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Trouble Shooting IAQ Problems

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Outdoor Pollution. New Furniture. New Carpeting or Tile. Photocopier Use ... CO2 Levels 700 ppm Above Outdoor Levels. Presence of CO. Relative Humidity Levels 60 ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Trouble Shooting IAQ Problems


1
Trouble Shooting IAQ Problems
  • Lessons Learned from the Wichita Public Schools
    IAQ Program
  • Tim Phares, CHMM, CEA, CIE

2
The Call Comes In.
  • Get the name of the caller
  • Building Locations and Room Numbers
  • Health Concerns and Symptoms
  • Construction or Maintenance Activities?

3
Do Your Homework.
  • Obtain a Site Drawing
  • Look for Mechanical Drawings
  • Obtain Maintenance Records If Available
  • Review Previous IAQ Reports

4
Public Relations
  • Assure Staff that Complaint will be Evaluated
  • Be Positive and Courteous
  • Always Keep Staff Informed

5
Data Collection Methods
  • Use a Standard Protocol for Assessing Building
    IAQ
  • Follow Established IAQ Policy
  • Use Standard Report Format
  • Archive IAQ Reports and Correspondence

6
Building Inspection
  • Meet with Building Managers, Custodians, and
    Staff
  • Record Comments from Staff
  • Note Problem Areas or Hot Spots

7
Routine IAQ Checklist 1
  • Check HVAC System
  • Fresh Air in Bldg?
  • Water Leaks
  • Cleaning Processes
  • Pesticide Use
  • Mold Growth
  • Orphan Chemicals
  • Animal Plant Issues

8
Routine IAQ Checklist 2
  • Improper Duct Cleaning
  • Outdoor Pollution
  • New Furniture
  • New Carpeting or Tile
  • Photocopier Use
  • Science Instructional Activities-Biology and
    Chemistry Experiments

9
Routine IAQ Checklist 3
  • Painting,Varnishing and Gluing
  • Student Over-Capacity
  • Vandalism
  • Candles and Potpourri
  • Fluorescent Ballasts
  • Natural Gas Leaks
  • Temperature Extremes
  • Dry Drain Traps

10
Routine Measurements
  • Temperature
  • Relative Humidity
  • Carbon Dioxide
  • Carbon monoxide
  • Moisture Meters
  • Never Forget the Human Nose!

11
Advanced MeasurementsUsually Done by Consultants
and IAQ Specialists
  • HVAC Flow Rates
  • Multi-Channel Particle Counters
  • Micro-VOC Monitors
  • Spore-Trap Sampling
  • Surface Sampling
  • Infrared Videography

12
IAQ Reports
  • Be Consistent!
  • Represent the Facts and Avoid Speculation
  • Note Specifics on Health Symptoms
  • Tabulate and Graph Data (If Possible)
  • Provide Remedial Recommendations
  • Limit Report Distribution

13
Event AnalysisLook for Patterns and Relationships
  • Isolated Event
  • Cluster Event
  • Look for Causal Relationships
  • Look at Event Chronology
  • Evaluate Outside Environmental Parameters

14
Applicable StandardsAmerican Society of Heating
Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers
(ASHRAE)
  • ASHRAE 62
  • This standard is to establish minimum ventilation
    rates and indoor air quality that will be
    acceptable to human occupants and are intended to
    minimize the potential for adverse health effects

15
Applicable Standards
  • ASHRAE 55-1992
  • This standard is to specify the combinations of
    indoor space environment and personal factors
    that will produce thermal environmental
    conditions acceptable to 80 or more of the
    occupants within the space.

16
IAQ Red Flags
  • CO2 Levels 700 ppm Above Outdoor Levels
  • Presence of CO
  • Relative Humidity Levels gt 60
  • Sewer Odors (H2S)
  • Mold Odors
  • Burning Eyes and Throats

17
Sick Building Syndrome
  • Sick building syndrome is a condition in which
    20 of the occupants complain of eye irritation,
    sore throat, headaches, drowsiness, dizziness,
    fatigue and nausea for a period of more than a
    few weeks. Occupants feel immediate relief when
    they leave the building and the causes of the
    symptoms are not obvious.

18
Building Related Illness (BRI)
  • BRI Correlated with Illness or Disease
  • Must Be Confirmed by Health Professionals
  • Categories Include Toxic Environment, Infectious
    Disease, And Allergic Response

19
Mold
  • Found Naturally
  • Can Produce Allergy Symptoms and Nuisance Odors
  • High Public Relations Issues
  • Remove Moldy materials

20
Removing Mold From School BuildingsBuild a Team!
  • Retain a Mold Inspector/Consultant
  • Utilize Laboratories Proficient in Mold/IAQ
    Analysis
  • Retain a Mold Remediation Firm
  • Utilize PR Professionals

21
Microbiological RemediationGuidance Documents
  • Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial
    Buildings (EPA 402-K-01-001)
  • New York City DOH Guidelines on Assessment and
    Remediation of Fungi in Indoor Environments
  • National Air Duct Cleaners Association Standard
    ACR 2002

22
Resources
  • EPA
  • ASHRAE
  • IAQA
  • AIHA
  • IICRC
  • NADCA

23
Investigation Examples
  • Carbon Monoxide Concern
  • Imported Article Event
  • Avian Intrusion
  • Extensive Mold Growth
  • Chemical Incompatibility

24
Question Answer Session
  • Troubleshooting IAQ Problems
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