Malaysia indoor air quality standards guidelines

🌐 1. Malaysian Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH)  Indoor Air Quality Guideline

According to the "Indoor Air Quality Code of Practice 2010" (by DOSH), the permissible concentration of formaldehyde in indoor air is:

0.1 ppm (approximately 0.123 mg/m), based on an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA)

The same guideline outlines 12 parameters, including temperature, humidity, CO , TVOC, etc., forming a comprehensive IAQ assessment framework.

🏢 2. Reference from Singapore/Malaysian Commercial Buildings (Qsafe ICAO)

Though based on Singapore standards, many Malaysian commercial buildings use them as industry benchmarks:

Formaldehyde limit: 0.08 ppm

This is slightly stricter than DOSHs standard, but widely regarded in the industry as a useful reference.

📊 3. Recommended Sampling Locations and Methods

While Malaysia does not enforce a rigid rule such as 1 sampling point per 10 m, standard practice suggests:

At least 1 sampling point per independent space (e.g., office, meeting room)

Placement should be central or in the main usage area, not inside drawers or cabinets, and away from doors, windows, or ventilation outlets

Recommended height: 0.9 to 1.2 meters (to simulate the breathing zone)

Before testing, doors and windows should be closed for 1 hour to stabilize readings

These methods are similar to Japanese JIS and Taiwanese IAQ standards, though more flexible in implementation.

💡 4. Industry/Agency Practices

Commercial and public buildings follow DOSH guidelines for IAQ sampling

Third-party testing labs (e.g., Qsafe, Astar Lab) conduct comprehensive testing based on DOSH and Singapores SS 554 standards

🌱 5. Practical Summary

Item Malaysia Standard

Formaldehyde Limit 0.1 ppm (0.123 mg/m, 8-hour TWA)

Commercial Reference 0.08 ppm (stricter than DOSH)

Sampling Points 1 point per independent room

Sampling Height ~ 1 meter (adult breathing zone)

Testing Conditions Room closed 1 hour; Temp 23 26C; RH 40 70%

Practical Recommendations

Home/General Offices: Follow the above sampling setup; place detectors around 1 meter height, in the center of the room.

Commercial/Public Buildings: Testing should be done by qualified professionals according to DOSH; for more stringent control, adopt the 0.08 ppm standard.