Indoor Environmental Health Assessment (IEHA) in Child Care Centers

Please read the following information carefully before proceeding with any indoor environmental health assessment (IEHA) work. 

Initial Submissions

New/proposed child care centers or existing child care centers that are relocating or expanding their center must obtain a Safe Building Interior Certification from the DOH if the facility meets any one of the following criteria:

• The child care center is in a building constructed prior to 1979.
• The prior or current use of the building and/or property was/is used for industrial, storage, or other high hazard purpose. This includes being used as a nail salon, a dry cleaner or a gas station. These categories may be classified as Groups B, S, F and H as defined by under the Uniform Construction Code (UCC).
• The location is on a contaminated site or on a property where contamination is suspected.
• The center is referred to the Department of Health (DOH) by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Department of Children and Family (DCF), or a local construction official (LCO), due to a prior or current use of the building or property which is of concern.
• The center is co-located in a building with a dry cleaner and/or nail salon.

Important: A certification fee will apply if your center is required to obtain a Safe Building Interior Certification. If there are any concerns or questions regarding who must obtain a Safe Building Interior Certification, the type of sampling required to be conducted, or any other questions related to the IEHA process please contact the DOH.

In accordance with the requirements of N.J.A.C. 8:50, an IEHA must be completed to obtain a Safe Building Interior Certification from the DOH.  Preliminary Assessments (PAs) do not meet the standards for an IEHA and will not be accepted.  Only a licensed Indoor Environmental Consultant may conduct and submit an IEHA for the purpose of obtaining a DOH Safe Building Interior Certification.

Form A: Submission Information (CEHS-1), must be signed by a licensed consultant. Indoor Environmental Health Assessments (IEHAs), forms, and data submitted to the DOH should be submitted electronically. They can also be placed on a compact disc and mailed to the following address:

NJ Department of Health
Consumer, Environmental, and Occupational Health Service
Indoor Environments Program
P.O. Box 369
Trenton, NJ 08625-0369

NOTE: If the IEHA packet will be e-mailed, a certified check, a business check or money order (no cash or credit cards will be accepted) made payable to "Treasurer, State of New Jersey," in the amount of $1500 must be sent to the above address. When mailing the check, it must be attached to a hardcopy of Form A: Submission Information (CEHS-1).

The following forms are required to be completed and submitted:

Renewal Submissions

Child care centers who are renewing their license must contact the DCF to determine if their center will be required to obtain a new Safe Building Interior Certification from the DOH as part of their renewal. 

If the DCF has required your center to obtain this certification, you must contact the DOH for directions on how to proceed.  You should contact the DOH PRIOR to contacting a consultant or conducting an IEHA.  The DOH will assess your center's specific information and determine what steps, if any, will be necessary to obtain a DOH certification.  A certification fee (see above) will apply if DOH oversight is needed.  

If DOH oversight is required, a Child Care Center Renewal Notification (CEHS-15) [pdf 18k] [Word 45k] form will need to be completed and submitted.  Please ensure that you have contacted the DOH and have been instructed to complete and submit this form.  Failure to do so may result in unnecessary fees and delays in renewing your child care center license.

Additional Links:

• Technical Information – Exposure Scenarios and Formulas
  
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• Frequently Asked Questions