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Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

Attendance

The dust mite creates the second most allergic reactions, second only to pollen. What part of the dust mite is the cause of the reaction? http://www.allergycontrol.com/education_books.asp?mscssid=P30XC0SPWMGM8JXXWJAXH6PUHC4T73P3

A. Shed skinsB. CorpsesC. DroppingsD. Regurgitated foodE. Eggs

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

Accordingly to the EPA, Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is up to 5 times worse than

outdoor Air

IAQ -Terms

• Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

• Bio effluents• Dilution• Filtration• Source

capture/elimination• Friable• Allergen• Pathogen

• Sick Building Syndrome (SBS)

• Building Related Illness (BRI)

• Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS)

• Volatile Organic Compound (VOC)– Formaldehyde

IAQ

Occupied zone is the region in an occupied space from 3” abovethe floor to 72” above the floor and greater than 2’ from walls or fixed air conditioning equipment.

IAQ

What You Need to Know•Be conversant in the various codes and standards relative to healthy indoor environments•Know how to design and construct healthy buildings

IAQ

What You Need To Be Able To Do•Identify and avoid dangerous conditions•Select the appropriate strategy to ensure a “healthy” environment

IAQ

“Exists when a significant percentage (e.g., more than 20%) of the occupants complain during a two week period of a set of symptoms, including headaches, fatigue, nausea, eye irritation, and throat irritation, that are alleviated by leaving the building, and are not known to be caused by specific contaminants.”

ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2004

Sick Building Syndrome

Building Related Illness (BRI) v. Sick Building Syndrome (SBS)

• BRI has a known contaminant– Vapors and Gases

• bioeffluents

– Respirable particles

– ETS

Source: Lincoln Journal and Star

IAQ

• Sources A. Vapors and gases

1. Carbon Dioxide (marker or surrogate)

2. Carbon Monoxide3. Radon4. Bio-aerosols5. Formaldehyde (HCHC)6. Volatile Organic Compounds

IAQ

• Sources Repertory particles (5 to 10 microns)

1. Fungal spores (mildew2. Fibers (asbestos)3 Pathogens (Legionnella)4. Allergens (spores, mold,

pollens, etc.)

IAQ

• SourcesEnvironmental Tobacco Smoke

1. Gases and droplets (off-gassing)

2. 4,000 different chemical compounds

IAQ

• Sources Chemicals

• Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDE)• Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBB)• Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB)

Cognitive declineIschemic Strokes

Environmentally Induced Epigenetic Trans generational Inhertance of reproductive Disease

IAQ

• Can Cause •Cognitive decline•Ischemic Strokes •Environmentally Induced Epigenetic

Transgenerational Inhertance of Reproductive Disease

IAQ

Filters•Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV)

– Flat filters is 1 to 4. – ASHRAE Standard 62.1 2010 requires

a minimum filter requirement of a MERV 6.

IAQ

Filters•The International Mechanical Code IMC-2009

– does not state a minimum MERV value for filters

IAQ

Filters• For ventilation purposes

– Increase MERV ratings to 16• Add pre-filters

– effectiveness on dust– pollens, – emission particles before entering a ventilation

system, – utilizing instruments that monitor and manipulate

ventilation and filtering based on occupancy and air characteristics

IAQ

• Filters– Per the 2000 U.S. Census 35% of

housing stock lack a ventilation system

– Negative to increase filtering• Need more Air Pressure

Vapors and Gasses

• VOCs– Formaldehyde– Cleaning supplies– Chlorine

• Bio-effluents– Human odors– Organic odors

• ETS– CO2

– CO

• Ozone/smog

Respirable Particles

• #1 allergen in homes is the dust mite– How best to

mitigate dust mites in your bed?

Respirable Particles

• Dust mite (insect) populations decrease below 50% RH

• Dust mites die below 40% RH

Respirable Particles

• Asbestos• Cyanide• Dust mite

droppings • Others?

One Example

Bacteria, Viruses & Mold

• Legionella• Viruses

– High or low RH

• Mold

Mold• Over 64,000

different types of fungi

• A few are toxic• Considered a

“growth industry” for both remediation contractors and the legal profession

Conditions Needed for Mold Growth

• One viable spore• An acceptable

temperature range

• A usable food source

• Adequate moisture in the food source

Failure Analysis

• Prof. Kirk’s one-of-a-kind, surefire process guaranteed to result in a mind-numbing law suit.

More Mold

More Mold

More Mold

Strategies Addressing IAQ Concerns

• Source Elimination/ Capture

• Filtration• Dilution

Source Elimination Strategy

“If there is a pile of manure in a space, do not try to remove the odor by ventilation.

Max Van Pettenkofer (1848)

Remove the pile of manure.”

Design Criteria for Capture

• Walls to deck above and sealed

• Independent exhaust

• No return or recirculation air

• Negative air pressure

Source Elimination/Capture

• Smoking Rooms• Janitors Closets• Photocopying

rooms• Bathrooms• Locker rooms• Kitchens• Others?

Pressurization as an IAQ Strategy?

Source Capture

• An effective solution if you can’t eliminate the contaminant

Ultra Violet Light (UVC)

Take-aways or the ‘Ah hahs’

• Identify the contaminants that are in your building (they will be unique)

• First try to eliminate them, then capture them, then filter them.

• If all else fails, dilute them