of Consumer Affairs, maintain at least $500,000 in liability coverage, separate inspection from remediation, and prepare for detailed implementing rules and civil penalties.

7 May 2026, 19:44njleg.state.nj.usUnited States

Ohio House Introduces Healthy Homes Program Act on Mold, Lead, Radon, and Carbon Monoxide

On 30 April 2026, Ohio lawmakers introduced the Healthy Homes Program Act (HB 841), which would add a new section 3701.68 to the state public health code and require the Director of Health to establish an information and awareness programme on household hazards from mold, lead, radon and carbon monoxide. This early-stage proposal primarily affects the Ohio Department of Health for now, but signals increased focus on indoor environmental exposures in housing that compliance and EHS teams may wish to monitor for potential downstream impacts on landlords, builders and home-related products.

5 May 2026, 14:45legislature.ohio.govUnited States

Iowa Senate Amendment H-8431 to HF 2297 Clarifies Statewide Radon Mitigation Requirements for New Homes

In 2026, the Iowa Senate filed Amendment H-8431 to HF 2297 to clarify that new state building code radon mitigation requirements apply to all new single-family and two-family residential construction statewide. If enacted, this would make passive radon mitigation systems a standard feature in new Iowa homes, increasing design and compliance obligations for homebuilders, architects, and suppliers of radon mitigation components.

4 May 2026, 18:26legis.iowa.govUnited States

EU REACH Formaldehyde Emission Limits for Articles and Road Vehicles Apply From August 2026

The EU has adopted a REACH Annex XVII restriction that sets binding formaldehyde emission limits for most articles from August 2026 and for road vehicles from August 2027. Manufacturers and importers of wood-based panels, furniture, other consumer goods and vehicles must verify emissions using prescribed test methods, redesign materials where needed, and clear non-compliant stock ahead of these cut-off dates to avoid market access and compliance risks.

3 May 2026, 07:24eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

Netherlands Outlines Subsidised Expert Scheme For Moisture And Mould In Rental Housing

In April 2026 the Dutch housing minister set out a national programme to tackle moisture and mould in rental housing, including a subsidised scheme for independent expert investigations between 2027 and 2029. This signals tighter scrutiny of damp and mould issues, greater use of independent reports and Huurcommissie remedies, and a need for landlords and municipalities to embed concrete moisture and mould controls into their local housing strategies.

1 May 2026, 18:17zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlands

South Korea MCEE Consults On Draft Amendment To Building Material Pollutant Emission Test Institution Notification

South Korea’s Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment has opened consultation on a draft amendment that updates the list of accredited laboratories authorised to verify pollutant emissions from building materials under the Indoor Air Quality Management Act, with comments due by 13 May 2026. Manufacturers and testing institutions should confirm whether their current labs remain designated or are newly added, as future conformity testing for building materials will be expected to use these approved facilities.

28 Apr 2026, 19:47mcee.go.krSouth Korea

Netherlands Housing Minister Answers Parliament on Tackling Damp and Mould in Housing

The Dutch housing minister has answered parliamentary questions on damp and mould problems in homes, confirming a national-local programme that prioritises reducing moisture and mould in rental housing, including co-funded independent inspections and an explicit emphasis on landlord responsibility from 2027 onwards. This strengthens policy and enforcement pressure on housing associations and other landlords to invest in maintenance, monitoring, and tenant communication on indoor air quality, even though no new statute is created.

28 Apr 2026, 17:57open.overheid.nlNetherlands

Netherlands District Court (Midden-Nederland) Awards €12,030 to Tenant for Asbestos-Contaminated Rental Housing

A Dutch district court has ordered a landlord to pay a tenant €12,030 plus costs as provisional damages after asbestos contamination rendered a rented home temporarily uninhabitable in early 2026. The case underlines that asbestos incidents in housing can rapidly lead to uninhabitability findings and significant liability for alternative accommodation and destroyed contents, while signalling that immaterial health damage claims still require strong supporting evidence.

23 Apr 2026, 15:18uitspraken.rechtspraak.nlNetherlands

Minnesota Senate Rules Committee Hearing on SF 4144 Chemical Irritant Disclosure Set for 20 April 2026

The Minnesota Senate Rules Committee has scheduled an April 20, 2026 hearing that includes SF 4144, a bill requiring disclosure when chemical irritants are used inside certain buildings. This additional committee step indicates the proposal is continuing to advance, so Minnesota law enforcement agencies and building stakeholders should monitor its progress and be ready for new disclosure and record-keeping obligations if it is enacted.

23 Apr 2026, 14:11revisor.mn.govUnited States

South Korea Adopts Excellent Indoor Air Quality Management Facility Designation Under Indoor Air Quality Act

South Korea has amended the Enforcement Decree and Rules of the Indoor Air Quality Management Act, effective 16 April 2026, to introduce an “excellent indoor air quality management facility” designation and align reporting with a national data system. These changes create a voluntary but incentive-driven regime where multi-use facilities that maintain air quality significantly better than legal limits and invest in certified monitoring can gain regulatory relief and reputational benefits, signalling a shift toward performance-based indoor air oversight.

22 Apr 2026, 20:53law.go.krSouth Korea

Illinois SB3974 Proposes Warning Label for Non-Externally Vented Natural Gas Appliances

Illinois Senate Bill 3974 would require a prominent health warning label on certain non-externally vented natural gas appliances manufactured from January 2027, with sales of unlabeled products treated as unlawful practices under the state consumer-fraud framework. If enacted, manufacturers and retailers supplying gas appliances into Illinois would need to update product labelling, determine which models are in scope or exempt, and track follow-on rulemaking that could tighten label placement and formatting requirements.

22 Apr 2026, 20:20ilga.govUnited States

California CalEPA Vapor Migration Working Group Announces 4th 2026 Vapor Migration Workshop on Case Closure and Risk Management

California’s CalEPA Vapor Migration Working Group will hold a fourth public virtual workshop on 14 May 2026 to discuss holistic approaches to vapor migration, case closure, and long-term risk management at contaminated sites. Participation gives site owners, consultants, and other stakeholders early insight into CalEPA’s evolving vapor intrusion expectations, informing future guidance and cleanup decisions even though no new binding rules are adopted yet.

21 Apr 2026, 20:16waterboards.ca.govUnited States

Connecticut HB05227 Proposes Licensing for Commercial Mold Remediation and Fire Restoration Businesses

Connecticut’s HB05227 would create a new licensing and registration regime for commercial mold remediation and fire and catastrophic restoration businesses, tying market access to recognised third-party certifications, ANSI/IICRC practice standards, and consumer-protection enforcement, and has advanced to the House Appropriations Committee in April 2026. If enacted, restoration contractors working on commercial premises and post-disaster projects in Connecticut will need to adjust credentials, procedures, and client communications ahead of late-2026 and early-2027 compliance dates, or risk new licensing offences and unfair-trade-practice exposure.

21 Apr 2026, 13:55cga.ct.govUnited States

Wisconsin DNR Promotes ITRC Vapor Intrusion Toolkit Training On 30 April And 12 May 2026

Wisconsin DNR is promoting two ITRC online “Understanding Vapor Intrusion” training sessions in late April and mid May 2026 that walk regulators and consultants through the newly published ITRC Vapor Intrusion Toolkit. The toolkit consolidates and updates major vapor intrusion guidance into a single reference that is likely to become a de facto standard for assessing and mitigating vapor intrusion, so remediation teams should align their approaches and consider attending or viewing the training.

19 Apr 2026, 17:59itrcweb.orgUnited States

Wisconsin DNR Issues Vapor Intrusion Building Evaluation Form 4400-011 (VIBE)

Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources has introduced a web-based Vapor Intrusion Building Evaluation (VIBE) form (Form 4400-011, revision R 03/2026) to standardise how environmental professionals document building conditions for vapor intrusion investigations and mitigation planning. While it does not create new legal duties, the form makes DNR expectations more explicit under Wisconsin’s NR 700 cleanup rules, so consultants and responsible parties on contaminated sites in the state should integrate it into their standard investigation and submittal workflows.

19 Apr 2026, 17:34wi.accessgov.comUnited States

Netherlands Court Convicts Roofer for Fatal Carbon Monoxide Poisoning and CO Certification Breach

On 14 April 2026 the District Court of Midden‑Nederland convicted a roofer for causing two carbon‑monoxide deaths and for working on a gas boiler flue without the legally required CO certification under Dutch housing and building regulations. The judgment signals that non‑certified contractors and their clients face significant criminal, financial, and reputational risk if they ignore the CO‑certification regime, reinforcing the need for strict competence, contractor management, and carbon‑monoxide safety controls in residential projects.

19 Apr 2026, 15:32uitspraken.rechtspraak.nlNetherlands