Emergency Regulation Enables Mold ‘Sterilization’

Industry Views: The Best and Worst of IAQ in 2005

Radon Corner: 2005 Year in Review

Legal Year in Review – Litigation, Hurricanes, Standards and Legislation

IAQ and Schools: The Year in Review

Word on the Street 

VOICES

“You have a problem with rats in your farm house. You shoot all the rats. Then you test if the problem has disappeared by recording how much of the cheese you put out on the floor that is eaten during the night. Of course nothing since the rats are all laying there dead on the floor. Does this mean that you have solved the problem?”

— Ole Erik Carlson, a Norwegian mycologist, providing the Yahoo! IE Quality Group with an analogy to killing mold versus removing it from the indoor environment

IESO Joins ANSI
The Indoor Environmental Standards Organization was approved as an organizational member of the American National Standards Institute in November. IESO officials say joining ANSI is the organization’s first step toward making its standard-setting program ANSI compliant. “We intend to file for ANSI accreditation in 2006,” said IESO President David Fetveit. “Before we do that, IESO has to revamp its standards-making procedures to fit ANSI rules and work on other infrastructure issues,” he said.

IESO has published a volume of standards since 2002 that covers several different procedural methods for taking microbial samples. Training “to the standard” has become an integral part of the training programs for many home inspection and IAQ education programs. The Certified Residential Mold Inspector program, which was started by IESO but will be administered by the American Indoor Air Quality Council beginning Jan. 1, is centered on an inspector’s knowledge of IESO standards and the ability to apply them in the workplace.
IESO officials say that once ANSI accreditation is attained, existing IESO standards will undergo the rigorous review necessary to become ANSI-approved standards.

Good Things Happen in Fort Myers
Joseph Lstiburek, Ph.D., P.E., is scheduled to reprise his role as the main presenter for the annual Building Envelope Seminar sponsored by the Southwest Florida chapter of the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers. The annual seminar series started in 1998 and has covered vented attics, crawlspaces, walls, windows and moisture intrusion in general. This year, the seminar starts the cycle all over again with an overview of the building envelope: keeping the inside in and the outside out. Among other things, Lstiburek will present the findings of a study he completed on water intrusion in Florida after the hurricane season of 2004. He will also comment on the state of the art, based upon a review of research completed over the past 10 years. The Building Envelope Seminar is scheduled for Feb. 10 in Fort Myers, Fla. For more information or to register, Andrew C. Äsk, P.E., can be contacted by e-mail at aaskpe@swfla.rr.com or by phone at (239) 980-0028.

Eleven weeks later, Fort Myers will also be the site of the third annual open house of the Florida Inter-County Indoor Air Quality Council, which is made up of state and local employees concerned with IAQ. Building on the success of the April 2005 show that attracted well over 200, organizers of the open house have already secured a respectable lineup of presentations. Speakers are to include Richard Shaughnessy, Ph.D., addressing research on the effects of IAQ in schools on students’ performance, along with four representatives of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency discussing federal guidance and research useful for facility managers. In addition, the open house features exhibiting opportunities for IAQ companies seeking an audience with state and local government facilities managers and purchasing agents. The event, produced in cooperation with the Indoor Air Quality Association, is scheduled to take place April 28 in Fort Myers. For more information, Ben Auman can be contacted by e-mail at IAQben@aol.com or by phone at (301) 231-8388 ext. 20.

Elsewhere in Florida ...
The mold legislation in Florida, passed by the legislature this spring but vetoed by the governor in the summer, is likely to reappear next year. Sen. Mike Bennett, who was responsible for the 2005 bill, said he will make passing new mold legislation a priority in the coming year. Bennett’s comments came at the AmIAQ-IAQA-IESO Unification Conference in October, where he spoke alongside members of a lobbyist group representing the IAQ industry. The group, known as the Florida Coalition on Healthy Indoor Environments, is set to adopt a new position on the legislation in 2006. Bennett’s bill, aimed to shield consumers from unscrupulous people in the mold industry, focused on mandating insurance requirements for mold remediators and assessors as well as requiring minimum education and experience. Gov. Jeb Bush vetoed the bill in June, saying it would have put responsible people out of business.

Don Your Facemasks – This Is No Drill!
Georgetown University recently flew Thailand’s chief epidemiologist, Dr. Kumnuan Ungchusak, to Washington, D.C., for a talk about how he discovered and published the first probable person-to-person avian flu (H5N1) transmission. At the symposium, “H5N1 Avian Influenza and Strategies to prevent a Human Pandemic,” Dr. Daniel Lucey advised attendees that the best way to prevent airborne transmission of H5N1 is with N95 facemasks. As the former head of bioterrorism and preparedness for the D.C. Department of Health, Lucey oversaw the stockpiling of 500,000 N95 face masks and 2.5 million surgical masks in 2004. When asked about how infectious H5N1 is versus other flu strains, Lucey said it was as virulent a strain of influenza as he had ever seen. Tissue sample tests of avian flu victims showed just how little of the virus was needed to end their lives.
Video footage aired on the PBS show “Wide Angle” demonstrated the probable transmission of H5N1 from a patient to a nurse in Vietnam. A prime transmission route for H5N1 is the Vietnamese drinking of duck blood soup. Another involves men sucking the saliva from their prized cockfighting birds during a match to better their chances of winning. “Wide Angle” also followed a young man who survived H5N1 infection. “What was shocking was that even those infected who are spared their life are left deathly frail and face lifelong care with little hope of full recovery and a normal life,” said Steve Welty, an IAQA member who shared his feelings after seeing the show.

Asbestos Reform Coming?
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said he will push a federal bill that would make asbestos-related lawsuits a thing of the past, the Associated Press reported last month. The Tennessee Republican was quoted in an article as saying, “Asbestos reform will be the first major piece of legislation that we consider in late January when we return.” Senate Bill 2290, known as the Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution Act, would establish an “asbestos injury claims resolution fund” of $140 billion. Some arguing against the controversial bill say plaintiffs should have a right to voice their complaints in court. A report issued in August by the Congressional Budget Office said the $140 billion fund would be insufficient to compensate asbestos victims.
 

Emergency Regulation Enables Mold ‘Sterilization’
By Steve Sauer

Exterminators in Louisiana are temporarily permitted to assist in mold treatment, following an emergency declaration by the commissioner of the state’s Department of Agriculture and Forestry. The declaration clarifies that mold is to be considered “a pest” treatable “by licensed commercial applicators using restricted use pesticides.”

The declaration was issued Sept. 16 by Commissioner Bob Odom in response to “the pandemic growth of microbial organisms, such as toxic black mold” after Hurricane Katrina. It is scheduled to expire in February but may be subject to renewal.

Awareness of the declaration was not widespread among the IAQ industry until a report surfaced in two Louisiana metropolises on Nov. 28, highlighting the work being done by a local exterminator to “sterilize” mold. The article appeared on the Web sites of two newspapers in Slidell and Covington, a pair of towns located 30 miles apart from each other, both situated across Lake Pontchartrain from New Orleans.

The article contrasted the fees charged by one pest-control company acting on a home to those charged by the average mold remediator. “Terminix charges $.30 per square foot for homes that took on 4 feet of water or less. Homeowners with more water may pay $.50 per square foot,” states the article. “In comparison, a mold remediator can charge up to three times that amount per square foot.”

The development in Louisiana was a cause of concern to officials of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Pesticide Programs, after learning of it after reading the article online. In a telephone interview Nov. 30, an official could not instantly recall whether there is an EPA-registered mold sterilizer appropriate for use in homes but acknowledged that “there may be a product out there.” The official also added that it was unusual for sterilization to take place in a home, rather than in a hospital setting where sterilization is more crucial to the welfare of occupants.

An additional consideration is that mold remediators, unlike pest-control companies, tend to be specifically insured against mold claims.

Two members of the Yahoo! IE Quality discussion group in November also expressed dismay at the development. One, who commented that “not a single piece of [literature] or guideline in the U.S. supports this,” urged others to take a stand publicly against Louisiana’s declaration of mold as “a pest.”

Another discussion among IE Quality participants the same week dealt with mainstream media coverage of a technique that allegedly kills indoor mold but does nothing to remove it. Consensus within the group said more must be done than just killing the mold. One participant said, “Killing mold is not the idea! Getting it out of our breathing spaces is!”

At the end of every year since 2000, IE Connections has rounded up the most important stories affecting the IAQ situation. As part of this coverage, members of the newspaper’s Editorial Advisory Board reveal what they believe were the best and worst developments taking place in the year. The opinions expressed herein are the viewpoints of the individuals stating them. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the organizations with which these people are affiliated. Their opinions also do not necessarily reflect the views of this newspaper, its publisher, its advertisers or its industry partners.

Robert G. Baker
CEO, BBJ Environmental Solutions Inc., Tampa, Fla. / President, Indoor Air Quality Association, Rockville, Md.
BEST – Has to be the unification; but, more important, the way that the leadership and membership of all three organizations kept in communication throughout the planning execution and working out the details. There has been a consistent spirit of accommodation, a commitment to the industry that goes far beyond any personal objectives and a mutual trust that has been the most positive experience of my career.

WORST – In Florida, Gov. Jeb Bush vetoed the mold bill that the industry put so much time and effort into. Actually, it looks like that may turn out to be one of the best things in 2005 as the new bill promises to be even a better model for industry and consumers alike.

George Benda
Chairman and CEO, Chelsea Group Ltd., Itasca, Ill.
BEST – The absolute best news in the industry is the consolidation of the IAQA, AmIAQ and IESO. This is a pioneering move, cleverly engineered to simultaneously resolve some of the thorniest problems in the industry: creating reputable, accredited certifications and establishing a clear process for developing industry standards; and building the strongest, largest, most powerful organization conceivable, a membership organization with more than 5,000 members. The fact that the votes at the annual meetings were unanimous with packed rooms shows the potential we now have.

And at that same convention, my other “best” item surfaced – the work of Steve Vesper of the EPA to develop a correlation of damp and moldy indoor environments, a specific testing protocol, and health outcomes in measurable terms, such as asthma interventions. This pioneering work lays out a path that can lead to scientifically defensible, quantitative assessments of damp and moldy indoor environments.

The Institute of Medicine report set the stake in the ground for demonstrating a correlation of dampness and mold to health effects and this research will mark a new starting point for the debate. And this, in turn, leads to my third “best” of the year, which is the successful launch of the IAQA Research Committee RFP, which has resulted in serious and high-quality research proposals that will bring results from IAQA supported research on topics critical to IAQA members to the next annual convention.

WORST – The worst is what has happened in the wake of Hurricane Katrina: the emergence of fly-by-night profiteers behaving irresponsibly in the face of the suffering of the people of the Gulf states. The event itself reminds us that indoor environmental quality is not just mold, that other contaminants – such as waterborne chemicals and the dust of dried, contaminated muck – also bring potential risks for the indoor environment.

This event shows that the work IAQA did in training and certification to create understandable value propositions for various certifications, and establishing the core skills and knowledge base to achieve certification, is more important than ever. This work will be carried on by AmIAQ. It will be the challenge of the consolidated organizations to educate public officials, the insurance industry and property owners everywhere in how to distinguish between unqualified profiteers and legitimate, well-trained, qualified and competent providers of assessment and remediation services related to mold and other IEQ issues.

Like most catastrophic events, Katrina offers us many lessons in how to be better in the future. It shows why reviewing the worst of a year provides value for us all.

H.E. Barney Burroughs
President, IAQ/Building Wellness Consultancy, Alpharetta, Ga.
Truthfully, I haven’t been that close to IAQ this year. I’ve been more on the high end, work on building security and that area. I do think, just as a general opinion, the most outstanding thing that happened to our industry is, truthfully, the unification of the associations. Now, I’m not willing to say whether that’s the worst thing or the best thing; I’m just saying it is the most significant that will impact our lives for the next year or so. Beyond that, I’m truly pleased that the panic and furor over mold is settling down and some common sense is prevailing.

David Governo, Esq.
Partner, Governo Law Firm LLC, Boston, Mass.
BEST – Science is improving IAQ – The best development in IAQ this past year has been the increasing recognition of the importance of science in the decision-making process. One would think that building science, as a fundamental component of IAQ, would have been a long-standing requirement in our industry. Not so. The IAQ industry has been rife with ignorance, misunderstanding and deception, relying on untested assumptions and techniques. Recently, however, there appears to be a genuine interest in taking guidance from data and science rather than guess-work and emotion. Evidence of this trend can be seen in (1) the overwhelming interest in Building Science Corp.’s Summer Camp, (2) the numerous studies, scholarly articles and industry standards regarding IAQ, as well as (3) the building industry’s response to construction defect claims.

One of the most apparent areas in which science is prevailing over mere tradition is in the building industry. Product manufacturers have quickly developed new materials to improve building performance, designers have looked more closely at balancing energy, ventilation and envelope issues, and builders have embraced the need to incorporate higher quality and responsiveness into the products they deliver. Whether these improvements are the result of steps taken to protect themselves from litigation or to gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace, the end result is positive. There is a trend toward viewing the delivery of a building from a holistic, proactive approach. Companies are beginning to examine more closely the performance of their buildings, critically and in advance, to provide maximum benefits at a minimum cost, while also protecting themselves from lawsuits. In the next few years, expect to see the most successful builders conducting an internal self-examination or “liability audit” that provides a new level of profitability, as well as liability protection.

WORST – Politics are threatening IAQ and the United States. The worst development in IAQ this past year has been politics. Our governmental leaders are making a mockery of themselves in a myriad of ways. Chief among the examples of governmental idiocy are the Texas mold regulations and the Federal Emergency Management Association’s response to the hurricanes. The next big mess is likely to be the federal government’s response to the avian flu scare. We are already seeing signs of a “sweetheart” deal being made for vaccine manufacturers. It appears that our constitutional rights are being thrown out regularly and dramatically in the name of exigency. Accountability appears to be nonexistent.

Carl Grimes
President, Healthy Habitats, Denver, Colo.
This has been an exciting, frustrating and contradictory year. Some of the most destructive events have brought great responses from many within our industry. What should be the best is at the same time an indication of the some of the worst.

Here is an example of what I mean: A friend of mine writes newsletters for small support groups of exposure victims. His news items of significant studies and confirmation of health effects have increased over the last few years from maybe one per issue to more than 10. About half of the readership finds hope and support in this newfound awareness and growing acceptance of their lonely struggles. Others, however, become depressed at the overwhelming evidence that our “nest” is irreversibly fouled and our health authorities are seemingly disinterested.

• Asthma continues its march of debilitation and death.
• A recent study by the National Institutes of Health reports over 50 percent of the population – not 10 or even 30 percent, but 54 percent – is allergic to at least one of the 10 airborne allergens they tested.
• A recent exposé in the Morning Call, a newspaper from Allentown, Pa., documents the finding of weapons of mass destruction in 2004 – not in Iraq, and not just off our own shores, but in the clam shells used in some New Jersey driveways. The experienced hazmat team that responded was unprepared for the unthinkable and suffered massive chemical burns.
• The Associated Press reported that a government-funded study to be published February 2006 in Environmental Health Perspectives states elevated levels of pesticides were detected in children who ate conventional food; the levels then dropped to imperceptible when the children switched to organic food.
• Health Canada just released a body burden report – available online at www.environmentaldefence.ca/toxicnation/report/Toxic%20Nation%20Report_English_110605.pdf – that the bodies all of the test subjects, including those who exercised and ate only organic food, contained toxic chemicals, heavy metals, carcinogens, hormone disruptors and reproductive toxins.

Closer to home, and to the mold within, I still consider the Institute of Medicine report “Damp Indoor Spaces and Health” a watershed event because for the first time, public health took a stand on two important points: (1) that indoor dampness is a national public health issue, and (2) that the lack of a strong association between exposure and health is not due to a lack of causation but due to a lack of the appropriate studies necessary to even answer that question. However, those two points have been lost in the hurricane forces of legal defense claims that the report failed to find causation. But the worst is that the IOM has failed to stand up to the pretenders.

To defeat all these worst-of-the-worst challenges, it’s going to take more than just the unification of three organizations. IAQA, for example, has identified 15 core disciplines that make up the dynamic matrix we call the indoor environment. It’s going take the cooperation and integration of them all. And that potential may be the best of the best.

Steve M. Hays, P.E., CIH
Partner and Chairman of the Board, Gobbell Hays Partners Inc., Nashville, Tenn.
BEST – The state of Colorado issued its regulations for decontamination of illegal methamphetamine labs. This standard is being used as a model for decontamination nationwide and as a model for regulations in other states.

WORST – Welders across the nation continue to be exposed to unacceptably high concentrations of manganese in welding fume. The issue is being heavily litigated at the state and federal levels. Overexposure to manganese can cause manganese poisoning, which has debilitating symptoms similar to Parkinson’s disease.

Michael McGuinness, CIH
Principal, RK Occupational & Environmental Analysis, Phillipsburg, N.J.
BEST – Aside from Joe Lstiburek’s “Summer Camp” Westford Symposium on Building Science, which year after year outdoes itself as the best of IAQ, this year’s topper was the continued bad weather in different parts of the country that cause catastrophic building failures – and necessarily point out emphatically the failure on the part of the building community to construct housing appropriate for the climate and anticipated poor weather conditions. This fact insures business continuity for me!!!!

WORST – Worst is the assumption that simply because IESO, AMIAQA and IAQA have united and now have a common goal (do they???), that the IEQ industry is somehow “unified.” They are forgetting that groups like ASCR, IICRC, AIHA and ACGIH remain major players in the IEQ arena and that these folks should be part of unification efforts.

Larry Robertson
President, Mycotech Biological Inc. / Technical Director, Indoor Environmental Consultants Inc., Jewett, Texas
THE GOOD – By far, the very best event that unfolded this year was the consolidation of IAQA, AmIAQ and IESO memberships. By sheer numbers alone, this newly organized entity will emerge as the domestic powerhouse for IEQ. With the continued spirit of working together, our common goal of improving indoor environments is now poised to initiate an even greater positive change in the understanding and importance of IEQ – not only domestically but also internationally.
As the past founding president of IAQA, I am amazed at how far we have come in such a short time. I continue to applaud the leadership of each of these organizations and hail that the “concept of cooperation” that has been so eloquently displayed should serve as the benchmark for the leaders of our organization in the future. The power we have is both in our technical diversity and our spirit of cooperation. We should never lose sight of the attributes that provide us with the power to succeed where others have failed.

THE BAD – At no other time in the history of our country have so many people been displaced as a result of catastrophic weather events. The sheer awe and damage resulting from the hurricanes along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts are almost unbelievable. Having seen it with my own eyes, I truly wonder if we will ever have the capacity to completely recover. A year has passed since Hurricane Ivan pummeled Alabama and Florida, and yet thousands of residences remain unrepaired and unoccupied. The hurricanes of 2005 and, specifically, the events in New Orleans have again forced thousands from their homes and jobs. Literally, the entire Gulf Coast from Florida to Texas has been devastated. The ratio between destruction and recovery is overwhelmingly in favor of the former, and the distance between appears to be increasing. Where is the money going to come from to repair all of these problems? Even if we had the money, the basic infrastructures in these areas must be redeveloped before basic reconstruction can occur. All of this takes time, and of course, the 2006 hurricane season is right around the corner, ready to give these areas another blow. In the absence of money and the increased pace for redevelopment, the “environmental quality” of the resulting indoor environments is low on the priority list. The “bad news” is we as an industry and as a country have no adequate and appropriate responses in place. With no available alternatives, we will witness as thousands of our citizens reoccupy habitats having compromised indoor environmental quality.

THE UGLY – The ugly head of “absurdity and extremism” still continues today, only with much less frequency when compared to a few years ago. This is especially true for projects having some “legal” involvement. Just last month, I heard an “expert” testify that “all the furniture in a house needed to be discarded and/or cleaned because two Chaetomium spores were found in an air sample as a result of an interior growth site.” The expert was touting the IICRC 520 document as a source for that action. Another case involved a consultant who was literally “combining” separate pieces of individual lab data to create “values” that would suggest a problem existed. When the data was evaluated appropriately, no problem existed. The “legal gatekeeper” processes that are designed to prevent non-science-based opinions from entering the courtroom simply do not always work. In my opinion, they do not work most of the time. This is the result of many reasons; however, the bottom line is that the “absurd and extreme” continue to, and may always, exist in the industry.

However, in my opinion, the real problem that is integrally related to this involves the people and businesses that fall victim to these “unsupported renegade opinions.” The people, having no other source of knowledge, truly believe what is being represented by their expert and may simply be too scared to do anything less than what is recommended, regardless of how absurd it may sound. Businesses have to spend thousands of dollars defending these “unsupported claims” and are then faced with increased premiums for insurance coverage as a result of being sued. Such “renegade experts” not only harm the individuals they consult but also damage the very businesses that make up the bulk of our industry. “Absurdity and extremism” are counter-productive relative to our goals in IEQ; however, they are still alive and well in our industry. This is truly an “ugly” facet of our industry that has no apparent remedy in sight.

Richard Shaughnessy, Ph.D.
Program Manager, University of Tulsa Indoor Air Pollution Research Center, Tulsa, Okla.
BEST – I believe the idea of “more being better” often results in conflict. With the unification of IAQA, AmIAQ and IESO, the realization that less, in fact, can provide more is truly a benefit. The consolidation of the endeavors among the organizations is a step forward for all of the IAQ industry, establishing them in an excellent position for the future. However, I am reminded of a quote from a recent popular movie – “With great power comes great responsibility” – which is applicable here. Clearly, the credibility and the future of the organizations hangs in the balance, dependent on the next judicious moves from leads of the newly consolidated effort.

WORST – Research is simply not being translated into practical terms for IAQ practitioners in the field. It was so fascinating to be a part of the Indoor Air 2005 Conference, held Sept. 4–9 in Beijing, to see the new technologies being exhibited and to be a part of the latest research from all [around] the world. However, at the Unification Conference, Oct. 6–9 in Orlando, there were well over 1,200 registrants, and not one of the individuals I talked to had been to Beijing. In addition, I could count on my fingers the number of people who were aware of the outcomes – or the event as a whole.

Clearly, there is a huge disconnect between the researchers and the practitioners in the field. It does us no good as scientists to conduct research in a vacuum. The information is not being transferred or translated to make it applicable to practitioners in the field. I do feel that organizations like the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers and the American Industrial Hygiene Association have attempted to reduce this gap, but it’s important to recognize there are thousands of other consultants, contractors, manufacturers, building operators, building managers, etc., who could benefit from this knowledge. This in no way reflects a direct fault of the consultant organizations but rather a serious shortcoming of the research community to extend beyond their theoretical borders and translate their work into “applied” science that can be utilized to the benefit of all. I hope the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate, which cooperates to organize the international Indoor Air series, will play a key role to bridge this void in the future.

Alan C. Veeck
Executive Director, National Air Filtration Association, Virginia Beach, Va.
BEST –

1. Another year of good activity in the air filtration industry. People’s interest in and purchase of products to help provide cleaner air in their businesses and homes continue to increase. While we can always have it better, most all of the NAFA members report a good year of sales.
2. NAFA completed rewriting text of “Installation, Operation and Maintenance of Air Filtration Systems.” The second edition will be available at the ARI Show in January. New additions to the text include updates on all applicable standards and guidelines, an addendum to “HEPA Filters” and a new certification for personnel involved in bag in/bag out containment housing service, and an expanded safety section with input from the Sheet Metal Air Conditioning Contractors National Association.
3. As mentioned above, NAFA continues its partnership with SMACNA to train and accredit sheet metal personnel nationwide to NAFA Certified Technician certification. This program provides three strategic centers across the United States for education and training in air filtration.
4. The federal government continues its efforts to retrofit and design buildings that resist efforts of chem/bioterrorism As part of this effort, increased levels of air filtration play a critical role. NAFA members across the nation and the world are working with agencies to promote the use of better filtration in those buildings considered a higher risk. These buildings enjoy the auxiliary benefit of having good indoor air quality.

BAD –

1. It is always a difficult year when we do not come forward with some kind of standard or legislation that requires building owners to maintain the air indoors at levels that provide the building occupant with filtered, clean healthy air. We look forward to Bob Baker’s 180P ASHRAE Standard Committee to assist in this effort and hope that the code-written standard provides the spark to building owners and managers to maintain their equipment.
    
2. There does not seem to be an end to manufacturers that develop “new” and “innovative” air filter devices that are neither new nor innovative. Many claim to have filter efficiencies either at or above HEPA filters’ 99.97 percent. In most instances, these devices do not back up their claims with independent testing based on industry standards. It always seems that a test like the ASHRAE 52.2 standard or other accepted tests will not work with their particular product because their product is so “innovative.” Most of these produce far too much ozone or have limited particle removal in service compared to manufacturer’s published results. Most literature from these products contain distortion of facts – and some, outright lies.
    
   The sad part to all of this is the continued “black eye” given the entire air filter industry for the actions of a few. We encourage everyone to work to cull these people and products from the marketplace by telling potential users about the misapplication of these products that claim to be the “silver bullet.”
    
3. Recalling the movie “War of the Worlds,” the invading aliens were destroyed by bacteria in our air. It seems that we too, are becoming more vulnerable to virus and bacteria spread through a number of different means. This should be the clue for first-response facilities like hospital emergency rooms to substantially increase their levels of air filtration and isolation to prevent cross-contamination throughout the entire facility when and if one of these types of cases come to them for treatment. In 2006, NAFA would encourage agencies to provide guidance and direction to make this happen.

Charlie Wiles
Executive Director, American Indoor Air Quality Council / President, Metro Environmental, Glendale, Ariz.
WORST – Confusion in the aftermath of the national disasters was perhaps the most disappointing facet of 2005. I am particularly reminded of our government’s lack of preparedness and guidance for those who were in the paths of the hurricanes, tornados and flooding. Only time and diligent work in developing multi-level governmental protocols will prevent a repeat in the future. Our industry should never again be prevented from helping in such times of emergency by not being able to offer a helping hand quickly and effectively. FEMA, and state and local governments, must provide a way for us to step forward if we wish to volunteer our services.

BEST – The unification of AmIAQ, IAQA and IESO has the potential of being the best of not only 2005 but for years to come. While all three organizations were viable contenders for the attentions of those in the IAQ industry, it seemed clear from the beginning of our negotiations that with an acceptable division of labor, each could specialize, thereby improving the industry. The American Indoor Air Quality Council is proud to represent the industry by providing credible certification programs that represent integrity and independence. Watch as we move forward with our plans to make our certification programs the most revered in the industry!

Each December issue of IE Connections provides an opportunity to look back at those events of the previous 11 months that have shaped the image of the radon industry. In our opinion, the year 2005 was a year during which several studies further reinforced the health risk data linking radon exposure to lung cancer. Hot on the heels of this were an increased public cognizance of radon as a significant health issue as evidenced by increased media inclusion of radon exposure as a cause of lung cancer as well as renewed public outreach efforts by domestic and international organizations. Of course, it wouldn’t be the radon industry without a little controversy thrown in, but overall the net impact of 2005 was to validate radon as a significant concern both scientifically and within the minds of the public. Let’s take a look at some of the lead stories of 2005:

Pooling of European Case Control Studies Confirms Residential Radon Risk (See March issue)

For those who believed that concerns over radon exposure was merely a preoccupation of residents of the United States, the pooling of data in Europe concluded that radon is also a significant cause of lung cancer on that continent. The study, “Radon in homes and risk of lung cancer: collaborative analysis of individual data from 13 European case-control studies,” combines data from 13 case-control studies to provide far stronger statistical strength than any one of its individual studies would allow. In so doing, the authors concluded that 9 percent of all lung cancer deaths in Europe are attributable to indoor radon exposure, with a whopping 2 percent of all European cancer cases being radon-induced.

The study also arrived at the following conclusions:

• After detailed stratification for smoking, there was strong evidence of an association between the radon concentration at home and lung cancer.
   

• The dose-response relation seemed to be linear, with no evidence of a threshold dose, and there was a significant dose-response relation even below currently recommended action levels.

• The absolute risk to smokers and recent smokers was much greater than to lifelong non-smokers.

Close on the heels of the study was a similar pooling of North American studies that came to the same conclusions. Also, as an adjunct to these studies was the formation of a special international task force under the World Health Organization to address radon concerns on an international basis. We are likely to hear more about this international effort during 2006.

Ecological Studies Continue to Associate Radon Exposure to Neurological Diseases Risk (See June issue)

If lung cancer wasn’t bad enough as an outcome to prolonged exposure to radon, studies suggesting that radon could also play a part in causing neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis provide an even more sinister portrayal of this seemingly benign inert gas. Although not as reliable as case-control studies, U.S. and European ecological studies suggest an association between increased frequency of these types of diseases in a given geographical area having elevated radon levels. These studies, plus a logical model that can explain the mechanism of how radon can enter the brain as a chemically inert gas and then break down, irradiating brain cells is certainly compelling enough to warrant additional research and will likely be the topic of discussion over the next several years.

National Academy of Science Panel Finds, Affirms Evidence of Cancer Risk at Radiation Doses (See August issue)

Although the object of this long-awaited report was not to assess the effects of radon exposure, it clearly points out that the linear no threshold model of response to low levels of radiation (including that from radon and its decay products) is valid. Furthermore, in its preface, the report pointed out that radon exposure represents the largest radiation exposure that the general public receives – even higher than sources that the general public is often preoccupied with, such as doses from medical uses as well as nuclear fuel activities and natural sources such as cosmic and terrestrial radiation. Once again, radon is confirmed as a heavy hitter in terms of radiation dose.

Media Spotlight of High-profile Lung Cancer Victims Stirs Concerns over Radon Exposure (See October issue)

A rather subtle, but significant, event occurred in 2005 during the media coverage of two celebrities that contracted lung cancer. Radon was included as a real or contributive cause of lung cancer in both stories covering the unfortunate occurrence of lung cancer in Peter Jennings and Dana Reeves. Although in one case, the individual was a smoker while the other was not, the fact that reporters now recognize radon as one of the preventable causes of lung cancer signals the fact that radon has now entered the mainstream of thinking or at least within the media, where heretofore radon has been treated as more of an anomaly or a separate topic. Other, local, stories carried similar messages that served to legitimize the radon/lung cancer association as well and is likely a trend that will continue.

Papers at National Radon Meeting Suggest Review of Radon Measurement Strategy (See November issue)

No year would be complete without some controversies. There certainly were a number of stories that revolved around the measurement of radon or radon decay products or perhaps both (see July issue). But the story that will likely ruffle more feathers is the outcome of two studies presented at the National Radon Symposium in September of 2005, where researchers found significant discrepancies with the precision of commonly used short-term devices and problems associated with protocols that use short-term measurements as the initial and final determination of risk when compared to significantly different long-term measurement results. These two outcomes certainly are confidence shakers and will have impact on future protocol revisions as well as controls for maintaining the quality of the radon measurement industry.

Conclusion
The year 2005 was certainly interesting with the primary outcome being an affirmation of the risks associated with radon and the need to reexamine measurement methods and protocols.

As always, who says there is nothing new in radon, and 2006 won’t be any different?

Douglas Kladder is director of the Center for Environmental Research and Technology Inc. He can be reached by e-mail at dougkladdr@aol.com or by phone at (719) 477-1714.

Legal Year in Review – Litigation, Hurricanes, Standards and Legislation

Michael Bowdoin, Esq.
Partner
Brown Sims P.C.
Houston, Texas

David Governo, Esq.
Partner
Governo Law Firm LLC
Boston, Mass.

Michael S. Greene, Esq.
Shareholder
Akerman Senterfitt
West Palm Beach, Fla

Three of this newspaper’s legal contributors describe the developments that impacted the legal scene in indoor air quality this year.

ASTM: Standard Guide for Mold Inspections
As the IAQ industry develops, it contributes to and benefits from related groups. This year’s unification of our trade associations is an obvious example of this interrelationship, but contributions have occurred in more subtle ways as well.

One example is the work on mold in commercial buildings by ASTM International. ASTM Committee E50 on Environmental Assessment, Risk Management and Corrective Action formed a subcommittee: E50.02, known as the Mold Task Force. ASTM directed E50.02 to develop a standard guide for detecting mold and conditions conducive to mold in multifamily and commercial buildings. The subcommittee’s work product, “Standard Guide for Readily Observable Mold and Conditions Conducive to Mold in Commercial Building: Baseline Survey Process,” was drafted as a standalone, limited-screening process that can be used in conjunction with other property assessment reports. The standard guide addresses the role of the user and consultant; a document and records review; interviews with owners and occupants; a walkthrough survey; and the evaluation and reporting of findings. ASTM has conducted the necessary voting requirements for an ASTM standard and is completing its final changes to the document. ASTM anticipates the standard guide being available for industry use in early 2006.

Mortgage Bankers Association’s Mold White Paper
Regular IE Connections readers will be familiar with one of this year’s legal developments: industry publications about mold. Twice this year, the newspaper highlighted the Mortgage Bankers Association’s white paper, “Mold: Steps Toward Clarity.” It was developed by a 17-member working group made up of Mortgage Bankers Association members who are industry experts in commercial real-estate finance, property inspections and insurance. Their goal was to provide an educational resource on mold and damp indoor commercial spaces, attempting to eliminate the misinformation that exists with regard to mold issues. The paper examines how knowledge in this area has evolved and what may be done now to mitigate mold and dampness issues, so that those in real estate can make informed decisions based on individual situations, business models and transaction requirements.

The working group explains that, for commercial lenders and servicers alike, there is no single set of “best practices” in recognizing and coping with mold issues, but awareness of mold and its effects is the first of a series of “smart practices” the industry can embrace. Because this issue is evolving so rapidly, the Commercial/Multifamily Mold Working Group anticipates the issuance of periodic supplements to this document as significant developments occur.

Litigation Expansion: Construction Defect Claims and Beyond
Claims for IAQ problems have been made for decades, but it was not until the Melinda Ballard case and the ensuing media blitz that the public was sent into frenzy. As IAQ claims became a daily occurrence, the frenzy extended to the mold remediation business.

Subsequently, the onslaught of claims against insurance companies and building owners for mold-related personal injuries and property damages focused attention and spawned a new legal “cottage industry.” Over the past several years, with the elimination of standard insurance coverage for mold, the legal landscape has changed and mold claims have dwindled.

The past year brought a quiet re-expansion of mold- and IAQ-related legal claims. Traditionally, these claims have arisen out of the “construction” model as described by Governo in his April 2005 article “Tips to Reduce Builder Liability for Defect Claims” and by Greene in his August 2005 article “Water, Water Everywhere: Legal Advice for Moisture and Construction.”

This year, claims have been broadened to allege not only mold but poor indoor environmental quality in general. Additionally, these claims are now being made against not only the usual culprits – namely insurance companies and building owners – but against building inspectors, product manufacturers and suppliers to the construction industry, product manufacturers for the remediation industry, remediators, designers and even industrial hygienists.

Mold claims for personal injuries are gaining acceptance by the courts, particularly when pled and argued as traditional allergic-type responses, rather than brain injury claims.

Litigation Expansion: Insurance Coverage
As indoor environmental quality litigation expands to encompass new players, and as insurance exclusions for mold become the norm, insurance for injuries of these types becomes all the more important. Fortunately, the insurance industry has responded by offering policies to cover these risks. Nevertheless, insurance remains a complex and elusive commodity to acquire. IAQ trade associations (IICRC, IAQA, IESO and AmIAQ) have worked with insurance brokers to provide options that were previously not available.

Thus, as IAQ litigation in general and mold litigation in particular develop to encompass non-traditional defendants, insurance coverage and proactive steps to provide protection remain essential. Expect this trend to continue in 2006 as the occasional multi-million dollar verdict continues to keep liability issues on the top of more and more players’ agendas.

Hurricanes – A 2004 Redux
To quote Ronald Reagan, “There you go again.” Another year, another multibillion-dollar series of weather catastrophes. Katrina, Rita and Wilma caused both devastation and significant damage to commercial and residential properties in their target zones. While the Gulf Coast suffered the loss of large numbers of properties, many were flooded or damaged and left with contamination: not just with mold but with chemicals, bacteria and the inevitable dead fish.

While industry groups do not yet have a CFR (Certified Fish Remover) program, the level of mold contamination in many areas hit by the hurricanes is significant and will exceed the capacity of our industry to handle in a relatively short timeframe. The damage in New Orleans also demands that our industry look at other issues beyond mold in order to protect both customers as well as workers. Potential environmental exposures in the storm-ravaged areas pose new and long-term health risks. Wilma alone rendered 51,000 residential units in Florida’s Palm Beach County at least temporarily uninhabitable.

It is incumbent upon our industry to work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other governmental agencies charged with emergency response to reduce the lost of occupiable housing stock after weather events. This is particularly important given the predictions of a long hurricane cycle.

Mold and Construction Procedures
An article by Greene outlines procedures for managing and controlling water contamination during construction, as well as the budding industry recognition of the benefits of such programs for new construction and renovation work in reducing costs and claims for mold contamination.

The risks of not instituting such procedures were recently confirmed in a settlement in a lawsuit in California. In this case, the owners of a single-family residence sued parties involved in the construction of their home, including the supplier of the lumber. It has now been reported that the lumber supplier settled – for approximately $13 million – the claim that the lumber had been stored so as to permit mold growth on the components installed in the residence. The primary damages alleged were neurological damage to the children residing in the home. The amount of damages will set off alarm bells throughout the building supply industry.

IICRC: Updated Standards for Water Damage Restoration and Mold Remediation
The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification has been writing standards for its industries since 1991. The nonprofit’s mission is to serve as an industry-consensus procedural standard-writing organization and certification registry for some 36,000 technicians working in 30 countries in 21 technical certification categories.

The IICRC has published industry-consensus standards and reference guides for professional carpet cleaning (S100), upholstery and fabric cleaning (S300), water-damage restoration (S500) and mold remediation (S520). The S520, published in 2003, has brought wide recognition from a diverse group in government, institutional, public and private sectors. IICRC associates participate in standard-writing for ASTM International, the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists and a variety of private and governmental agencies.

Between this year and last, IICRC committees have been working on updated revisions of the S500 and S520, both of which are scheduled for publication in the first half of 2006. In August 2005, the IICRC Board realized its goal of becoming an ANSI-accredited standard-writing organization.

Unification
For those long-time practitioners in the IAQ industry, the alphabet-soup of potentially conflicting certifications and professional qualifications has become a “thorn in the side” of real professional progress. The search to find solidarity by collaboration and to simplify standardization led to a ground-breaking development this year.

The American Indoor Air Quality Council, Indoor Air Quality Association and Indoor Environmental Standards Organization joined forces for the first time in October 2005 at the Unification Conference held in Orlando. This meeting of three prominent industry trade associations in IAQ was, by all reports, a huge success. During the conference, the consolidation of the three organizations was explained by industry experts and experienced practitioners and presented for final approval by the separate memberships. By active participation in workshops, panel discussions, technical sessions and presentations most closely aligned with particular professions, attendees became part of the process that will play a major role in shaping the future of the IAQ industry for decades to come.

Ionic Breeze Litigation
Consumer Reports’ May 2005 issue reported the unsatisfactory performance of several brands and models of ionizing air cleaners, renewing past criticism of the Ionic Breeze, the bestselling line of products offered by Sharper Image. The media printed the ratings, the value of Sharper Image stock plummeted, and the corporation responded by refuting the article and declaring the air purifiers “safe and effective.”

Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, categorized five models of air cleaners “Not Recommended” because they performed poorly in removing indoor contaminants and emitted relatively high levels of ozone. The same day Consumer Reports’ May issue hit newsstands, Sharper Image published a news release stating, “The Ionic Breeze air cleaners meet the strictest standard, the 50 parts-per-billion concentration established for indoor medical devices.”

No federal agency sets indoor ozone limits for ionic air cleaners, as neither the EPA nor the Food and Drug Administration considers ionic air cleaners “medical devices.” However, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency documented the agency’s position on “ozone generators that are sold as air cleaners” listing the harmful health consequences caused by high concentrations of ozone. Other industry groups have sought to reaffirm the consumers’ faith in HEPA-based products with fans, as opposed to ionic air cleaners. The jury is still out on the ultimate safety of ionic air cleaner devices.

The Melina Bill
The only proposed federal legislation to address mold will be considered in Congress for the third straight legislative session. The Melina bill was first introduced by Rep. John Conyers Jr., D-Mich., in the House in 2002 and went nowhere. The scope of the “revised” federal mold bill is drastically different than the earlier “unsuccessful” version.

What has not changed is the idea that passage of what’s now known as the U.S. Toxic Mold Safety and Protection Act of 2005 “can protect the public to the maximum extent possible that does not burden the private sector,” according to the author’s legislative assistant specializing in healthcare issues. The “updated” bill makes mold inspections necessary for applicants of home loans through the Federal Housing Administration starting three years after the bill is passed. In addition, a new provision directs the Environmental Protection Agency to “conduct a comprehensive study on the economic impact of mold on home owners, renters, businesses, residential and commercial real estate, and litigation.” This is important information for builders and homeowners.

The “current” version of the bill directs the Department of Housing and Urban Development to study and report the impact of construction standards on indoor mold growth. It also requires the EPA, the National Institute of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to study the health effects of indoor mold growth, methods of detecting harmful and/or toxic mold, hazards involved in mold remediation, and minimum levels of exposure at which indoor mold growth is harmful to human health.

Stay tuned for further developments as the federal mold bill makes its way through the halls of Congress.

David M. Governo has over 20 years of experience in helping clients prevent and resolve indoor air quality problems. His firm advocates for individuals and companies in local and national litigation and counsels them in business planning, such as risk management and regulatory compliance. A member of the IE Connections Editorial Advisory Board, Governo can be reached by e-mail at dgoverno@governo.com or by phone at (617) 737-9047.

Michael Greene is a shareholder in the West Palm Beach office of Akerman Senterfitt. He can be reached by e-mail at MSGreene@Akerman.com or by phone at (561) 653-5000.

Michael Bowdoin is a partner with the law firm of Brown Sims P.C. in Houston, Texas. He and his firm specialize in representing defendants in regulatory and administrative law, commercial litigation, construction law, real-estate law, insurance law, and toxic tort/hazardous substances litigation including silica, asbestos, mold, chemical, and drug exposure. He can be reached by e-mail at mbowdoin@brownsims.com or by phone at (713) 629-1580.

The topic of high-performance schools has become much more popular in 2005 compared to previous years. The concept is exciting for many design professionals and end users. However, the precise meaning of this concept may be a bit vague to many, especially to those who may think of an over-powered race car as exemplifying the concept.

Let’s explore and summarize some IAQ and energy-efficient high-performance building concepts.

Energy-efficient Building Shell & HVAC
The current global energy demand for conventional liquid and gaseous fuels has produced a renewed interest in a high-quality energy-efficient design and the proper operation of high-performance schools. In general, when modeled, these new schools would be expected to perform in the range of 20 to 50 percent better than the ASHRAE 90.1 energy standard in any given climate. This interest has also been reflected in the questions and focus of attendees at the Building Operators Certification training courses we teach. There is even an effort to revise the BOC materials specifically to address high-performance school building operation.

Typical goals (design intent) of a high-performance building shell, also called the envelope or enclosure, could include:

1. features to prevent wind driven rain intrusion in walls, achieved with a rain screen exterior, a continuous drainage plane and flashing, and a continuous air barrier;

2. high insulation levels in all walls and the roof, and high-performance glass (e.g., different glazing characteristics for windows on the different sides of the building with differing orientations with respect to the sun);

3. rigid insulation and drainage under the floor slab;

4. a light-colored roof to reduce overheating and the heat island effect;

5. HVAC equipment located inside the condition envelope versus merely on top of the roof;

6. proper orientation of the school and gym to reduce spring and fall glare from direct sunlight, as this places an unnecessary cooling load on the building that will waste energy over the life of the building;

7. proper use of daylighting features to reduce lighting costs and improve test scores;

8. high-performance flooring;

9. consideration of minimizing life-cycle costs, including maintenance, in the selection of the building components.

Typical goals (design intent) of a high-performance HVAC system could include:

Heating features:

1. oversized terminal units for hydronic perimeter heating in cold climates, to facilitate use of low-grade heat;

2. use of a low-grade heat source such as from a geothermal heat pump, solar collectors, condensing boiler, or some combination of these sources;

3. at least partial use of a non-fossil-based fuel source;

4. not grossly oversizing the heating plant;

Cooling features:

5. use of a high-performance cooling reservoir such as a geothermal heat pump, water body, or off-peak cooling storage;

6. use of a light-colored roof;

7. proper design of daylighting and exterior shading, to reduce direct solar gain through windows;

8. use of flat-screen computers (LCD displays) throughout the school;

9. use of a variable-air-volume system;

10. use of a vertical displacement supply air approach;

11. use of multiple light switches in each room;

12. design for air economizer cooling;

13. use of multiple stages of mechanical cooling;

14. use of the mixed mode design, to both provide passive cooling techniques and to utilize natural ventilation when outdoor conditions allow it;

Ventilation features:

15. use of fixed-plate enthalpy (total) energy recovery devices on the exhaust air and the outdoor air supply (recovers cooling and heating energy that would be wasted);

16. use of carbon dioxide sensors to assess the actual amount of ventilation provided and, potentially, to incorporate demand-controlled ventilation, or DCV, for spaces where the occupancy varies significantly over time;

17. use of a vertical displacement supply air approach with no re-circulated air;

18. commissioning efforts to document that the intended amount of ventilation is actually being provided, both initially at the time of first occupancy and periodically or continuously over the life of the building;

19. pollution sources located away from air intakes;

20. use of operable windows in corporation with devices to draw the stale air out of the structure, such as cupolas, wind catchers, or solar chimneys during appropriate weather conditions.

21. local exhaust of all high-use photocopiers, laminators and other odiferous point sources;

Moisture-control features:

22. use of fixed plate enthalpy (total) energy recovery devices on the exhaust and outdoor air supply (recovers moisture during winter heating and pre-dries outdoor air during cooling);

23. design of a tight building shell to reduce unintentional airflows that would cause over drying during winter nighttime (off-hours) or unnecessary moisture gain in summer;

24. incorporating moisture management in the monitoring approach to improve the moisture management in the building and to avoid over ventilation with extreme dryness in winter and excess humidity to be controlled in the summer;

25. use of a supplemental stand-alone dedicated dehumidifier during periods of no occupancy in summer to avoid mold growth;

26. use of insulated basement walls and floor slab (a thermal break), to avoid condensation.

Comfort and Health
We know it is possible to have energy efficiency, comfort and health simultaneously. Either you pay for a lot of fuel or electric energy to keep the school comfortable, or you need to invest the capital up front so that you can have comfort, health and reasonable annual energy costs. What is needed to achieve the latter is a change in the costing process to understand the components that contribute to the total cost of building ownership and move away from merely trying to minimize initial costs associated with the design and construction of the building.

Most districts that we work with are rapidly learning and understanding how to deal with sudden water damage so as to avoid subsequent mold remediation. Mold remediation a week or two after you think you have the problem fixed can be far more costly and emotionally trying than dealing with getting it dry within the first 24 hours. Many districts are moving away from paper-covered gypsum in any area that is likely to get wet.

High-performance Schools and HVAC System Commissioning
Many school districts nationally are continuing to move to embrace the principles of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), CHPS (Collaborative High Performance Schools), and Advanced Buildings standards in new construction and renovation projects. All of these programs essentially require the architectural and engineering designers to work together to develop an energy-efficient integrated building with properly sized systems and reduced heat gain and glare from lighting. One component of this integrated design process is not only to have people like the design engineer included in the design process sooner but also to include someone familiar with what it takes to achieve a healthy building as a specific dedicated entity as part of the design process. This individual should have an environmental health or IAQ background.

When building commissioning is conducted in these facilities, the owner is delivered a building that for the most part is likely working as designed during the first month or two of operation versus getting its systems straightened out in the first two years. It is also important that this commissioning process include the verification that the intended amount of ventilation is actually being provided and not merely that the fans are spinning in the correct direction and that each damper opens and closes when it is supposed to.

The Sustainable Business Industry Council’s “High Performance School Buildings” document and the U.S. Department of Energy’s “National Best Practices Manual For Building High Performance Schools” are useful resources. Many states now offer grants and technical assistance or review for going the extra mile of a high-performance school. We have concluded that delivering an integrated energy-efficient school likely costs about 5–10 percent more than the run-of-the-mill construction cost numbers for any given year; however, the payback for the extra cost may take as little as three to five years. In public buildings that are bonded, it is actually cost-effective to incorporate energy-saving options that will pay for themselves within the life of the bonds. Additionally, getting a building envelope that reduces the likelihood of moisture and subsequent mold problems is likely worth it in itself.

Operating High-performance Schools
Once delivered, we are seeing a real challenge emerging: keeping the school operating as a high-performance building. Just as it takes meticulous maintenance to keep a racecar operating at peak efficiency, the systems that make a school a high-performance building need to be kept operational. To do this, somebody associated with the school needs to be intimately familiar with the design intent and how the HVAC controls work. It has been our experience that operators, when unsure of how to interface with automatic controls, will revert to old manual control habits and multiple overrides. This can be disastrous for the school’s comfort and energy performance. Having diagnostic feedback on how the ventilation component of the HVAC system is performed is therefore very important in this area. Providing this information on actual ventilation performance is a building management tool that can allow them to provide a healthy and productive learning environment for the smallest expenditure for energy. Perhaps a yearly refresher day would make a difference, or a simplified operator’s manual, or maybe a well-paid facilities manager. I am not sure we know the answer yet. We see the situation a big concern.

Monitoring for High Performance
Permanent monitoring systems that measure both carbon dioxide and absolute humidity are tools that can be used to provide the building operators with this information of how the building is actually working. This combination is recommended because of the conflicting challenges of providing generous ventilation without causing overdrying during winter conditions. This combination will also provide useful information in buildings with mechanical cooling to document that both the intended amounts of ventilation and dehumidification are being provided. This combination can also identify the existence of infiltration, a situation to be avoided as these unplanned airflows reduce the effectiveness of control and can waste energy and jeopardize moisture management.

Depending on the number of locations to be monitored, this diagnostic feedback can be achieved with either individual sensors, for a building with just a few locations to be sampled, or “shared-sensor” monitoring systems, for a building with greater than perhaps 20 locations to be sampled. In this latter approach, an array of sampling lines (typically quarter-inch pneumatic tubing) is installed to connect each location to be sampled with the centrally located monitoring equipment. This means that each measurement for a given parameter is achieved with the same sensor that is shared among all of the locations. Since the ventilation rate assessment is based on the difference between the indoor and outdoor carbon dioxide concentrations, this approach is inherently more accurate than the use of individual distributed sensors. In addition, even small differences between locations are real, and not discounted as being due to differing sensor responses, so such details as slightly stuck chilled water valves to the air handlers can be detected. Monitoring can therefore be considered as the application of information management to the improved management of buildings.

William A. Turner, P.E., is president of Turner Building Science LLC, a subsidiary of The H.L. Turner Group Inc. He has more than 25 years’ experience in IAQ/HVAC evaluation and development of solutions for building system problems. He supervises a group of engineers, industrial hygienists, architects and building scientists who focus on developing solutions for existing facilities, the design of high-performance buildings, and HVAC commissioning of buildings. Turner can be reached by e-mail at bturner@turnerbuildingscience.com or by phone at (207) 583-4571 ext. 11.

David Bearg, P.E., CIH, is a senior engineer at Turner Building Science LLC and owner of Life Energy Associates, located in Concord, Mass. He has more than 25 years’ experience in the evaluation of indoor air quality in non-industrial settings and the design of high performance buildings. Bearg can be reached by e-mail at sagefarm@comcast.net or by phone at (978) 369-5680.

The authors are planning to collaborate on a book titled “Indoor Air Quality, HVAC Systems and Energy Efficiency.”