Final answer:
EPA protocols require adjustment of test duration for an EIC short-term test if the house was not closed for 12 hours, compensating for the air infiltration to get a better assessment of the indoor air pollution levels.
Step-by-step explanation:
In accordance with EPA protocols, if a homeowner has not closed up the house for 12 hours prior to your arrival to conduct a short-term test with an electret ion chamber (EIC), you should treat the situation as if the house was only closed for 12 hours and adjust your test duration accordingly. This compensates for the air infiltration that has occurred, leading to non-ideal testing conditions. The test may not be as conclusive as it would be under ideal circumstances, but it still provides valuable information about the indoor air quality. The protocol adjustment is necessary to account for the fact that the indoor air pollution levels could be higher due to the extra air exchange with the outside environment.