Chemical air sampling is an assessment in which indoor air is sampled and analyzed to see what it contains. A direct reading instrument may be used or equipment may be used where samples are collected for laboratory analysis. Sampling can be conducted to determine the concentration in air of a specific chemical or for a broad range of chemicals. Such testing can be performed for a variety of reasons. The most common is to determine the presence of a chemical or chemicals that are contributing to poor indoor air quality and/or reported health symptoms.

Occupational hygiene testing in an office or industrial environment may be conducted to determine if the quality of air meets or exceeds legislative standards or guidelines. Testing is conducted in many different ways and may include sample equipment which is left in place over an extended period of time (hours or in some cases days). Other equipment is used for only short periods, often only minutes to determine if a specific contaminant in air is an issue.

Laboratory reports can be quite confusing to those individuals not familiar with laboratory type reporting. IES prepares a report written in everyday language making it easy to understand laboratory findings, and providing actions that may be taken to resolve issues identified.