What is the difference between OSHA and ACGIH standards for IAQ?

OSHA and ACGIH both influence industrial air quality, but they serve different purposes. OSHA establishes legally enforceable regulations and exposure limits, while ACGIH publishes Threshold Limit Values (TLVs®) based on scientific research and industrial hygiene expertise. In many cases, ACGIH recommendations are more protective than OSHA standards and may reflect newer research on long-term exposure risks.

For example, some manufacturers choose to design ventilation or filtration systems to meet ACGIH recommendations rather than simply achieving minimum OSHA compliance.